TIL: the Orpheus solution

[timelets]

Their song was not all in one strain; but they varied their measures according to the nature of the listener, and took each captive with those which best suited him. So destructive the plague was, that the islands of the Sirens were seen afar off white with the bones of unburied carcasses. For this evil two different remedies were found; one by Ulysses, the other by Orpheus. Ulysses caused the ears of his crew to be stopped with wax; and himself (wishing to make trial of the thing without incurring the danger) to be bound to the mast; at the same time forbidding any one at his peril to loose him even at his own request. Orpheus, not caring to be bound, raised his voice on high, and singing to his lyre the praises of the Gods, drowned the voices of the Sirens, and so passed clear of all danger.
...

But that circumstance of the bones being seen from a distance like white cliffs, has a finer point: implying that the examples of other men’s calamities, however clear and conspicuous, have little effect in deterring men from the corruptions of pleasure.

--- Francis Bacon. Of the Wisdom of the Ancients.

https://www.bartleby.com/82/31.html

I didn't know about the Orpheus solution, but I'd argue it was a survival technique, rather than a true solution to the problem because, unlike Odysseus, he didn't get to enjoy the songs. The whole episode would probably make a curious Kan extension case.

Comments

[gracheeha]

Теперь Вы работаете с "Categories for the working mathematician"? :)

[timelets]

Да. Но "First Introduction to Categories", by Lawvere and Schanuel is a much more useful book for a practitioner.

[gracheeha]

У нас с внуком очаровательно получилось. В месяц между семестрами мы занимались по рекомендованной Вами книге, проработали порядка двух третей её (в начале там всё простенько). А в этом семестре в классе Линейной Алгебры им объясняют, что такое категории, коммутативные диаграммы и прочее. Теперь они работают с категориями векторных пространств и линейных операторов.

[timelets]

Это очень здорово! Когда есть хорошая база, то можно залезать в более сложные вещи и не путаться. Хотя по сравнению с Сиренами и Одиссеем , векторные пространства просты до невозможности :)

[gracheeha]

Этим, собственно, меня и привлекла математика в подростковом возрасте - если сесть и подумать, то можно разобраться и понять. В отличие от жизни вообще. :)