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PROFILES^
Visions of the univfer:
Math and Science Departments
comment on the universe
By Deborah Hull
God, politic!, and tie "Fir Side." Ask any three
Lowell science and nssh teachen about their views and
visions o'tbe universe and prepare for expert opinions
on everything from evolution ind Jerry Falwcll (Edgar
Lehman, biology), to nuclear war (David Roditti,
math), to the California Academy of Sciences' exhibit
of Gary Larson's cartoons (James Carnack, biology).
These, among many other subjects and surmises
composed the responses of various Lowell science and
truth teachers in a reran interview asking for their personal
vir»» and vision* of the universe.
Answers from the teachers ranged from the serious
and theorctieU to the ridiculous and burlesque.
Biology teacher Mark Mcoheim initially assured the
reporter, "We're all germs inside some giant
organism...when the organism lakes antibiotics we'll
all ciplodc and die." He then went on to inquire, "Can
I nice thai ail back?"
Mosheim wu not entirely sure, however. k> to
whether or not the universe is shrinking or expanding.
"II depends on whether (he orginiini is maturing or
dying," he declared.
His quandary wms quickly solved by main teacher
Lawrence Robinson, on "expending universe guy."
"Some thick it's not expanding; I say it is," he
confided.
Of course, when discussing something u mysterious
as the unWerse, cue expects a variety of opinions, many
of which are bound to be contiadiciory. Biology
teacher James Kneri believes, "The universe is tern*
on. Umryoae focsbt with water pras, the world
ld b
porary and is changing all the time," "vhercas Marian
Gorualcs, physiology maintains. "All that u has
always been, and always wiU be." (Take heed, all
physiology icholars, for Gonzalez continued, "Ifthc>
can understand that, they can pus my class.")
There was no disagreement on the subject of tne
universe's VSM. uncharted, and prodigious size, and
man's insignificance in relationship to it.
"It's an awfully big place." stated AP/Biology
teicher William Stevens. Chemistry teacher Patricia
Cancpa declared, "Mnn is so insignificant, yet he
thinks he's so bloody important." She also believes.
"The basts of the universe is matter, and if we understand
how mattr behaves, we can envision the universe
as one great big quantity of letter interacting."
While most teachers were vevy obliging in answer*
ing the question, others had i,** specific opinions
whatsoever.
"I don't think you want to talk to me; I just look
out the window and think it's pretty, that's the limit
of it," confessed Carl KocnJg, computer programming
teacher.
Dcfore closing, one must raise the question of the
actual existence and validity of the universe. Physics
teacher Ronald Wcnj joked. "It's all an illusion —
it doesn't exist — it's a plaything of the mind."
When all was said and done everybody agreed that
thr universe is a very great and awesome pUcc.
Finally, for more information contact Mr. Mosheim.
He will surely refer you to the nearest French
existentialist.
The world as an
existentialist
would see it
By Era Fcsta
"Beliew in yourself!" the teachers of our lodcty tdl us, from ihc bc»innins
of our educations onwaid. "Believe in God. bdievc in the American
wiy. believe b vour pet joWfuh. believe in wmdhlnt!"
Bet what tbout uv«e who don't believe to anything? .
The term for this particular viiion of the univene. "exKtcntiaUsrn",
wit invented is 1933 by Jean-Paul 5a.trc, a French philosopher.
Sartre uid that we (We in a puradoxical universe. This ptndox Is thai
a basic characteristic of bunuA nature is rtc neceuiry to ask questions
that we inherently unanswerable, such a*. "Who am 1?" "Why am 1
•*re?" or, "What is real?"
Tims, accordtos tocxitiembllun. we live ta a world that is leaf to our
t|uatiotn, need*, and concerns. We free uncxplainablc events every diy,
aM there is no omnipotent farce to make tcmc ot luch things.
We iijy ferl a unity, • boojl whh nature, but it there a Mother Earth
*ho fceli a ibniUr bood with us? An existentialist wotld uy no.
In addition, the existentialist questions atouacUons, »uch as love, or
hate. "What is a rc&iooship?" he asks. An important concept of thh
theory a to not tale anything for (ranted. We rre taught that we are
"ttUicd" to our relative*, but If no inner bead exists tcrwecn mother
cod son. is Caraut demouintes bi his novel. The Simn/er. does a relaonmhip
really cxisr?
Once maa rj»'uet thai the answei u> this question is "no", thai all he
assumes his meaning nuy nu hare rncanini, thai be is righting u unwionabic
fi{hu where the only ccruii ihin-j is his own death, t.a must
become enraged with thi* sltuaitbn, ttkff actkn. and rebel agtinu tie UIH
Zzlrness of it all.
The acuoo be takes is to live as if absnciiocis do exist, tad to live ^
if there is meaning to life. Tnus. he creates the meaning of hi* own life
in a world Uut b indifferent to him.
Jo Ann Stewart, **$o caches the A. P. Ts^lbh class entitled "Man
in his Universe'* says of Mfarmii'mn. "IT* • brave, admuablc view
to hoU...h gives tbe bdMdual tremeadous m;M>nsibtltty and a terrifybig
freedom."
A-P- Art History tcacber Nancy Hayes Gnds that tnoch art reflects the
existential m view, particslarly abstnrt eipreuiooism.
••Penpte ihiak all an u tuppaccd to be undcntaadable. 'What does -t
mean?* they jsk. But aUtrsct exprecskMusm isn't supposed to 'nwtn'
cvthiag *-*. W cany thinp it: life that don't lend theaadves to cxplanartoo.
asd anists. tike writers, cxfrcc» ihdr bnfnetnent, anJ ioabUiry to
explain* in tfy^ir wonc.** • ^ • • • '
Lowell scholars
universal vie>
By Marth. Drigmdo
Kow does man fit bito thr
uriverse? Why docs man exfjr? What
b the puxpote of life? h. there a
furposc?
TotK questions hate trxibled the
minds of great phitosopbtrs aod
Unr^l fludcats for oenwrics. Exptanations
from all ends of* the spec*
trum have been offered, trae of than
being right ot WTDOS — from
hedonism to auxtlcutr.
What do LowcQ stulcnu bave la
say about man's pUce in the world?
Do they take life aerioujy? Have they
even thought of it? Nfny of Lowdl's
dntias'jbhed scholars jhtrc Aar opinioot
aboot lift here; What is the po
pose of life?
Clare Sohn "The purpose of lifr is
lo use our toowkdge for future
Jostea AOen: "To learn, to masc
mistates, and improve oursdvoi
fiom die miuikci we've made."
Vlrcmfai Yooi^: "The pursuit of
unlimited cm]it."
Cathy Sbcrroa ft Trrea Chatt:
"Ufe b like A Jk*. game. Maa Is
like the pawn bctnc tmf'p'Tiiffi by
the omnipotent being."
Mallbrw Hdoxr: "The purpoie of
life is 10 find wlat the mcsini of life
U."
"Life is Ihrre for
q s : ibo more one achieves,
the mme one receives ID wcsjtil.
power. »ad gitU."
MnncaCoU:world
lo l
hs fuilex in <
destiny: eternity ,1
Jennifer Brsml
»id."a'l
to vou w :
other pttns."
DjUnFuScn "I
Yocrtfve toped j
the foal •tatf.c
CM the fnJt."
p
gemitioas and
abiliUs to the f'
Aim ;!tek: "ll
try to aare fiiar
Miry Rabat:'1
b S V H f
powder. tul>
ski faatraa
role. We have the ahi
oar own destiny or t
Rowie Uwh: ->„
ownmle...be»til>uinl
btboHer." 1
"ooett Taylor. "."I
"W" trying to nuke i
«(the intone)."
"uch as Captain Kia
P°se lor las mission. "I
"Bum has ever jc
ss UQ earth ^Jv> hj
SometeKhenW
W i th J
you die."
CCberUSudbrz:-
• i
ourcnafr
-'o make
i t e n j o
e five margsrius