Why “Mneme’s Kiss”?

The name of this blog was inspired by a short talk to prospective PhD students at Cornell University that I gave a while ago, representing the database research group. I concluded my talk with a short “theory” part, where I “proved” the following theorem:

Theorem. Creative computer science research is only possible in data management.

Proof Sketch:

1. No creativity without divine help.
2. Divine help is only available to data management researchers.

Part 1 was a "proof by reputation". Already the ancient Greeks knew that the muses are the source of all inspiration. I just cited three reputable sources (only one greek), and left the rest of this part of the proof as an exercise to the reader:

Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns

driven time and again off course, once he had plundered

the hallowed heights of Troy.

– Homer, The Odyssey

O Muses, o high genius, aid me now!

O memory that noted what I saw,

Now shall your true nobility be seen!

– Dante Alighieri, The Inferno

Of Man’s first disobedience, and the fruit

Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste

Brought death into the World, and all our woe,

With loss of Eden […] sing, Heavenly Muse

– John Milton, Paradise Lost

For part 2 (no creative research unless it is in databases), I just needed to point out that the three original muses of Greek mythology were

– Aoidē (song)

– Meletē (practice, meditation)

– Mnēmē (memory).

Memory: that's data management. Thus, among computer science research areas, only data management has its own muse, so creative research is only possible there! [QED]

Now let me point out that in my native German, one does not get inspired by a muse’s touch as it is, I think, the case in English, but by her kiss. Who wouldn't prefer the latter.