Mighty Infinity

Stopped over at Seth Godin’s blog tonight and was struck by his post on infinity. He writes:

Infinite isn’t what it used to be. There used to be an infinite number of stars, and probably an infinite number of kids in high school who didn’t like you very much, but that was about it when it came to a typical human being’s interaction with the uncountable.

But now, infinite is everywhere.

It got me thinking about how “infinite” is just one of the words we use to describe that which we can’t quite hold, contain, control, manage. Infinite is God/gods, “a lot”, “no way!”, “awe”, “legion”, 八百万(yaoyorozu). It’s that which we long to simplify, find a way to engage and understand-have faith in, believe in.

In his post Seth describes “search”:

Search makes the infinite finite (at least for a while). With search, we turn the infinite selection on Amazon into a nearly manageable finite selection. Except search (no matter where you look) is pretty lame, and it doesn’t really turn infinite collections into manageable choices. 

He’s right. Search is linear-a direct connection between subject and object. Search ignores the open living system, in-your-face chaotic complexity of the infinite for the comfort of acquiring, having something-now. Search is the real opiate for the masses. Search gives you what you want and only (or nearly) what you want. My brother out in LA complains that internet searching is destroying his once (but still formidable) encyclopedic grasp of all things cinematic.

Is it possible, though, to hold the one and the many and all that connects and binds them (and us) in all of their simultaneous brilliance? That is what I’m searching for. That and Gary Snyder’s new book on Amazon.

Tags: capacity, complexity, infinite, search function