A Look in Many Dimensions: The Universe of Flatland and Planiverse

Let us first picture ourselves living in a one-dimensional universe. We have length, but no width or height. Everything in our universe exists in lines of varying length. However, when we look at the line ahead of us or behind us, all we can see is a point. We can only see in zero directions. Aha! we say. We can see a point. Thus, there is a line, such as ourselves, inside the box. How long is the line? Why, I have no idea. But it is a line.

Now, let us travel to a universe of two dimensions. Suddenly, the cube gets turned on its side. We, the supreme beings of two dimensions, can see in one dimension. We live with length and height, and can see the length of the line. Aha! we say. There is a square inside the box. Or perhaps a triangle. Or perhaps some other shape. But it is a two dimensional shape like ourselves. I can see the length and height when I walk around the box. Ah, now I can see. With light, the segments are of different shades. It is a triangle.

But truly, it is us, the three-dimensional beings which are supreme. For in our universe, there is not just length and height, but also width. I can see the trigangle without guessing. For I can see in two dimensions. But the shape inside is not a triangle. You see this box? You must turn it on its side once again. There now. When I walk around and up and down, with light I can guess at the shape. It is a triangular prism.

O you poor fools. It is us, the four-dimensional beings which are supreme. For us, this box holds no mysteries. The entire box must be turned to show the real shape. For we can see the box as...
the two dimensional beings could see the line
the three dimensional beings could see the plane
Those silly one dimensional beings could only look two ways. Thus, they thought that their insides were covered, for they could not conceive of beings looking at the whole line. And then the two dimensional beings made the same mistake! They too thought that their insides were covered, that no one could see the red and yellow shapes inside the triangle. From the four ways they could look, they saw naught but solid lines. Poor fools, to not realize their whole universe is revealed to us of higher dimensions. And then the three dimension beings made the mistake again. For in every one of the six ways they could look, the box was covered. But we who can see eight different ways are not deceived. For we can see the inside of the box as easily as the outside. How sad for everyone else, all those creatures in the lower dimensions.

O pitiful misguided beings! It is us, the five dimensional creatures which are truly masters of this universe. Why, we can see in you as you could see in the three dimensional beings...

As we saw above, although a creature lives in a n-dimensional universe, it can only see in n-1 dimensions. Take our universe and this cube as an example.

As you explore the universe of Planiverse, keep in mind the challenges we face in our three dimensional world. Then imagine looking at people, artwork, and even computers when you can only see in one dimension.