meaning - Usage of the word "orthogonal" outside of mathematics


From the roots ortho (straight) and gon (angle), its meaning in mathematics is understandable. Outside of mathematics it has various meanings depending on the context:



  • Debate - orthogonal: not relevant

  • Statistics - orthogonal: unrelated

  • Computing - orthogonal: isolated or partitioned


There are other definitions. Most seem to imply a meaning of independence or separation. Does anyone know how it came to mean this?



Answer



If you think about (simplified for convenience) mathematical usage of "orthogonal", it is referring to vectors at right angles to each other, so motion in the direction of the first vector produces no corresponding motion in the direction of the second vector. This independence is what motivates the other meanings; an orthogonal line of argument in debate might be interesting in itself, but doesn't advance the main thrust of the debate, for instance.


It's just as well that the mathematical use of "normal" doesn't bleed across like this, because "normal people" would then be at right-angles to reality. Then again... :-)


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