eipiphiny®
The term “eipiphiny” was coined by psychologist and financier Burke Brown and his nephew David Talbot, and is a play on the word “epiphany.”
Epiphany is defined as (1) a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure. It refers to an eureka! ah hah! experience. Interestingly, Epiphany is also is the name of a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi and the "shining forth" or revelation of God to mankind in human form, in the person of Jesus.
According to Brown, “eipiphiny”stands for a “mathematical/stochastic” epiphany...an ah ha! awakening experience involving not just mathematics, but chance or probability as well.. It is made up of the mathematical constants, e, pi, phi, and the imaginary number, i, which if they had not been discovered the modern world as we know it would not exist. e and i also stand for “emotional intelligence” the widespread manifestation of which is essential to the future well-being of our planet.
What is the purpose of the eipiphiny logo and golden ratio spiral design?
The eipiphiny logo was designed by industrial designer Philip Poissant for the eipiphiny Society from an idea submitted by ambigram master, John Langdon, with the intention to artistically capture the emotional spirit underlying Euler's famous equation/relationship, as expressed by Professor Casti, and much more. According to Poissant, "as is the case with most creative endeavors, the eipiphiny's design evolution was 'guided' by an unknown force."
In many ways if one used it and treated it as such, the eipiphiny symbol could be an exceptional good luck charm made up of outstanding very lucky numbers.
Mankind has been extremely fortunate to have discovered these six very lucky numbers:
● pi (3.14159..., symbolized by π)
● e (2.71828…"the mathematical constant," Euler's number)
● phi (1.618033…the “golden ratio,” symbolized by Φ)
● 1
● 0
● i (the square root of -1).
It is further amazing that mankind discovered that these numbers, so important to our existence and progress, are all related.
It also happens that 1= phi²-phi, and that phi is the only number where the square of the number minus the number is equal to one. That fortuitous occurrence permits the placing of phi along with Euler's equation. This is what is known as "mathematical humor," and why the eipiphiny symbol is so exquisitely well rendered.
Luck played a further role in the design of the eipiphiny logo. By consensus over the centuries it was agreed that certain letters would represent these numbers, otherwise it would be very difficult and very inconvenient to discuss and use them. Fortunately the letters chosen did lend themselves to being combined in this one lovely design.
With artistic license the eipiphiny logo contains e, i, pi (π) , 0, 1, phi (Φ) and the golden ratio spirals, as well as the circle that has played an equally cogent role in our history. |
When asked...
“If you could teach the world just one thing …” Professor John L. Casti, mathematician, former researcher at the Santa Fe Institute, and current Director of Complexica, cited Euler's magical expression, known as 'Euler's Identity,' which links in phenomenal fashion, the five most important constants in mathematics. Casti said:
“As a mathematician, I should teach the world a mathematical statement, which is not strictly a scientific concept. My bequest involves just seven symbols, and involves no words. It is the eighteenth-century Swiss mathematician and physicist Leonhard Euler's magical expression, linking the five most important constants in mathematics:
ei π + 1 = 0
This formula links e, the base of natural logarithms; pi, the ratio of the radius of a circle to its area; i, the square root of -1; and the binary numbers 1 and 0; into a single, compact, almost unbelievable expression. Who would have thought that two transcendental numbers (pi and e), the square root of -1 , and the minimal set of elements needed to construct arithmetic (0 and 1), could all five be combined in such a compact, elegant, simple formula?
Almost every mathematician alive would vote for Euler's formula, as the most beautiful result in the history of mathematics. For that reason, I vote to pass it along to the next set of sentient beings.”
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