When looking at something that is very large, such as the universe, a militaristic entity, or a massive political conflict, it can be hard to make any sense out of the sheer multitude of sensory experiences. Looking at something small, in contrast, is simple and easy to understand. Therefore, a useful way in understanding the whole would be to look at individual parts, and eventually the sum of the parts will lead to a conception of the entire entity. Richard Feynman’s The Character of Physical Law utilizes this very theory to promote an understanding of fundamental physical law in the hopes elevating the beauty that people see in the world.
Feynman utilizes the example of mathematics and the parts of the whole in order to emphasize the need …show more content…
This scene takes place after extensive individual attacks by the FLN on French officers, and after two massive bombing attacks on French civilians. Due to the ambiguity of the “faceless” FLN operation as a whole, the French military must set out to understand the FLN in order to cease the attacks (Pontecorvo, 56:37). Colonel Mathieu, much like Feynman’s “details,” calls to “start from scratch” (Feynman, 36 and Pontecovrvo, 58:08). Scratch, for the French in this situation means starting with the organization of the FLN itself, which is the only information they have at this point so Colonel Mathieu states that they must “start from there” (Pontevcorvo, 58:14). This starting point ultimately identifies the triangular structure of the FLN’s network. They are starting with the fundamentals, which are the only information they have, in order to indentify another key aspect of the FLN operation. The triangular structure that is eventually identified leads Colonel Mathieu to suggest another important key aspect of the FLN. The structure reveals that each member in the FLN “knows only three other members” (Pontecorvo, 58:55-55:57). Thus, the only way to understand the entire structure is to follow the information from the bottom up, or follow the path from the smallest units in the larger structure to understand the entity of the …show more content…
Feynman states, within The Character of Physical Law, that nature herself creates an intricate pattern that is only woven by the “longest threads”, so that “each small piece… reveals the organization of the entire tapestry” (Feynman, 34). If we applied this theory to Pontecorvo’s film, each individual portrayed would have to embody the ideas of the larger structure at hand. This, however, is not what happens. In the scene with Colonel Mathieu debriefing his soldiers and telling them to disregard “humane considerations” and use methods of “interrogation” to infiltrate the FLN’s organization, the camera pans over to a few soldiers in the audience at very key times (Pontecorvo, 59:00-1:00). At the words, “policing” and “interrogation,” the camera pans off Colonel Mathieu and points to a young soldier in the audience who looks over at the person next to him in an extremely uncomfortable and worried way (Pontecorvo, 59:29 and 59:48). Again, when Mathieu urges the men to disregard “human considerations,” the camera pans to another scared face within the audience (Pontecorvo, 59:58). These young soldiers represent abnormalities within the military structure of the French. They seem to morally object to the methods that are being prescribed; however, their
Feynman utilizes the example of mathematics and the parts of the whole in order to emphasize the need …show more content…
This scene takes place after extensive individual attacks by the FLN on French officers, and after two massive bombing attacks on French civilians. Due to the ambiguity of the “faceless” FLN operation as a whole, the French military must set out to understand the FLN in order to cease the attacks (Pontecorvo, 56:37). Colonel Mathieu, much like Feynman’s “details,” calls to “start from scratch” (Feynman, 36 and Pontecovrvo, 58:08). Scratch, for the French in this situation means starting with the organization of the FLN itself, which is the only information they have at this point so Colonel Mathieu states that they must “start from there” (Pontevcorvo, 58:14). This starting point ultimately identifies the triangular structure of the FLN’s network. They are starting with the fundamentals, which are the only information they have, in order to indentify another key aspect of the FLN operation. The triangular structure that is eventually identified leads Colonel Mathieu to suggest another important key aspect of the FLN. The structure reveals that each member in the FLN “knows only three other members” (Pontecorvo, 58:55-55:57). Thus, the only way to understand the entire structure is to follow the information from the bottom up, or follow the path from the smallest units in the larger structure to understand the entity of the …show more content…
Feynman states, within The Character of Physical Law, that nature herself creates an intricate pattern that is only woven by the “longest threads”, so that “each small piece… reveals the organization of the entire tapestry” (Feynman, 34). If we applied this theory to Pontecorvo’s film, each individual portrayed would have to embody the ideas of the larger structure at hand. This, however, is not what happens. In the scene with Colonel Mathieu debriefing his soldiers and telling them to disregard “humane considerations” and use methods of “interrogation” to infiltrate the FLN’s organization, the camera pans over to a few soldiers in the audience at very key times (Pontecorvo, 59:00-1:00). At the words, “policing” and “interrogation,” the camera pans off Colonel Mathieu and points to a young soldier in the audience who looks over at the person next to him in an extremely uncomfortable and worried way (Pontecorvo, 59:29 and 59:48). Again, when Mathieu urges the men to disregard “human considerations,” the camera pans to another scared face within the audience (Pontecorvo, 59:58). These young soldiers represent abnormalities within the military structure of the French. They seem to morally object to the methods that are being prescribed; however, their