Anupam- The Dreamer

Mathematics is an interesting subject. Often, it may seem as difficult to many (including myself), yet the vistas of understanding that the science of mathematics has unravelled to the humanity is just unparalleled. Nothing worthwhile in this world could be understood without the concepts of mathematics. Even all the other sciences like physics, chemistry , biology etc etc. can only be understood with the help of numbers. Without numbers, we cannot make sense of the world in other disciplines of study as well- be it economics, accountancy, arts, humanities etc. Here in this piece, I would like to explore the metaphysical aspect of the concept of binaries in mathematics. This article tends to digress from the cliché topics that are easily understandable. Therefore, caution is advised before going ahead and you may continue at your own risk 🙂

Often we see around us, we tend to categorize things into two opposite aspects- one positive, other negative; one yes, other no; one right, the other wrong; one present, other absent; one pass, other fail; one haves, other have-nots. Even the computer system is designed on the two binary numbers i.e. 0 and 1, and the whole computer architecture is built on the foundation of these. While this may offer a few advantages to make the sense of the world around us easier to comprehend, by assigning a simplistic yes or no to everything, it has a lot more disadvantages too.

Firstly, the biggest disadvantage of the concept of binaries is that it makes us see through the rigid lens of right or wrong to everything in life. Over time, things have become so rigid that they block the thinking of people to imagine anything out of the rigid traditional binaries or divides. This kills the imagination to think in different perspectives, from the point of view of different persons, and in the context of different social-cultural milieu and circumstances. The sun which feels good in the winters, becomes difficult to bear in the summers. The water which nourishes the land, can also become a cause of destruction during the floods. The traditions which served the society well at some point in time have become repugnant in the current times. So, here the sun or the water or the traditions are not per se right or wrong. It is the prevailing circumstances, environment and the perspectives at different times which make them so.

Secondly, it deprives us from witnessing the beautiful world of continuum that exists out there. When we step out from the world of binaries, everything seems fluidic. There is no perfect answer to anything in terms of right or wrong. It all depends on the context. For example, in Ramayana, the utmost importance is given to the means as well as the ends, in the sense that both should be noble. However, in the Mahabharata, more importance is given to the ends (the victory of the virtuous and the deserving) rather than the ends adopted to achieve those ends. Even the bending and breaking of strict rules of war and diplomacy were adopted both by the Pandavas and the Kauravas, to achieve their purpose. To a person born in the age of Ramayana, the people of the age of Mahabharata would seem unjust and vice-versa. This is the beauty when we stop ascribing rigid meanings to the things and try to understand them in their context.

Thirdly, even in present times, people try to fit you in certain binary categories which may be against the interests of individuals. Nationalist or anti-nationalist, Republican or Democrat, political or non-political, religious or anti-religious, this language or that language and many other rigid categories. If you are not with them, then it automatically makes you their enemy. When such sort of categorization is made, it forces a person to try to cling to one of the two narratives, otherwise they may be left behind the others. But, this is not how the reality works. The reality is often found somewhere in between. For example, when the world was divided into capitalist and communist blocs, India decided its own path of non-alignment. It was understood by the capitalist nations that if you are not with us, then you are against us. Similar thing was understood by the communist bloc. However, despite the immense pressure, India decided to carve out its own niche and became the beacon of hope for the poor newly independent countries to create a separate path of peace and development. Another example, is the introduction of NOTA in the ballot in our country. It gives a choice to a voter to select none of the nominated candidates, if (s)he feels that none of them is fit to represent him/her. This is not to say that one must try to be different from others just for the sake of it, rather there must always be a room for a spectrum of choices to emerge, which may be better than the existing ones.

Fourthly, the concept of binaries strips a person to think beyond the usual. It saps the creativity out of the person, as there is no scope of divergence in the traditional way of thinking. But, when you think beyond the usual, there is a beautiful set of other dimensions that unravel before you. Take for example, the Herzberg’s motivation theory (two-factor theory). If you are in a job, earlier it was understood that you may either fall in below two categories:

1. Satisfied, or

2. Dissatisfied

That was the traditional view. Either you are happy or you are unhappy.

But, Herzberg thought something different. He told that you may not fall within these two categories of being satisfied or dissatisfied. There may be two more different categories of:

1. Not satisfied
2. Not dissatisfied

with your job. Basically, these two points lie on a continuum line, somewhere between the “Satisfaction” and “Dissatisfaction” extremes.

This means that even if you are not satisfied with your job, then it doesn’t automatically mean that you are on the opposite end of the binary i.e. of dissatisfaction. You may have “No satisfaction”, yet you aren’t dissatisfied. What a beautiful example given by him! You may think on your own and apply this concept in many aspects of life.

So, basically thinking beyond binaries propels you into another world of thinking and imagination, where new concepts, ideologies, thought processes, theories can emerge. It can help us appreciate the world around us better, and in the proper context. Additionally, it can make us more humble as it enhances our acceptance of the world view of others and makes us more tolerant, fluidic, adaptable and a part of the larger continuum.

Let me end with a yet another beautiful example from mathematics.

If you look at the above picture, positive infinity and negative infinity are opposite in one sense. However, although they seem to be two different binaries, yet there is a similarity between the two and they are not exactly opposite. Because if you take a liquid at a very high temperature (positive infinity) and another liquid at a very low temperature (negative infinity) and pour them on your two hands respectively, then to your surprise the damaging effect of them on your skin would be similar. This proves that even the two extremes converge at some point!

To a world beyond binaries. FTW!