II Wednesday 2nd July 2008

Albert Einstein Sir Isack Newton Galileo Galilei

by Nalin de Silva is also they do not attempt to explain how carry out normal work and they only Relativity are different from those in the thread that runs through all knowledge is constructed in these work to show that the existing theo- either Galilean Physics or Newtonian am not a historian if one were to aspects of the latter. Thus I am not societies. Thus creation of knowledge ries are correct. However according to Physics. The objects as far as an ordi- go by the degrees I have obtained, reducing knowledge to either culture is left unexplained. In other words Kuhn there are revolutionary periods nary observer is concerned do not Ibut by paraphrasing as somebody or Chinthanaya. there is no theory to explain how the- in science during which the existing change. To an ordinary observer the what has been said on war it can be The above statements on knowl- ories are created though it is said that paradigm is replaced by a new para- objects that were dropped from the stated that history is too serious a edge too are relative to a culture and theories are constructed by people liv- digm. The Einsteinian revolution that leaning tower of Pisa in Italy were not subject to be left in the hands of the not absolute. In this case the state- ing in societies. took place more than hundred years different from the apples and other historians. In the recent past Michael ments of this particular In "Nirmanathmaka ago in 1905 changed the Newtonian objects that fell to the ground in the Roberts a historian produced by the have been created in Sinhala Sapekshathavadaya" the relative paradigm and introduced new axioms seventeenth century England. Neither University by the river, and turned Theravada Buddhist culture, and if knowledge, one speaks of is not the and assumptions with respect to space were they different from the bombs Anthropologist by history and somebody were to question as to relative knowledge of something that and time. that were dropped in Germany as well Shainie who is comfortable in his/her whether the knowledge of a relativis- absolutely exists. In the normal rela- In the Kuhnian scheme theories in as by Germany in the first half of the anonymity have commented on histo- tic epistemology is absolute we would tivity theories, including those of the (western) science are created in a twentieth century.What is said to be ry and referred to me as I also write not reply in the affirmative, and all postmodernists, one has to deal with given paradigm and one may say that different is the way the western on history.Roberts has referred to me that we would say is that this particu- the way certain phenomena appear theories are relative to a paradigm. Physicists look at these various drop- as a Mathematician but at the outset I lar epistemology which we call con- with respect to different observers. It With paradigm shifts not only theo- pings. must say that I am not such a creature structionist is assumed that certain things exist ries but meanings associated with In Galilean Physics the objects fell as my contribution to Mathematics is (Nirmanathmaka "absolutely" and they appear different- concepts change. (In Sri Lanka in the near the earth with the same constant zero, though I sell some Applied Sapekshathavadaya) is at least inter- ly to different observers. Even in the seminar circuit the term paradigm acceleration and there was no gravita- Mathematics and Mathematical nally consistent to a very high degree, so called theory of relativity in shift is used in a very mundane way tional force or gravitational field that Physics, the others have created, for a unlike many other . Physics, there exists an absolute and sometimes even a change of made these objects to fall in Italy in living. For example an epistemology that space-time which is observed by dif- drinking habits from coca cola to the early seventeenth century.The History like any other corpus of assumes an objective reality inde- ferent observers in a manner relative pepsi cola is called a paradigm shift.) objects fell with the same constant knowledge is relative and is relative to pendent of the man has an uphill task to them. The so-called space-time For example the space and time of a acceleration and those dropped from the period of writing as well as the in attempting to show objectively that interval of two events remains the Newtonian observer is not the same equal heights simultaneously reached period of reading, not to mention the an objective reality exists. One would same for different observers whether as the space-time of an Einsteinian the ground simultaneously.In in the special theory or in the general observer. Though the same words Newtonian Physics it was different. theory of relativity."Nirmanathmaka space and time are used the hyphen in The apples in England in the late sev- Sapekshathavadaya" differs from all the Einsteinian paradigm gives them enteenth century did not fall with a the other relativistic epistemologies a different meaning altogether. In the constant acceleration though different and theories, as there it is the observ- paradigm of Quantum Physics a “par- apples had the same acceleration at er who constructs knowledge as if out ticle” does not mean the same thing as equal heights from the ground. For of nothing (sunya), due to the "avidya" a particle in Newtonian Physics. This any one apple the acceleration varied of the observer. Even the observer change of meaning does not have to with the height and moreover the On history who is "absolute" in the western theo- wait for a paradigm shift to take place. apples now had a gravitational force, ries, is relative to himself/herself in Even within a paradigm meanings that later became a gravitational field "Nirmanathmaka change as most of us are familiar under the influence of another writer and the reader. History of peri- say that it is an ontological problem Sapekshathavadaya". As there is no with. The meanings of the words Cambridge Theoretical Physicist Dr. od A, written in period B, and read in and not something that belongs to "soul" in Sinhala Theravada change with time (this is a tautology Maxwell, to respond to. In period C will “reveal” the conditions epistemology.However the way one , in "Nirmanathmaka as there is no time without change) Feyerabendian scheme these two in periods B and C, as well as the "acquires" a knowledge of the exis- Sapekshathavadaya" it has been and one does not have to be a post- views are incommensurable. To fur- characters of the writer relative to the tence of an objective reality is in the shown how the mind creates itself modernist to observe this phenome- ther complicate matters the bombs in reader. There is no objective history realm of epistemology.It has to be without referring to any "other enti- non. Also words have specific mean- Germany in the twentieth century did as such, which could be found only in emphasised that though western phi- ty". ings only in a given context and the not have a gravitational field in which the minds of the “objective histori- losophy has an epistemology separat- It was Prof. who same word could be used to denote dif- they could fall. Einsteinian Physics ans”. Before I write on history let me ed from an , it is not possible introduced the concept of paradigm ferent things in different contexts. had exorcised the gravitational field. say something on Philosophy and to do so even relative to western phi- with respect to creating knowledge. Here again there was no need for the The bombs themselves, together with here again I must emphasise that I am losophy. He showed that in Physics, what is world to wait for a Saussure to recog- the other objects created the space- neither a Philosopher, though I delve It has to be mentioned, at the out- referred to as Newtonian Physics is nise this simple phenomenon. time, made it curved, and moved in into Philosophy. set, that the above epistemology based on a set of certain axioms, However something more difficult the curved space-time. In Newtonian I believe in the philosophy of rela- though may sound similar to theories assumptions etc., which he called a to recognise was pointed by Prof. England apples responded to the tivity not only in western or any other on social construction of knowledge paradigm. He opposed the views of Feyerabend who elaborated the con- space and time, but the space and Physics but with respect to knowledge in what is known as Sociology of Prof. who had said that in cept of incommensurability.What he time did not reciprocate to respond to in general. To me knowledge, whether Knowledge, is much wider in its base. (western) science, the scientists said essentially was that the objects the apples. However, in Einsteinian in Physics or History, is created by In theories on what are called social advance knowledge by trying to falsi- that fell to the ground in Galilean Germany things were different. Not people relative to their sense organs, construction of knowledge it is readi- fy the existing theories. Kuhnian view Physics were not the same as those only the bombs responded to the culture and mind. This takes place in ly accepted that knowledge is created was that in (western) science there that fell under Newtonian gravitation space-time but the space-time very a Chinthanaya which itself is part of or constructed in a given society.The are what are known as normal peri- attraction. Needless to say that the kindly returned the compliment by culture. However, though social constructionists emphasise that ods and revolutionary periods. During objects that move around in the space- responding to the bombs. Chinthanaya is part of the culture it knowledge is created in societies but the normal periods the scientists time of the Theory of General (To be continued)

Mervyn de Silva on Pound

efore we get down to the the SLBC is not only Nihal correspondent for international that revolution stretched far so…” in the development of 20th centu- subject let me fill a few Bharathi but also V. Rajendra, media, foreign affairs analyst beyond the Anglo- Saxon tradi- “Pound and Eliot liberated ry poetry, he had Pound’s critical Bspaces left out in last Harold Fernando, Indrani and an editor of three newspa- tion…” verse by leading an assault on a essays in mind but the opinion week’s column on a link between Senanayake, Chris Bandara, pers – Daily News, Sunday He also wrote that W H Auden poetic idiom and form, which would hold good for the poetry the old-timers of the then Radio Kumar Samuel, Caryl Sella , Observer and Sunday Times- he was dead right when he said: was loose, sentimental, prolix, too. In fact, the two things went Ceylon and the literary critic Niranjan Abeysundara, Fathima also edited the now defunct “There are very few living poets, and otiose. So complexity, even together. If Pound was Poet-critic turned foreign affairs commenta- Cader, Bevil Palihawadana, Lanka Guardian, a third voice in even if they are not conscious of obscurity, became virtues in in the line of Arnold or tor – the intellectual, the late Winton de Valliere, Gauder and a Lankan Journalism. having been influenced by Ezra themselves: the archetypal Coleridge, his dual roles served Mervyn de Silva. few more. For purpose of record To me he was a fine literary, Pound who could say, ‘My work emblems, in fact, of all that was complimentary purposes. While Some of the forgotten names may I say that yours truly also film and theatre critic. Therefore would be exactly the same if Mr modern. When obfuscation the poet was giving “a new start” who were not strictly announcers compiled and presented the Arts I used to read avidly his literary Pound had never lived.” became a virtue, the comprehen- to English verse, the critic was but participants and compilers Magazine on the English Service. columns just as much as columns Look at the mature mode of sion and interpretation of what not only justifying the change of and presenters were; Hector At present he comes on the air as by Regi Siriwardena and others. critical evaluation of Mervyn: was difficult and apparently director but preparing and fash- Jayasinghe, Steve Herft,Christine one of the relief presenters on Mervyn “Western unintelligible was the reader’s ioning public taste and construct- Blackler, Alfreda de Silva, the 95.6 FM frequency and also and Regi critics have responsibility.” ing new critical values. Here Deloraine Brohier, Sita on the All Asia Service. were devalued Here is another astute obser- again, he gave the lead to Eliot Parakrama, Sujatha There are a few more presen- engaged in As I Like It Pound just as vation: who perhaps did the same job Jayawardena, Vernon ters who come and go and come a dynamic they have re- “Yes. Pound is not to be read more masterfully, although Abeysekera, Gamini again as relief announcers like polemic K. S. Sivakumaran examined in normal circumstances. And Pound’s work as a critic has cer- Haththotuwegama, Tissa yours truly over the airwaves of prompted Eliot and in when the excitement of discover- tain qualities of lasting values Abeysekera, Maryanne the SLBC. by the demise of Ezra Pound, in both cases one must endorse the ing something new and enjoying which as Professor Hugh Kerner Abeysekera and many more. One other thing: Last the Daily News in November mature, more measured judg- its strange, the accustomed pleas- has tirelessly toiled to convince As announcers, there were Wednesday (June 25) was the 1972. Mervyn lauded Ezra Pound ment which is proper, and was ures have subsided many a read- us, deserves wider recognition. Tommy Perera, Mahes Perera, third death anniversary of the as a ‘great pioneer’. only possible when the move- er will probably find, as I do, that What was it all about?’ Mervyn Jayasuriya, Shirley veteran broadcaster- Jimmy What I propose to do in this ment had lost its initial novelty there is so much more of what “The apparition of these faces Perera, Leon Bellath, David Bharucha. week’s column is to recount rele- and élan.” Henry James called “ felt life” in the crowd: Joseph, Joseph Mather, Chris vant excerpts from his article “…the second generation and a more serene maturity of Petals on a wet, black bough” Tambimuttu, Cyril Lawrence, Ezra Pound: Dissected by and the response by Regi. In this thanks to the detachment of dis- expression in Yeats or Frost than Mervyn concluded his estima- Charmaine Jayawardena, Dudley Mervyn de Silva and Regi dialogue, other knowledgeable tancing years and less overawed, we ever found in Pound and tion of Ezra Pound in his next Weeraratna, Arun Dias Siriwardena critics and columnists like is impatient with the immense Eliot.” column, but another major liter- Bandaranaike, Harold Fernando S.Pathiravitana, a senior editor obscurities, and essential dilet- Mervyn de Silva concludes ary critic we had, Regi and some more who were promi- In the early November 1972 the now freelancing, joined the fray. tantism of much of Pound’s with the summing up of Ezra Siriwardena had his own yard- nent broadcasters in English, say American -born British poet Mervyn began like this: verse. Nor are today’s readers Pound’s historical role: sticks of evaluating literature. between 1950 and 1970/1980. Ezra Pound died. At that time “In his own province and in unduly impressed with the tech- “He was the great pioneer, the Let us see how Mervyn con- Among the announcers who Mervyn de Silva was the Editor his own time, Pound was a rebel nical ingenuity, the vastly intri- maker of modern verse. When cluded his first column and how came into the limelight during in Chief of the Daily News. who revolutionized not merely cate machinery of poetic con- Eliot spoke of the “central Regi responded in next week’s and after the 1970s who continue Besides having been a reporter, English verse but the modern trivance. This was not always importance” of Pound’s writing “As I Like It”. to be behind the microphone of lobby correspondent, foreign poetic idiom. The frontiers of [email protected]