Monad
The word monad comes from the greek word μονάς (from the word μόνος, which means "one", "single", "unique") and has had many meanings in different contexts:
- Among the Pythagoreans (followers of Pythagoras) the monad was the first thing that came into existence. The monad begat the dyad, which begat the numbers, the numbers begat points, which begat lines, which begat two-dimensional entities, which begat three-dimensional entities, which begat bodies, which begat the four elements earth, water, fire and air, from which the rest of our world is built up. The monad was thus a central concept in the cosmology of the Pythagoreans, who held the belief that the world was - literally - built up by numbers. (The source of this claim is Diogenes Laertius book Lives of Eminent Philosophers.)
- Within certain variations of Gnosticism, especially those inspiered by Monoimus, the monad was the higher being which created lesser gods, or elements (similar to aeons). This view was according to Hippolytus inspired by the pythagoreans.
- In the writings of the philosopher Gottfried Leibniz, the monads appear as spiritual entities which make up the essence of our world. They do not interact with our world (are "windowless"), and do not have volume (do not take up space) and are thus impossible to detect by scientific methods. The arrangements of the monads make up the faith and structure of this world, which to Leibniz was "the best of all possible worlds".
- Within mathematics a monad is a set consisting of one single element (query non-standard usage - that's normally a singleton). In category theory a monad is a type of functor important in the theory of adjoint functors. It is that usage that has led to the below.
- In pure functional programming languages such as Haskell, monads are data types that encapsulate the functional I/O-activity, in such a manner that the side-effects of IO are not allowed to spread out of the part of the program that isn't functional (imperative).
- Technocracy Incorporated[?] describes its symbol as being a geometric representation of the monad.
remarkable, but which intelligent men ardently admire. At the first
admiration; afterward, it was difficult to keep her out of one's
were singularly harmonious, and, like a thin veil.html">veil which tempers a too
was arranged about the temples in ingenious waves; while her still darker
contrast was to be found in the mouth; the short distance which separated
but the prominent underlip impregnated her smile with enchanting
of her brown eyes, which seemed like diamonds set in jet, would, perhaps,
when veiled given to their dazzling rays a glamour of indescribable
every facet of which reflects a different color. The ardor burning under
presence, was so deeply hidden, however, that it seemed impossible to
or a devotee? In one word, was she imbued with the most egotistical
nothing; one remained undecided and thoughtful, but fascinated, the mind
inspires. An observer might have perceived that she had one of those
incomparable harmonies of passion gush; but perhaps he would be mistaken.
veil which usually enveloped her countenance more unfathomable yet. What
it the ennui of which she had just complained to her aunt? Was it pure
birds in the woods, the long golden reflections under the trees, all
murmuring water, the singing birds, nor the sun's splendor was paid any
a sigh. Her meditation was not revery, but thought; not thoughts of the
the rapid, intelligent glance which flashed from her eyes when she raised
avenue, a man wearing a blouse crossed it and followed her. Hearing the
her, the stranger who, during the storm, had vainly tried to attract her
.
On
wordlookup.net
All is still licensed under the GNU FDL.
It uses material from the wikipedia.
|
|