When we exploit our spirits and intelligence
Determined to establish our own viewpoints
And obstinately do not know the agreement,
Which underlies them and the views of others,
We have what is called “three in the morning
And four in the evening.” A twice told tale
Is about a keeper of apes, in giving them out
Their chestnuts, once said, “From now on, guys,
Every morning I will give you three acorns,
And in the evening four.” The statement
Made them all extremely angry, so he said,
“Very well then. In the morning I’ll give you
Four and in the evening three, if you wish.”
Hearing this, the apes calmed down, all pleased.
The moral is that the keeper’s two proposals
Were substantially the same, but the outcome
Of the one was to make the creatures angry,
And of the other to make them pleased again—
An evidence of the point that total is changed
Once its terms are replaced. And I’m insisting
On this, as long as a place determines a result,
But never otherwise. Therefore, a clever man
Brings together a debate in its affirmations
Designated by the odd number three and denials
Expressed by the even number four, thus resting
In the equal fashioning of what is called ‘harmony’
Whereas both sides of the question are admissible.
This is what is known as ‘a method of reasoning’—
Another astute move of the proof by contradiction—
The everlasting companion of the human life.
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I do most of my math in my head
and can't see the numbers.
Still, you may be onto something here.
Ron
Sandie