Argonauts To Astronauts

Extract

Since the word “History” has its origins in the domain of inquiry, I call myself an historian to the extent to which I have tried to study voyages of discovery in a manner as personal as possible, and I have presented the results of my work in a number of books and articles. The short study which follows is not an attempt to recapitulate what has already been published. Rather, I have tried here to present a brief synthesis of my reflections on one of the themes which I have undertaken to outline.

In a sense, man gradually fashions his world out of the whole cloth of infinity, and creates his universe by discovering it. Now to discover is not just to bump into something and perhaps forget it. To discover is to rend the veil, to give form to what is discovered, to communicate it and to pass it on. Consequently, discovery requires navigation; some form of cartography; and, perhaps most important, poetry, in order to pass on its heritage in an unforgettable way. And discovery, since the time of Homer, has three dimensions: the earth, the known sea, and, surrounding this little island of land and sea, the infinite ocean, origin and tomb of the Gods.