Page:Philosophy and Fun of Algebra.djvu/61

THE STORY OF A WORKING HYPOTHESIS Jacob that there are other ways of getting on in the world and promoting the fortunes of one's children and grandchildren besides cheating everybody, including one's own nearest relations.

Therefore Jacob was not to be called "the Supplanter" any more: his new name was to be Israël. Jacob's descendants are called Hebrews, and also "the people of Israël." Israël was the new name which Jacob got when he turned from cheating to a better way of getting on in life.

What was that better way? That is our x, our first unknown. What does the word Israël mean? That is our y, our second unknown. I may as well tell you at once that, so far as I am concerned, y remains unknown. I want you to take notice that I do not know what the word Israël means. But some twenty years ago my imagination supplied me with a working hypothesis:—Suppose Israël meant rhythm.

Now if I had gone telling people that Israël means rhythm, I should have been contradicted and laughed at and told that I had no proof of what I said and was talking of what I knew 57