2 - Impression

Eternism & Science

1 Integration
2 Impression
3 Foundation
4 Paradigm
5 Connection
6 Conjecture
7 Interpretation

2 - Impression: Cosmic Artistry

We discern a wall in the distance.
We make out a blurry tinted patch on it.
As we approach, sharper contours and separate tones begin to emerge.
We now distinguish familiar forms within the patterns of colors.
Finally, we are close enough to enjoy the stunning beauty of the ensemble.

We could stop here, contented with such clarity and harmony. Instead, we keep coming closer.
The smooth surface now appears coarse and uneven.
Shapes are losing their definition in a maze of swirling brush strokes.
Reality, so plainly evident a while ago, has vanished.
At such close range, all we make of the image is a scramble of pigments.

So many distinct impressions! Yet the Van Gogh painting we had in front of us never changed.

The same happens when scientists watch ever more closely the cosmic artistry. They register quite different impressions of the same reality.
Newton was among the first to stand where the picture of the universe has powerful precision
Einstein found the right distance to appreciate the ensemble while apprehending the medium.
Quantum physicists are so close to the canvas that they can even sneak a look at the back of it.

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