THE FOURTH DIMENSION SIMPLY EXPLAINED

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more incomprehensible to the human three-dimensional being than would be the act of passing over the boundary line to the two-dimensional being.

It is obvious that a one-dimensional figure on a line can, by motion in the second direction, pass off of the line without passing through the points which begin and end the line, and we have shown that a two-dimensional figure can, by motion in the third direction, pass out of a square without passing through the square's boundary lines; therefore, a three-dimensional figure could, by motion in the fourth direction, pass out of a cube without passing through the cube's boundary planes. It will be noted that the generation of each of the three figures of known space is accomplished by one of three distinct motions, each differing, in direction from the motions preceding, and that by one or a combination of these three motions any point of any conceivable
Page 117 figure of known space can be reached. Now therefore, this fourth movement, that is, the movement of the cubic figure, in generating the fourth dimensional figure, is a movement differing essentially in direction from the movement the plane makes in generating the cubic figure, just as the line movement in generating the plane differs essentially in direction from the movement the point makes in generating the line.

The fourth movement, essential to the generation of a fourth dimension from a thirddimensional figure, is inconceivable to the human three-dimensional being just as the third movement essential in generating a third dimension from a two-dimensional figure would be inconceivable to a two-dimensional being whose possible experiences were always limited to a plane. It is not logical to state that a fourth dimension cannot exist, for from the analogies derived from the other three movements, the first that of a moving point generating a line, the second that of a moving line generating a plane, and the third that of a moving plane generating a cubic figure, a clear strong argument is derived for the possibility of a fourth movement differing essentially in direction from any of the three preceding movements or any combination of them, just as they severally differ essentially from each other. This fourth movement is the movement necessary to generate a fourth dimension whose figure is inconceivable to the finite human mind, but whose boundaries, qualities, and other attributes can be as definitely described as if the hypothetical figure could be perceived by the human senses of vision and touch.
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IX. THE FOURTH DIMENSION ALGEBRAICALLY CONSIDERED. BY "N." (BURTON HOWARD CAMP, MIDDLETOWN, CONN.)
The concept of the fourth dimension is exclusively a mathematical one, and, therefore, can hardly be made intelligible without the introduction of a few mathematical ideas. The more important aspects of it, however, I shall endeavor to explain with the use only of the elements of that algebra and geometry which are usually taught in high schools. Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com