Science – The Consolations of Writing

Cosmology (II)

If it would still be meaningful to say, There are an infinite number of universes – if their profound otherness did not embarrass even the language of Being itself…if something we could discern and recognise as intelligent life were to occur in certain of these other realities, might we not learn that our notions ofContinue reading “Cosmology (II)”

Astronomy

…the dread of something after death – The undiscover’d country, from whose bourn No traveller returns – puzzles the will, And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of… (William Shakespeare, Hamlet) What dreams may come when we set out for stars? What will we findContinue reading “Astronomy”

Knowledge

I do not know the ways of spheres: how planets orbit, how stars alight. I do not know how life’s sustained, how atmospheres enfold. I do not know the wheres or whys, how Jupiter protects our sky. I only know the heart of man and know that it is sick. I have not plumbed theContinue reading “Knowledge”