Universe
(n.)
The term "universe" is derived from two Latin roots, "universum" (meaning "all things in the world") and "universus" (meaning "the whole together"). These roots are formed by combining the negative prefix "un-" with "verus" (meaning "true"), which comes from the Latin verb "vertere" meaning "to turn." The root "versus" also has its origins in Latin, as it is composed of the prefix "multi-" meaning "many," and the Latin verb "versare" meaning "to bend or turn."
In terms of historical usage, the word "universe" first appeared in 1580s French as the translation of the Latin term "universum." Over time, this word has become synonymous with the concept of the universe itself. It has been used to refer to not only the physical universe but also to the broader concept of all things in existence.
In recent years, a new term has emerged in English language use: "multiverse." This term was coined by William James in 1895 as an alternative to "universe" for referring to a more chaotic, unpredictable, and interconnected set of universes. According to James, the multiverse theory represents a departure from traditional views of nature as being governed by a single, all-powerful deity. Instead, he argues that there are many different universes, each with its own laws and natural processes. This view is in contrast to the idea of a moral universe, where good and evil exist separately from one another and are not influenced by larger cosmic forces.
过去的时代已经远去，我们19世纪的人凭借着进化理论和机械哲学，对自然有了太多客观的认识。这使得我们不能再毫无保留地崇拜任何一个能够充分表达自然特征的神。事实上，我们所知道的所有美好和美丽都来自于自然，同样地，我们所知道的所有邪恶也是如此。可见的自然界是完全可塑和冷漠的，可以称之为道德多元宇宙，而不是道德宇宙。[威廉·詹姆斯，《生命是否值得一过？》，哈佛大学基督教青年会演讲，1895年5月]
在古法语中，universal(adj.)一词意指“涉及到某个特定整体的；无处不在的”，源自拉丁语中的universus。这个词由通用(universalis)发展而来，表示“属于所有人的”，来源于universus这个词，意为“全部在一起，整体的，完整的”。在机械学中，universal joint(1670年代)指的是一种能在任何方向自由移动的连接件。
Universal product code(UPC)最早记载于1974年，是一种商品在全球范围内通用的唯一编码。广告行业中，universe的使用趋势也在不断增加。
总之，随着时代的变迁，人们对自然的认识逐渐深入，对神的崇拜也发生了变化。现代社会更倾向于从自然界中汲取美好和智慧，而非盲目地崇拜某个神祇。同时，随着科技的发展，人们对于连接和交流的需求也日益增长，universal joint和UPC等概念的出现正是为了满足这些需求。而在广告行业中，universe的使用则体现了全球化趋势下，各类信息和资源的共享和整合。
