Chapter 421: 421
Seeing the title, Eric sighed . "This is of no use, Levski . It's not worth your effort . No one from the Board would accept it . What you're saying goes completely in the opposite direction from our observation and the basic geometry principles . Without a doubt, this is not correct . This is not the first day we know each other and I'd suggest you to stop wasting your time on it . "
Because of the need for magic pattern construction and the substantiation of the cognitive world, the study of math had a long history . I was widely acknowledged that Geometry was based on the five axioms and the five postulates put forward by Muenterse, a legendary archmage from the Magic Empire, in his work Geometry . Thus, it was known as Muenterse's Geometry . And also because that Muenterse was the founder of Tower, Muenterse's Geometry was also called Tower Geometry .
Among the five postulates, the fifth one was the source of much interest for being very prolix and looking more like a theorem that needs to be proved rather than a postulate . But it was, in fact, equivalent to a proposition that was popular on the Earth: In a plane, through any point not on a given line, only one new line can be drawn that's parallel to the given line . Since the establishment of the Congress of Magic, with the fast development in mathematics, more and more sorcerers, who pursued the sense of aesthetics that values simplicity in math, attempted to prove the results without using the postulate . However, no one had succeeded yet .
In Eric's eyes, Levski was one of them who failed . Levski tried to use proof by contradiction to support the fifth postulate and started with the assumption that: In a plane, through any point not on a given line, at least two new lines can be drawn that's parallel to the given line .
However, the result he got was surprising . By combining the assumption, the five axioms, and the rest of the four postulates, Levski drew up a geometry system that was logically consistent yet at the same time greatly conflicted with reality . The arcanists from Tower all believed that the system was absurd and treated it indifferently .
After Levski submitted his paper against the oppositions, the criticism of his reasoning was like a fierce storm . Without a doubt, his paper failed to pass the review .
"Eric, have you carefully read my paper? Do you see how I demonstrated it? Both the premise and the derivation are correct! Why you just can't accept it?" Levski's body was trembling from anger . Years of criticism and poverty had not made him yield: For more than ten years, his magic level and researches remained paused, countless mockery and satire were directed at him, but Levski never gave up his theory .
Eric raised his hand, signaling Levski to lower his voice . "Yes, I admit that your use of proof by contradiction and your logic reasoning are absolutely correct . But Levski, open your eyes and see this world . This table, the room… They all look different from what your geometry describes! They are real, my friend . And you tell me what we should believe! You've tried so many years, even printed out numerous copies and propagated them to the other arcanists, but has anyone believed in your geometry system so far?"
"No…" Levski lowered his head, dispirited . In the past, he thought that his paper was rejected because the members of the Arcana Review Board and the arcanists from Tower were too conservative, so he submitted his paper directly to the younger arcanists and to the authorities in mathematics including Douglas, Hathaway, and Paris . However, the younger arcanists still mocked his proposition, calling it "lacking common sense" .
Meanwhile, the authorities in mathematics also chose to keep silent .
"I've modified it…" Levski hurriedly emphasized; his tone softened for only a single second . "This time it should be able to pass . Eric, please . "
Eric sighed . "But you can't keep acting like this, Levski… You've submitted this paper multiple times in the past ten years . And you never succeeded . Also, we have regulations . You can't submit the same paper for multiple times . It's a waste of the board members' time . You're already in your forties… I have to remind you . You're still a junior-rank mage… "
"This time is different! I've perfected it . Eric, please… Let Mr . Evans read it… I promise I'll focus on studying magic in the following years . " Levski begged with hope in his eyes .
Eric's serious face slightly twitched . "Mr . Evans only reads those subversive papers… You know, those that will make sorcerers' brains explode . But yours only discusses the pure theories in math, and it won't affect one's cognitive world . So I'm afraid…"
A sorcerer's cognitive world was based on his or her exploration into the truth of the world . Math was just their tools and thus could not affect its stability .
Before Levski kept insisting, Eric sighed again . "What about this… I'll put 'subversive' and 'math' on the front page of your paper . So your paper will be sent to two board members specializing in mathematics, and Mr . Evans as well . "
Eric understood that it was Mr . Evans who brought Levski the gleam of hope . The board members had not changed much within the past several years, and they were all quite annoyed with Levski's paper . If it were not for newly-joined Mr . Evans, Levski would not have been so determined to submit it once again .
At least there was still hope!
"Thank you, Eric…" Levski became speechless from the surprise .
Eric waved his hand . "Go back and wait for the result . Hope your life can back on track as soon as possible . "
Levski nodded seriously, feeling anxious but also full of hope . He had no idea if Mr . Evans would treat his paper fairly .
. . . . . .
On the fifteenth floor of the magic tower, in a bright and spacious room .
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login