Mathematical Balance vs. Ma'atic Balance-gctid48031

[Agbede]

Mathematically, balance is (in one sense) the midpoint of two extremes. The point in the middle, the neutral pH, kwk. Many Kmtyws often use mathematical definitions to define our reality. For example, how many Kmtyws conceptualize "balance" as it relates to Ma'at as the neutral point of two extremes (i.e. eating too much --> obesity, not eating enough --> malnutrition, eating just what your body needs --> balance).
 
But do mathematical definitions always suffice to represent reality?
 
Mathematical forumlas, definitions, "rules" and "laws" are only approximations of nature/reality. They give a general idea of how things might work given certain assumptions.
 
One example of where mathematical balance deviates from Ma'atic balance is smoking cigarettes and drinking liquor.
 
Mathematical balance would look at the two extremes (not smoking or drinking at all vs. smoking or drinking constantly) and find the midpoint, the average of those two extremes, which in this case would be to drink or smoke moderately - 3.5 days out of the week. Is this balance?
 
It certainly is not harmony, but would we consider this intelligent? Hopefully not. Therefore, in this situation mathematical balance diverges from Ma'atic balance.
 
Often we approach mathematics/science like it is the final arbiter of all things, when in reality it can in many ways be thought of as simply approximations that may or may not be useful to us in some ways.
 
Thoughts???

[Agya Yaw]

Maat - balance, in and of itself should not govern or guide one's life solely.
:gyenyame:

[Akua Ma'at]

I truly have never considered this. Meda ase for steering my mind in this direction today.

One thing I feel moved to say, and I know you all already know this, is that Ma'at is not just "balance" but is 7 principles that are interlinked... interdependent (for want of a better term)... and can't really be understood or considered by isolation of its component principles. Ma'at is truth, justice, righteousness, reciprocity, order, harmony, balance. She is all these in one. If one aspect is not there, there can be no Ma'at. So we really can't conceptualize Ma'at as just one of her aspects.

Akhu's example perfectly explains why Ma'at shouldn't be considered as just one of her aspects. In the smoking and drinking alcohol example, he shows that the mathematical concept of balance equals smoking and drinking in "moderation" and contrasts this with Ma'at. If I may add to that - the reason moderate smoking and drinking does not equal balance in the Ma'atic sense is because it violates all the aspects of Ma'at. Smoking and drinking deteriorate  the body and mind and impair the mind's ability to "see" truthfully and act justly. Righteousness is stunted because the physical acts of smoking and drinking limit the emotional, mental and spiritual bodies from elevating. Reciprocity is out the door and can be most easily seen with smoking. Smokers share their toxic second hand smoke in their act of smoking, usually with the people they claim to love most and the people who show them the most love - their families. Smoking and drinking create disharmony within the body temple and where there is disharmony there can be no order. As universal law says, as above so below... as without so within... a person who is not in harmony within him or herself cannot produce or display harmony in the world. There will be no order in his or her life. And with all these aspects violated it is impossible for there to exist balance in that person's life, whether physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually.

So when we consider the Ma'atic concept of balance we're really looking at more than "just balance"... it digs deeper to the core of things and, in my opinion, is a much more holistic way of viewing and evaluating things.

Mathematics is a tool that can help us understand aspects of Ma'at but can't be a replacement for her... Ma'at is the final arbiter however mathematics can assist in that role.

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[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

A conception of balance is meaningless unless it's tempered by a concept of propriety. Context. Doing the appropriate thing at the appropriate time. Wisdom: learning from experience to understand propriety. I really don't think individual parts of the seven cardinal virtues of Ma'at make sense out of the context of the whole. They each interrelate and inform the meaning of the rest.