The Absurdity of Attempting the Answer / Edit May 11

[Szczepan]

 I wish I did, but I don't have a clue what's going on here. Could be you, could be me.
"trees of logic not quite begotten." stopped me but I figured I might get through it when I could follow and liked L2. Then alchemy, ok, what about it? L4-6:I got nothing. Google St Malthus, ok, population, still lost. L9-12   L13/14 ok, I get that and nicely phrased. After that nothing. Sorry, we have some members that may very well do better with this, welcome to the pen and thanks for the critiques you've already given others, glad to have you here.

Oh, and I like the title, it helps, just not enough for me.

Yeah. I was sort of worried that it would be kind of vague. Was going for imagery that more or less linked together in my mind but probably not to others.

Here's some of what I was attempting but, naturally, if I have to explain it, my souffle flopped
Trees of logic: http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/course...eeprop.htm ( math / philosophy term)
Roots of cubes = cube roots, a math term ... ties into the tree image (or so I hoped!)
Vacuum Tubes = early computers ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_va..._computers
L1 & L2 were intended to mean that you can figure things out in the world but only in an elusive temporary way....


"Saint Malthus. Most obtuse. His wings clipped therein.
       
Those angels. Little use. Population gripped upon that pin." 

was going for more imagery but guess it didn't work. Going for saying things like the "revered" Malthusian Theory of population growth (& other theories)...not useful for explaining everything ..."wings clipped" = cutting his theories down to size ...the "wing" / Saint imagery tying into angels ... tying into the philosophical question "how many angels fit on the head of a pin?" and back again to "population".

Philosopher's stone = lead in to Aristotle.

Ah well, guess I was the one being too obtuse. Maybe I listened to too much Bob Dylan thru the years. ;-)

Summary: Was going for ... no matter how you try or who you listen to, you can never figure out the big questions. Probably too ambitious on my part.

PS my next submission will be more light-hearted. promise.