Strings, hills, and uncountable infinities.

Thoughts on it all.

Does performing a task comprised of a countably infinite number of steps, an uncountably infinite number of times, result in the total amount of steps taken being uncountably infinite? May we treat this as a multiplication, of sorts? This begs a further question; What is the process required to do anything, an uncountably infinite number of times? By definition, it seems impossible to DO anything an uncountably infinite number of times. There is no start. But, must there be?

If we are to declare concepts of uncountable infinities worth discussing, must we not establish a clear base of formation? Is a base of formation possible? As of my current understanding, I believe not. A countable infinite set has a start, and no end. Whereas, an uncountable infinite set has neither a start, nor an end. As frightening as the concept of infinity is alone, countability gives us a rock to push down a hill. Uncountability does not even tell us there is a rock. Uncountably is a steep, steep hill that goes on forever down and forever up. A hill you never arrived at and can never leave. A hill you have always known, and will always know, but will never know how long you’ve known it for. You are at the middle of existence, no matter which direction you run and no matter how long you run for.

If you wish for a rock, you must dig it up. Is there a point? Will you find anything in pushing a rock down a hill with no reference point? When even you yourself cannot be used as a reference? As by definition, you cannot exist as an point relative to the hill. Yet, through our explanations and examples you must be there. Right? Uncountability tends to haunt me. Perhaps there is a piece of the puzzle I am missing. I am unsure. Can you miss a piece of the puzzle of a puzzle with no pieces? Is it worth discussion? Again, I am not sure.

I think of a countable infinity as a number line. Fixed at a reference point we like to call zero. This line can form the positive and negative components of every possible axis in every imaginable dimension. Everything we perform in mathematics, as far as I have seen is in relation to a reference point. How do we learn if we cannot relate it to something? What goes on in the mind of a newborn infant as its mind has no initial reference point, but is able to learn? Clearly it must have a reference point. Is that not what instincts are? Instructions on how to start, how to continue, and how to end successfully? Where did these instructions come from? Is this where the question of an ultimate creator is derived?

The start of life appears to be a byproduct, an ever exponentially expanding pattern of the initial conditions of the state of the universe following the course of a chaotic reality. What IS the start of the universe? Is there a start? Is the realm we reside in countable, or uncountable? Neither? I believe countability may be far more useful in our current slice of the timeline in an apparent forever. As far as what makes coherent sense to my mind, analyzing itself and how it thinks, I think true reality is in uncountability. The start of the universe feels far more to me as a continuation, rather than a start to it all. A reflection of a gargantuan collapse of the definitive most colossal complex waveform. Following along the one dimensional string of time. A string we assume to have no end, and a string I would assume to have no beginning.

We know not of where we are on this hill. Only that we can be our own rock and roll down. Ultimately, I do not believe most of us, deep down, know why we continue. Truly, that is. Most of us wish to stay alive to further humanity, to keep our loved ones happy as they rely on us, and as we rely on them. We work tirelessly in opposition to crab mentality. A multi-dimensional web of interlocking arms holding each other up. An ultimate pursuit in the acceleration of the rock. Do we wish to reach an end to the hill? Is there something at the bottom waiting for us?

We survive because we are the most capable, because we are the first on our planet to truly prioritize understanding as a tool for survival. Because in order for us to have gotten here, we had to survive. It was the ONLY option. The only direction to fall down. Is that the drive? The gravity of reality? The geometry and the forces that do not exist acting upon us? Where does the Fermi paradox lie in all of this? I ask again, what is at the bottom of the hill?

Or, is our universe, nay, our reality, our everything, our all, our gods, countable? Must there be a beginning? Do we exist as a byproduct of the game of life? Questions upon questions. We could think there is a beginning and an end. We could think there is a beginning and no end. We could think there is no beginning and no end. Which is most comforting? Really, that is up to the individual. We could even say that there is an end, and no beginning. That feels wrong. Why? It strikes my mind the same as the concept of going back in time. It seems impossible, but maybe I am not open minded enough.

To me it seems far more likely that we are the rock. Rolling and rolling. That we have always been rolling, and always will be rolling. And that we cannot know how long we have been rolling for. Not us as humans, not us as animals, not us as cells or molecules or atoms. But as portions of our slice of the greater universe. We ARE the universe at base.

I think a lot about how music affects us and the mind. Vibrations seem to grasp us more than anything. Are we a waveform accumulating on the sting of time? If the string is to not have a start nor a beginning, we can consider it to be that of a circle. So much of mathematics relates back to the circle. So much of the symbolism in the history of humanity depicts circles. It appears to me, that at its core, the all of existence is the celebration of the circle.

After some heavy thought, I think I find it more comforting to believe that we are rolling on the uncountable circle of life, as opposed to a string cut by the destructive scissors of countability. We are quite blessed to occupy a part of it all. To be one with our universe. To exist not just as a fraction of it, but with its monumental movements. And while our times may come to an end, I don’t like to think that time will end. Or that is has ever started. Why? Who knows. It’s all silly at the end.

We eat, poop, and die before we experience everything. Maybe that is because “everything” does not exist in the traditional sense. The matter in our universe appears to be finite. Is it possible, that the matter we have is just the piece of the pie we were cut on our turn of the serving?

I do not like division. Nor does it resonate with me. Why do we choose to have so many words relating to vibrations, waves, circles, as ultimate components of the human experience? I much prefer unity, peace, and “going with the flow”. That is what keeps me happy at the end of the day. Whether I am a rock or not, whether I am rolling down a countable or uncountable hill or not. I am happy to roll where I am. Amidst the beauty of thought. Amidst the sensations I think I can feel. Amidst an everything I am not sure exists. Amidst the observable universe I resonate with and can thank for my drop of energy. That, is what keeps me sound as I sleep.

Notes:

If anyone bothered to read this or has gotten here, thank you! So so much!!! I have always had a passion for creative writing but didn’t know of an outlet that was worth while. Then I discovered “Threadlings.” by Ismatu Gwendolyn a few months back on her Tik Tok. I am finally no longer busy with the school year (and being broke :D) so I found time to write some of my thoughts down. This honestly started as a notes on my iPhone. BTW fuck Apple. I hate them, but their phones are pretty nice all things considered. Maybe I’ll make a rant one day, anyways don’t buy a new phone every year.

This post started as a train of thought while I was rewatching an old favourite Youtube video of mine by the channel Vsause. If you cared enough to read through all of this, I’m sure you’ve heard of him. If not, check him out!

Here is a link to the video if you would like to check it out and scramble your brain further:

Again, thank you thank you thank you.

I hope to write lots more! Even if nobody reads them yet :)

True passions always persist.

Cheers,

Ethan.