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PHILOSOPHY & FUN OF ALGEBRA, Chapter 10, The Story of a Working Hypothesis, part 1

Chapter 10, The Story of a Working Hypothesis, part 1

In an old Hebrew book there is a story of a person named Jacob, which means the Supplanter. If you want to know why, you had better read the story for yourself some day. It is not entirely a pretty story, but it is very instructive. Jacob had a dream in which he saw “angels” coming down a ladder. It would be a very profitable exercise of your imagination to ask yourselves why this particular patriarch saw angels on a ladder, whereas so many other Hebrews saw them in clouds, or flying down on wings, or mixed up with flames and other romantic, pretty, moving things. Jacob had another dream, and saw an angel who wrestled with him, and apparently left him with sciatica for life; which is not surprising, for he had been sleeping out of doors on bare ground, just when he had been wrestling with very serious difficulties caused by his own dishonest tricks. At such times, as I told you before, people had better be a little extra careful not to catch cold; because colds caught under such conditions are rather prone to leave unpleasant traces, which last a long time, and sometimes all one's life. Well, the angel who gave Jacob sciatica gave him something else: a new name. Why did he give him a new name? Taking a new name was an ancient ceremony which meant entering a new service. Sixty years ago servants in Devonshire were called by their employer's name. A gardener would have two names—his own, which he got from his father, and his master's. I have even heard dogs called by their master's names, for instance, Toby Smith, or Ponto Jones. You will often notice in old books that when people were converted, that is to say, when they either took up a new religion or turned from bad ways to good ones, the people who persuaded them to be converted gave them a new name, very often the teacher's own name. Well, the angel who wrestled with Jacob appears to have converted him. He seems to have persuaded Jacob that there are other ways of getting on in the world and promoting the fortunes of one's children and grandchildren besides cheating everybody, including one's own nearest relations.

Chapter 10, The Story of a Working Hypothesis, part 1 Kapitel 10, Die Geschichte einer Arbeitshypothese, Teil 1 Capítulo 10, La historia de una hipótesis de trabajo, parte 1 第10章、作業仮説の物語 その1 Rozdział 10, Historia hipotezy roboczej, część 1 Capítulo 10, A história de uma hipótese de trabalho, parte 1 Глава 10, История рабочей гипотезы, часть 1 Bölüm 10, Çalışan Bir Hipotezin Hikayesi, kısım 1 第 10 章,工作假设的故事,第 1 部分

In an old Hebrew book there is a story of a person named Jacob, which means the Supplanter. Em um antigo livro hebraico há a história de uma pessoa chamada Jacó, que significa o Suplantador. If you want to know why, you had better read the story for yourself some day. Se você quer saber por que, é melhor ler a história por si mesmo algum dia. It is not entirely a pretty story, but it is very instructive. Não é inteiramente uma história bonita, mas é muito instrutiva. Jacob had a dream in which he saw “angels” coming down a ladder. Jacó teve um sonho em que viu “anjos” descendo uma escada. It would be a very profitable exercise of your imagination to ask yourselves why this particular patriarch saw angels on a ladder, whereas so many other Hebrews saw them in clouds, or flying down on wings, or mixed up with flames and other romantic, pretty, moving things. Seria um exercício muito proveitoso de sua imaginação perguntar a si mesmo por que esse patriarca em particular viu anjos em uma escada, enquanto tantos outros hebreus os viram em nuvens, ou voando sobre asas, ou misturados com chamas e outras coisas românticas, bonitas, coisas em movimento. Jacob had another dream, and saw an angel who wrestled with him, and apparently left him with sciatica for life; which is not surprising, for he had been sleeping out of doors on bare ground, just when he had been wrestling with very serious difficulties caused by his own dishonest tricks. Jacó teve outro sonho e viu um anjo que lutou com ele e aparentemente o deixou com ciática para o resto da vida; o que não é surpreendente, pois ele estava dormindo ao ar livre no chão nu, justamente quando lutava com sérias dificuldades causadas por seus próprios truques desonestos. At such times, as I told you before, people had better be a little extra careful not to catch cold; because colds caught under such conditions are rather prone to leave unpleasant traces, which last a long time, and sometimes all one's life. Nessas ocasiões, como já lhe disse, é melhor que as pessoas tomem um pouco mais de cuidado para não pegar um resfriado; porque resfriados pegos nessas condições são bastante propensos a deixar traços desagradáveis, que duram muito tempo e, às vezes, toda a vida. Well, the angel who gave Jacob sciatica gave him something else: a new name. Bem, o anjo que deu ciática a Jacob deu-lhe outra coisa: um novo nome. Why did he give him a new name? Por que ele deu a ele um novo nome? Taking a new name was an ancient ceremony which meant entering a new service. Assumir um novo nome era uma cerimônia antiga que significava entrar em um novo serviço. Sixty years ago servants in Devonshire were called by their employer's name. Sessenta anos atrás, os empregados em Devonshire eram chamados pelo nome de seus empregadores. A gardener would have two names—his own, which he got from his father, and his master's. Um jardineiro teria dois nomes - o seu próprio, herdado do pai, e o do patrão. I have even heard dogs called by their master's names, for instance, Toby Smith, or Ponto Jones. Já ouvi cachorros serem chamados pelos nomes de seus donos, por exemplo, Toby Smith ou Ponto Jones. You will often notice in old books that when people were converted, that is to say, when they either took up a new religion or turned from bad ways to good ones, the people who persuaded them to be converted gave them a new name, very often the teacher's own name. Você notará frequentemente em livros antigos que quando as pessoas se convertiam, isto é, quando elas adotavam uma nova religião ou mudavam de maus caminhos para bons, as pessoas que as persuadiam a se converterem lhes davam um novo nome, muito muitas vezes o próprio nome do professor. Well, the angel who wrestled with Jacob appears to have converted him. Bem, o anjo que lutou com Jacó parece tê-lo convertido. He seems to have persuaded Jacob that there are other ways of getting on in the world and promoting the fortunes of one's children and grandchildren besides cheating everybody, including one's own nearest relations. Ele parece ter persuadido Jacob de que existem outras maneiras de progredir no mundo e promover a fortuna de seus filhos e netos, além de enganar a todos, incluindo os próprios parentes mais próximos.