Wonder: n.
1.a. One that arouses awe, astonishment, surprise, or admiration; a marvel: “The decision of one age or country is a wonder to another” (John Stuart Mill).b. The emotion aroused by something awe-inspiring, astounding, or marvelous: gazed with wonder at the northern lights. 2. An event inexplicable by the laws of nature; a miracle. 3. A feeling of puzzlement or doubt. 4. often Wonder A monumental human creation regarded with awe, especially one of seven monuments of the ancient world that appeared on various lists of late antiquity.
“How wonderless your life must be,” he said.
Really? Wonderless isn’t even a word, although I don’t mind the occasional neologism. Like Abby says, “All words are made up words.” Just because I do not believe in conspiracy theories or alien crop circles—and instead believe in the gullibility of human beings—does not mean I live without wonder.
I find wonder in the chemistry of snowflakes. I find wonder in the fact that stars are kept together by their own gravity.
Just because I know homeopathy is a hoax doesn’t mean I do not acknowledge that most medicine originates with plants. Just because I know astrology is a load of crap doesn’t mean that I am not in awe of the fact that our little galaxy is but one in billions of galaxies.
There is peace in scientific fact. There is beauty in knowledge.
I get what Whitman was saying in the Learn’d Astronomer but in this fascinating century there is also mystery in the truth.
Wondrous Truth List #1 (correspondent, coherent, pragmatic—up for debate)
-There is no color without light.
-Humans are the only animals who cry for emotional reasons.
-The desert blooms.
-We still listen to, and play (see James Rhodes ) the music Rachmaninov wrote when he was a teenager over 100 years ago.
–Pi as far as we know, is still infinite.
-There are more than 55,000 art museums in the world.
-The singularity is an actual possibility.
-We are still discovering new creatures.
–Love exists.
-Poetry continues.
