Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
like so many whirlpools
English answer:
patterns of waves forming vortices
Added to glossary by
B D Finch
Jan 9, 2017 00:55
7 yrs ago
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like so many whirlpools
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Science (general)
Hello everyone,
Today we should know better. All the new sciences of the twenty-first century, both physical and biological, are holistic. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. They show that the world does not consist of separate, isolated parts but rather of intricately entangled systems. A change in any one apparently separate part affects the whole. Quantum physics tells us that the universe actually consists of patterns of dynamic energy, ***self-organizing wave patterns like so many whirlpools***, the bound- aries of each interwoven with those of all others. If we could look through a quantum microscope, the whole effect would look like the interlocking patterns of waves on the sea.
Is "are" omitted and does "like so many whirlpools" really imply "self-organizing wave patterns _are_ like so many whirlpools"?
Thank you.
Today we should know better. All the new sciences of the twenty-first century, both physical and biological, are holistic. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. They show that the world does not consist of separate, isolated parts but rather of intricately entangled systems. A change in any one apparently separate part affects the whole. Quantum physics tells us that the universe actually consists of patterns of dynamic energy, ***self-organizing wave patterns like so many whirlpools***, the bound- aries of each interwoven with those of all others. If we could look through a quantum microscope, the whole effect would look like the interlocking patterns of waves on the sea.
Is "are" omitted and does "like so many whirlpools" really imply "self-organizing wave patterns _are_ like so many whirlpools"?
Thank you.
Change log
Jan 12, 2017 12:14: B D Finch Created KOG entry
Responses
10 hrs
Selected
patterns of waves forming vortices
I think that this is not a case of "are" being omitted, but adding it would not change the meaning, which is that the patterns of waves form vortices (referred to metaphorically as "whirlpools").
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks to everyone.
Thank you, B D Finch."
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"are" is not omitted
"are" is not omitted here. Whirlpools here is used as a metaphor. Whirpool usually means a vortex or a rapidly rotating mass of water or air which sucks everything into the center. In this context, The explanation to this is in the fourth sentence, starting with "They show that the world does not..."
Therefore, each wave is a whirlpool in its own way, and they are collected or attracted to each other to create a whole , i.e. just like a human body, head, arms, legs, eyes ears, etc. which makes us humans.
Therefore, each wave is a whirlpool in its own way, and they are collected or attracted to each other to create a whole , i.e. just like a human body, head, arms, legs, eyes ears, etc. which makes us humans.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
B D Finch
: While agreeing that "are" is not omitted (because this is a use of apposition), I think you are wrong about each wave being a whirlpool and what follows.
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