Horace Goodspeed & Human Entry of the Numbers
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By jazprof
- Horace Goodspeed & Human Entry of the Numbers
- Created: Jan 16, 2008
- Last updated: Aug 13, 2008
- After episode: 3.22: Through The Looking Glass
- Status: Current
- Flag this theory:
speed is distance over time=space/time. God’s speed, or God’s space/time could then mean the infinite
— jazprof
Reading AngeloComet’s posts about the Swan & the Arrow this morning got me thinking again about why the numbers needed to be entered by a human being, and also about Horace Goodspeed—in particular some connections through his name.
As AC pointed out, Goodspeed was a mathematician and I think we can assume his work had to do with the Valenzetti equation. So here’s the connection I make between his last name and the work he might have been doing. Goodspeed is derived from the phrase “God’s speed” a wish bestowed on travellers for a safe and quick journey.
Expanding on what it might mean—speed is distance over time=space/time. God’s speed, or God’s space/time could then mean the infinite. In one of my Group1 posts I’d been speculating on some connections to a quotation from William Blake’s “The Marriage of Heaven & Hell” that is about the infinite (side note—Blake’s poem is all about the need to balance oppositing forces: “Without Contraries there is no progression.”) Blake’s quotation is: “If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern.” The infinite, perception, man’s limited perception as if living in a cave—I’ll let you guys connect the dots there. The quotation was used for Aldous Huxley’s book “The doors of perception” about changing perception using psychotropic drugs—one of his peers was Dr. Richard Alpert. Huxley also wrote “The Island.” And the name was also adopted by The Doors (“Break on through to the other side”—”See you on the other side”?).
One idea I have about the numbers is, then, that they are a key to that door—opening the door ‘caused the incident. And as a key, they are also being used to try to reclose the door (entry into the computer). Which is also perhaps alluded to in the station name “The Arrow”—an arrow, instead of being God’s space/time would be man’s—moving only in one direction—fate. Charlie’s fate that was interfered with by Desmond.
Why the need for human entry of the numbers—I have two ideas here. One has to do with the emphasis on “perception”—it is not just the numbers themselves, but having people in a controlled environment thinking about the numbers. Partly this is based on a book I read about the effect of thinking about the concept of infinity on mathematicians—that it may have a negative impact on their mental health. The second idea—and this one I’d need confirmation from someone who might know more about computer networks—is that if the numbers were automated, this would make them more available off the island. They could be picked up in some way that would be dangerous. See katrinicity’s excellent theory on the idea that the numbers were never supposed to leave the island: http://lost-theories.com/theories/2007/nov/08/those-numbers/
Also, I have wondered in the past whether Hurley entering the numbers in the lottery led to them being channeled through various computer networks and that this led not only to his own good luck and the bad luck of others, but more fundamental and dangerous changes in the way things were supposed to be.
Going back to Goodspeed’s name to end—his first name alludes to a Latin poet who gave us some of our most well known latin phrases—all of which thematically connect to what I’m saying here.
carpe diem-sieze the day
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori-sweet and fitting it is to die for one’s country (but more accurately father-land)
and finally, he gave the name aurea mediocritas or golden mean—the desirable middle between two extremes
Angelo’s two theories are here: http://lost-theories.com/theories/2008/jan/14/dharma-stations-part-1-swan/ http://lost-theories.com/theories/2008/jan/16/dharma-stations-part-2-arrow/
Key episodes
| # | Title | Aired | Central character | Theories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.20 | The Man Behind The Curtain | 5-9-2007 | Ben | 412 |
Key locations
| Theme | Relevant Episodes | Theories |
|---|---|---|
| The Staff station | 2.15, 3.16, 3.18 | 178 |
On the computer networks aspect, if the computer responsible for the automation of the numbers was not actually placed on any network, but instead an isolated system, that would easily eliminate the worry of outside access to the numbers, as the only access would be physical access.
When we learn about the Swan Station’s original occupants, we learn at least in theory that they are supposed to get replacements at certain intervals. If the numbers are never supposed to leave the island, do those who were replaced have to remain on the island eternally or are they killed?
+1 Nice work, Jaz. I seem to recall (probably bouncing ideas off Lojozz) that I considered the human intervention of inputting the numbers to be to do with altering the Valenzetti equation.
I linked that in with Ben and his insistence on making Jack “want to want” to do the surgery, and the notion of how important it was to keep his word. Like thought and deed are intrinsic and effectual against the equation.
I think I lost heart with the whole idea anyway… too intangible. This post goes some way to solidifying the idea - Arrow as timeline, wish I’d thought of that! - but still doesn’t quite sit with me.
“Goodspeed is derived from the phrase “God’s speed” a wish bestowed on travellers for a safe and quick journey. ”
How about the Arrow as timeline… Arrow being a correct timeline? Like a timeline not condemned by the Valenzetti equation? The chief goal of the Arrow Station being to create this ‘perfect timeline’ by resolving the equation?
AC-yes, I like that idea about the arrow—also as in Dharma being the one true way, and the way that ties into Des and Jack both being runners and both seeming to need to find the right path.
wax—OK, thanks, that eliminates possibility #2 I think, though doesn’t negate kat’s point that the numbers were not supposed to leave the island. As far as the people being replaced—the quotation about dying for the father(land) might enter in—the men in the stations are sacrificed.
Nice one Jaz, I like this take, certainly explains the whole Mikhail “you are not capable of understanding” line to Kate, when she asks what they do on the island. I’ve been convinced the Arrow is of more worth than we currently know since Season 2, and this has certainly provided some suitable explanations! +1
jaz, nice expansion on Angelo’s Arrow theory. +1 I especially like the collaboration between the two of you in Angelo’s comment and your response. That pulled it altogether for me!
I remember checking into the meaning of the phrase “God’s speed” a couple years ago. Here is one possible origin:
“GOD SPEED THE PLOW — “God speed the plough, ‘a wish for success or prosperity,’ was originally a phrase in a 15th-century song sung by ploughmen on Plough Monday, the first Monday after Twelfth Day, which is the end of the Christmas holidays, when farm laborers returned to the plough. On this day ploughmen customarily went from door to door dressed in white and drawing a plough, soliciting ‘plough money’ to spend in celebration. “Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins” by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997).”
As if there’s anything wrong with cheesy! After all Dharma does produce some of the best cheesy food products this side of the University of Michigan!
Pickett and negative energy—I think that connects up to that old theory I had about Wilhelm Reich’s theory about positive/negative life energies and his inventions (one of which looks like the security fence and he called a “cloud burster”—rain as an effect of dispersal of negative energy): http://lost-theories.com/theories/2007/oct/04/positivenegative-life-energy-m/
Energy—electro-magnetic properties of the island—electrical pulses as the way in which throughts are carried—importance of having the numbers go through people’s neural network? Also, Ben’s use of the pace-maker con on Sawyer, the non-use of the defibrillater—is there a possible other reason for that? Can they not apply electrical charges to the body on the island for some reason? And Des—the lightning rod, lightning as fate.
(Heh, in that old theory, comment #19—I realized that one of the things I found really funny in the Season1 recap that wtf recently posted—I forgot I wrote the same thing. Forgetfulness is so useful—everything always seems so fresh and new :-)