Editing 'Pataphysics (section)

== Definitions ==
One definition of 'pataphysics is that it is "a branch of philosophy or science that examines imaginary phenomena that exist in a world beyond [[metaphysics]]; it is the science of imaginary solutions."<ref>{{cite dictionary |title=Pataphysics |dictionary=American Heritage Dictionary |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pataphysics?r=66 |via=Dictionary.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927080334/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pataphysics?r=66 |archive-date=27 September 2015}}</ref> Jean Baudrillard defines 'pataphysics as "the imaginary science of our world, the imaginary science of excess, of excessive, parodic, paroxystic effects - particularly the excess of emptiness and insignificance".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Baudrillard |first1=Jean |title=The Perfect Crime |date=2008 |publisher=Verso |isbn=978-1-84467-203-5 |page=71}}</ref>

There are over one hundred definitions of 'pataphysics.{{sfnp|Brotchie|Chapman|Foulc|Jackson|2003}} Some examples are shown below.

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'Pataphysics is the science of that which is superinduced upon metaphysics, whether within or beyond the latter's limitations, extending as far beyond metaphysics as the latter extends beyond physics. ... 'Pataphysics will be, above all, the science of the particular, despite the common opinion that the only science is that of the general. 'Pataphysics will examine the laws governing exceptions, and will explain the universe supplementary to this one.{{sfnp|Jarry|1996|p=21}}
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{{blockquote|
'Pataphysics is patient; 'Pataphysics is benign; 'Pataphysics envies nothing, is never distracted, never puffed up, it has neither aspirations nor seeks not its own, it is even-tempered, and thinks not evil; it mocks not iniquity: It is enraptured with scientific truth; it supports everything, believes everything, has faith in everything, and upholds everything that is.<ref>{{cite report |title=Épanorthose sur le Clinamen moral |series=Cahiers du Collège de 'Pataphysique |volume=21, 22 Sable 83 |date=29 December 1955}}</ref>
|Alastair Brotchie{{sfnp|Brotchie|Chapman|Foulc|Jackson|2003}} (in allusion to [[First Epistle to the Corinthians|First Corinthians]] 13 about the virtues of [[Agape|love]])
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{{blockquote|
'Pataphysics passes easily from one state of apparent definition to another. Thus it can present itself under the aspect of a gas, a liquid or a solid.<ref>{{cite report |title=Patafluens |date=2001 |publisher=Istituto Patafisico Vitellianese |place=Viadana |publication-date=2002}}</ref>{{sfnp|Brotchie|Chapman|Foulc|Jackson|2003}}
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{{blockquote|
'Pataphysics "the science of the particular" does not, therefore, study the rules governing the general recurrence of a periodic incident (the expected case) so much as study the games governing the special occurrence of a sporadic accident (the excepted case). [...] Jarry performs humorously on behalf of literature what Nietzsche performs seriously on behalf of philosophy. Both thinkers in effect attempt to dream up a "gay science" whose joie de vivre thrives wherever the tyranny of truth has increased our esteem for the lie and wherever the tyranny of reason has increased our esteem for the mad.{{sfnp|Bök|2002|p=9}}
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