Universe 2.1

“All” is “所有” in Chinese. Literally,

all = 所有 = the place has

The definition of word “universe” is “everything” or “all the things“. 

universe = all the things

However, this definition is not 100% sharp, because the meaning of “all” is relative to a list or a place. In order to give a meaning to the word “all“, you have to provide a list or a place in the sentence it appears.

When referring to a list, for example, the meaning of the phrase “all of A, B, and C” is the same as “A, B, and C“.

all of A, B, and C  =  A, B, and C

However, the definition of “universe” does not specify a list, such as

universe = all of A, B, and C

When referring to a place, for example, the meaning of the phrase “all the people in this house” is:

You keep looking for people in this house. Whoever you can find, include him or her onto your list of people. Once you cannot find new people in the house anymore, your list will have “all the people in this house“.

In other words, in order to give the word “all” a meaning, you have to provide a range for searching. However, the definition of “universe” does not specify a place, such as

universe = all the things in X,

unless we define the word “universe” as

universe = all the things in universe

However, this is a circular definition.

— Me@2012.10.16

— Me@2012.12.11

— Me@2012.12.20

2012.12.21 Friday (c) All rights reserved by ACHK