“So, naturalists observe, a flea,
Hath smaller fleas that on him prey;
And these have smaller still to bite ‘em;
And so proceed ad infinitum.”
Cutely, this quatrain is quoted by Geoffrey West in SCALE.
“I thought, I found a way to enter
It’s just a reflektor (It’s just a reflektor)
I thought, I found the connector
It’s just a reflektor (It’s just a reflektor) Just a reflektor
It’s just a reflektor (It’s just a reflektor)
It’s just a reflektor (It’s just a reflektor)
It’s just a reflektor (It’s just a reflektor)
reflektor (Just a reflektor)
(Just a reflektor) just a reflektor
(Just a reflektor) just a reflektor (reflektor)
(Just a reflektor)
(Just a reflektor)
(Just a reflektor, just a reflektor)
(Just a reflektor, just a reflektor)
Just a reflection, of a reflection
Of a reflection, of a reflection, of a reflection
Will I see you on the other side? (Just a reflektor)
We all got things to hide (Just a reflektor)
It’s just a reflection of a reflection
Of a reflection, of a reflection, of a reflection
Will I see you on the other side? (Just a reflektor)
We all got things to hide (Just a reflektor)”
“Recursion...is the primary characteristic that distinguishes the human mind from that of other animals. It underlies our ability not only to reflect upon our own minds, but also to simulate the minds of others. It allows us to travel mentally in time, inserting consciousness of the past or future into present consciousness. Recursion is also the main ingredient distinguishing human language from all other forms of animal communication...
First, then, a not-too-serious dictionary definition:
Recursion (rĭ-kûr’-zhən) noun. See recursion.
One problem here, of course, is that this implies an infinite loop, from which you may never escape in order to read the other stuff in this book. The following variant suggests a way out:
Recursion (rĭ-kûr’-zhən) noun. If you still don’t get it, see recursion.
This banks on the possibility that if you do get it after a round or two, you can escape and move on. If you don’t, well I’m sorry. ”