Transcription
Do you wish to be forcibly led by this era, enduring and obeying like slaves? You need to create a brand new, correct era.
Bardeni did not want to research seismology in the church, so he chose to conduct his research in Okz's warehouse. He discovered Okz's literacy notes and was surprised that Yolanda had actually taught Okz to read. Bardeni believed that literacy was not a good thing for most people. To use words requires a certain aptitude and cultivation. If everyone could easily wield words, wouldn't there be a pile of garbage information flying everywhere? I don't want to see such a world. Besides, what necessity do you have to be literate? Okz said he wanted to write books and keep a diary, to record his experiences during this time. Bardeni was furious. Literacy was for writing books that might expose our whereabouts? However, Bardeni was too lazy to care. Even if he wrote them, Bardeni could burn them.
The next day, a child in the church asked a monk why the rainbow was seven colors. The monk didn't know, so he went to ask Bardeni. Bardeni, lacking sleep, was lying on the floor of his room. The monk asked Bardeni why the rainbow was seven colors. Bardeni said he wouldn't tell the monk for free. The monk then said he would arrange for extra paper and ink for him. Bardeni then quoted a passage from Epicurus's explanation. After the monk explained it to the child, he asked Bardeni if he had read Epicurus. Bardeni said yes, and even put on a helmet, claiming it was to criticize heretics. The monk then asked if he had read Lucretius, an Epicurean. He had read Lucretius's poetry and felt a sense of emotion, so he wanted to share knowledge about Lucretius with Bardeni. But Bardeni refused, stating he had no interest in sharing knowledge. Ordinary humans who do not possess the corresponding qualifications have no need to know these things. The monk became very angry after hearing this, considering Bardeni arrogant. Later, he thought of the grapes he couldn't eat, believing he didn't need the knowledge of the heretical Lucretius and had no need to pursue it.
Later, the monk heard gossip among the commoners on their way to church about the origin of the scar on Bardeni's face. When Bardeni was studying, he had a good friend with whom he did research. However, his friend stole his research findings and published them. The two eventually settled their conflict through a duel. Bardeni killed his friend, and the scar on his face was a result of this. After hearing this, the monk understood why Bardeni was resistant to sharing knowledge. He went to ask Bardeni why he still pursued learning and research after such an experience. "Because I don't want to abandon the reason God bestowed upon humanity." Because of this reason, I might witness a special historical moment. But the monk believed that excessive curiosity might lead one to desire even immoral knowledge. Bardeni retorted: Isn't this world already full of immoral things? To change such a world, what do you think is necessary? That is, knowledge. Therefore, knowledge should be handled by suitable individuals.
After hearing Bardeni's words, the monk, for the first time in a long while, wanted to go to the city library. However, the library was urgently closed, and the monk had to return home. As he turned back, he discovered a notebook in the grass. It was a notebook dropped by Pierst on the rooftop before his death.
Meanwhile, Bardeni had been diligently calculating, but there were always errors. At night, Bardeni asked Okz to dig a tunnel from the warehouse to the church, and also to dig an escape route. Okz wanted to exchange this work for more bread from Bardeni. Bardeni knew that Okz wanted more bread to share with the nearby poor. But Bardeni disagreed. He believed that giving bread to the poor would not bring one closer to heaven, so he refused to give him more bread. He then returned to the warehouse to continue his research. No matter how he corrected the seismology theory, if celestial bodies revolved around the sun in circular orbits, the calculated results would differ from astronomical records. He even began to question the accuracy of the records. Until he looked at the necklace Okz wore on the wall, the necklace left by Herbert, a necklace hung by two nails. If all celestial bodies moved with two focal points, their orbits would be ellipses. As long as the celestial bodies' orbits were elliptical, the previous errors could be resolved. Incidentally, this is Kepler's first law. Kepler initially believed that the heliocentric theory meant circular orbits and even created a model of tangent circles with regular polyhedra. But after obtaining Tycho's data, he found it mathematically incorrect. Finally, he discovered that celestial orbits were elliptical. As for why they are elliptical, it is more mathematical. You can imagine that the Earth itself has inertia and keeps moving forward. The reason it becomes a circle is due to the sun's universal gravitation. So, while moving forward, it is also pulled towards the sun. A subtle balance between the two directions and forces is required for a perfect circular orbit. If either side has slightly more or less force, it will become an ellipse. The most noticeably elliptical orbit in the solar system is Mercury's. Earth's orbit is actually close to a perfect circle but is still an ellipse. Moreover, the orbital speed of celestial bodies is not constant; they move faster when closer to the sun and slower when farther away. This is Kepler's second law. Within the same amount of time, the area swept by a planet revolving around the sun is equal. What Bardeni discovered here are Kepler's laws. It is evident that Pierst and Bardeni correspond to the historical Tycho and Kepler, one leaving valuable astronomical records, the other calculating the heliocentric theory.
Returning to the story, after Bardeni overcame the difficulty, he prepared to conduct more precise calculations to compile a paper. Coincidentally, he discovered the book Okz wrote after learning to read. He even scoffed that someone not of the intellectual class was still writing. However, after opening the book and reading its contents, Bardeni became thoughtful.
The next day, Bardeni approached the nearby poor people and asked if Okz had shared bread with them. He then promised to continue giving them bread in the future, but with a condition: they had to lend him their heads. That night, Bardeni gave Okz more bread but did not reveal why. Thus, Okz dug tunnels, and Bardeni researched.
A few months later, Bardeni looked at the sun. The seismology theory was complete.
Meanwhile, in the church, the Bishop was giving a speech to the newly arrived inquisitors. He began by talking about the chaos after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. In that turbulent and disordered world, Christianity brought a beacon of hope and culture and morality. The people united through Christianity. But there were still those who were dissatisfied: pagans and heretics. They had lost their faith and saw destruction as their purpose for existence. They preached the shattering of morality and ethics everywhere, abandoning salvation and hope. Therefore, we must save these heretics. I hope that through this work, you will guide these heretics towards repentance and, with your passion, save all humanity.
After the speech, the newcomers were to begin their practical training. Two of them were to intern with Novak. Seeing the two stiff newcomers, Novak understood their unease. Interrogating heretics is not a job that brings good cheer. He himself had never told his daughter about his work. But he got used to it as he did it. Novak then shared some tips for this job, including that the Bishop greatly valued cosmology. When there were cases related to it, actively participating would earn extra points. The newcomers wondered why cosmology was so important. Novak explained that cosmology was about God's creation, a very sensitive topic, and the Bishop seemed to have studied astronomy in the past. However, he now abnormally detested it. Such a situation usually meant he had encountered something in the past. After the newcomers had no questions, Novak intended to take them for practical training. On the way, they met Mr. Anthony. Upon learning that there were new inquisitors, Anthony complained about the cost of maintaining the inquisitors and hiring new ones. They couldn't confiscate the property of heretics for revenue. Wars with pagans and maintaining monasteries all cost money. Anthony then cursed the Bishop for not being very bright. The newcomers wanted to know who this Anthony was. Novak said he was the Bishop's son. Although Bishops cannot marry, people of high status always have complex backgrounds. Btw, this Anthony will be a character with a plot.
Then, Novak led the newcomers to the interrogation room. He asked the newcomers to try using the torture instruments to extract confessions. One newcomer hesitated but, under Novak's urging, carried out the torture. The other newcomer could not bring himself to do it. After the interrogation, Novak understood the newcomers' distress on their first day. But the newcomer who couldn't do it asked, "Is this method truly correct? They might lie to escape pain. We should communicate with them more and let love bring them rebirth." But Novak said, "The decision is not in our hands. Our task is to follow instructions. And after engaging in this work, you will discover that heretics are unscrupulous. They collude with demons and attempt to change the world. What do you think is most important to stop them? And what is needed to maintain the world as it is? That is blood."
At this moment, an inquisitor came to find Novak for an urgent assignment. It was again related to a heretic concerning cosmology.
After completing the seismology theory, Bardeni, Okz, and Yolanda met again. Bardeni said the seismology theory was complete enough to be published. "Now, at this very moment, we are all rotating." Bardeni's next step was to continue his research in the V Republic, where it was relatively free. Okz planned to move to another town and find a job to save money. One day, he wanted to go to university. Bardeni had some doubts, but Yolanda thought this aspiration was excellent. And Yolanda, because Kolbe was promoted, had joined the astronomy research group. One day, she wanted to publish a paper under her own name. If she could set a precedent, perhaps more would follow. She hoped for a free intellectual platform in the future where anyone could publish research equally. She hoped to contribute to such a "future." However, these were all just dreams. Okz remembered that Kai Si had once said, "It's good to have dreams." Now he seemed to understand. As long as one has dreams, one can endure about a week of tragedy. This is truly a precious thing. Yolanda felt the same. She then asked Okz about the progress of his book. Knowing the book was finished, Yolanda wanted to see it. But at this moment, someone arrived and started chatting with Yolanda. Okz was extremely surprised to see him. It was Yolanda's father, the inquisitor Novak. Novak acted like an ordinary father. Upon learning that they met through research, and Bardeni praised Yolanda for her intellect, he immediately thanked Bardeni for his compliment. Okz, standing aside, dared not speak.
After the gathering ended, Okz breathed a sigh of relief. Just as Okz was about to say Novak was an inquisitor, Novak appeared. After seeing Yolanda off, he turned back. He revealed that he was a heretic inquisitor. They had received a letter from someone who found a notebook on the street. The content was all about cosmology, but the latter half had several pages supporting heterodox cosmology. Therefore, he wanted to investigate Bardeni's research. Okz was nervous, and Bardeni said, "Of course, no problem." Bardeni led Novak to the warehouse, and Novak went in to investigate. When asked what they were mainly researching, Bardeni naturally replied, astrology, and the disasters caused by Mars opposition. Mars opposition refers to when the sun, Earth, and Mars are in a straight line. At this time, Mars is close to Earth and directly opposite the sun from Earth's perspective, so Mars appears very bright from Earth during Mars opposition. Many astronomical phenomena are described using "opposition" or "transit." "Opposition" refers to planets farther from the sun than Earth forming a straight line with the sun and Earth. "Transit" refers to planets closer to the sun forming a straight line with the sun and Earth, such as Venus and Mercury. The transit of Venus is a very important astronomical phenomenon in history. The transit of Venus was the first time humans could use their eyes and brains to mathematically calculate how far we are from the sun, i.e., to calculate the Earth-sun distance of 1 AU. I explained the detailed calculation method in a livestream highlight a long time ago, but I think the important thing about this event is that even though our bodies are confined to Earth, we can use reason and intellect to discover the truths of the universe. This is why I like astronomy. Even as insignificant humans, with sufficient intellect, we can explore objective truths.
Returning to the story, Novak casually picked up some research materials to look at. There was nothing suspicious in the research; everything was fine. As he was about to continue his investigation, he noticed the necklace on the table and suddenly said, "It's so safe, I'm truly sorry to have suspected you." After apologizing, Novak left quickly.
After Novak left, Bardeni decided to advance his departure plan and leave the next day. But when Okz mentioned that the necklace was given to him by a heretic, Bardeni decisively decided to leave within an hour. Although it was unlikely to be a problem, it was best to act by assuming the worst-case scenario. Okz quickly packed his belongings. Bardeni began to burn the data. He planned to write a letter after burning the data and then leave. The two of them had to say goodbye for now. Bardeni said, "Yes, let's meet again in this rotating world." Okz was a bit reluctant for Bardeni to burn all the data. He thought, "If we exclude others too much, won't it be difficult to discover errors? Isn't that bad for research?" Pierst questioned the inaccurate and time-consuming current state of the universe, which is why he wanted to find a new universe, right? In fact, he also produced highly accurate data. But how much difference is there between us and Pierst? On paper, we can compare whose error is smaller through calculation. But without clear evidence, no one can definitively say that the heliocentric theory is the true truth until the very end. In that case, there isn't much difference between us and Pierst. However, he personally believed in "the possibility of being wrong" and accepted it. His attitude, the spirit of admitting the possibility of being wrong, is very important for academia and research, isn't it? To not allow a third party to refute is called faith. There must be others for refutation to occur. So I think we don't need to exclude others too much.
Bardeni was curious where Okz's thoughts came from. Okz said, "Someone once told me, that's called hope." Kai Si, the heretic who gave me the necklace, and the two people related to that stone box, they all had that attitude of entrusting hope to someone other than themselves. "Entrustment" and "delivery" sound good at first glance, but in reality, they have no idea if others will inherit it as they wish. They might even present unexpected counterarguments. However, is it not the essence of entrustment to hand it over to others for refutation and correction? Perhaps it is the distortion and conflict with others that can drive the current situation forward, which is hope.
Bardeni understood his thoughts but disagreed. He believed that having such an attitude in research meant abandoning absolute truth. This would leave scholars forever adrift in the sea of unfinished work. Do you want us to accept this tragedy? "Yes, it's better than treating errors as eternal correct answers."
Bardeni said they would think about these things later and needed to escape now. "Then, let's meet again if fate allows." But just as Okz was about to leave, he saw a carriage in the distance. It was the inquisitors, arriving in five minutes. Bardeni immediately prepared to escape through the underground passage. There wasn't even time to write a letter now. Even if there were time to write it, there wouldn't be time to deliver it to the person he wanted to give it to. When Okz learned that the letter was important, he asked, "How many minutes do you need?" "About ten minutes." Okz picked up his sword and prepared to walk out of the warehouse. Bardeni asked, "Do you want to die?" "I don't know, but I'll find a way to buy time." But Bardeni said that pointing a sword at a clergyman would almost certainly send him to hell. You don't need to go this far for this research. "You asked me earlier why I wanted to write a book," Okz said. "I think it's because when I understood the meaning of the heliocentric theory, I was deeply moved. And this feeling grew stronger afterwards. Not long ago, I fantasized about leaving Earth for heaven soon, but now I am willing to go to hell to protect this Earth. Even if it's wrong, I won't regret it much." Finally, Bardeni recited a prayer for Okz. "May you be released from sin and stand again in the glory of resurrection, together with those who are welcomed and redeemed in eternal light. In the Lord's name, Amen." It is said that this is the first time in the plot that Bardeni performed a duty befitting a clergyman.
Okz blocked the inquisitors' carriage in the middle of the road. He wore the necklace given to him by the heretic. This episode is from the manga "Earth. -On the Motion of the Earth-" Volume 4. The entire manga has eight volumes, so we have covered half of it. The story has reached the end of the second arc. The theoretical work of the seismology theory is complete, but whether they can escape the inquisitors is unknown. Incidentally, the person who wrote the letter to the inquisitors was that monk. He picked up Pierst's notebook, which contained research on seismology, and then reported someone researching heretical knowledge.
This episode's discussion is naturally about "scholarship." There are many things related to scholarship in this episode's story. From Bardeni's initial belief that "not everyone is qualified to be literate," if you read threads often, you will likely have similar thoughts. You might wonder why some people can be literate. It seems there are some people in the world who are not fit to learn knowledge. However, Okz's existence also highlights a problem. In Okz's final discussion about scholarship not excluding others, he clearly demonstrates that he possesses sufficient intellect. But why was he only a brute before? It's because his birth class was the bottom. Clearly, birth class does not determine one's intellect. And we have no way to ascertain a person's intellect. Therefore, allowing everyone to be literate is to prevent some people who should be literate from being overlooked. The narrator inwardly agrees that some people's literacy is more harmful, but the act of selecting "who is qualified to be literate" itself brings more problems. Therefore, such selection should not be made. That's why we tolerate even fools being literate. And Okz's final point that scholarship should not exclude others is something that every philosophy student would have a similar realization about. "Maintaining the possibility of being wrong" is likely a skill for every philosopher. And interacting with others is the best way to explore possibilities. But I mean interacting with those who have the ability to articulate and are worthy of literacy. Just as when I, or Ah Man, or my friend who collaborated with me on vegetarianism, or when I communicate with my senior, I understand my own possibility of being wrong better. If one seeks correct knowledge, one must accept the errors along the way. I believe this is what Raphael said in the first episode: "Error does not mean meaninglessness." Ultimately, correct knowledge is accumulated from errors encountered on the journey. Just like eating four buns to be full, it doesn't mean you can directly eat the fourth bun. The final correctness must go through the preceding errors. But many people in this era deeply believe in their own convictions. However, many people do not have sufficient knowledge. A great use of studying philosophy is to know the importance of knowledge and reading. You discover that many discussions that seem confrontational and insightful might have been thoroughly discussed by philosophers a hundred years ago. So I am often puzzled why so many people online, despite lacking knowledge, always think their views are innovative and brilliant. They don't consider that what they, as ordinary people, think might have been thought of and discussed by others before. I have always had this thought, so whenever I am interested in something, I read books, articles, and discussions on related topics from the past. But modern people are so ordinary yet possess such strong confidence. I think they lack the spirit of "maintaining the possibility of being wrong." They lack Okz's spirit.
Finally, if you like my animation commentary, please leave a comment. In the past few episodes, I forgot to ask everyone to leave more comments. More comments can encourage the narrator to continue!