The Philosopher’s Wheel

September 24, 2017 Martin K. Jones 1 Comment

Eric A. Meece’s web site philosopherswheel.com has been in existence for a while, and it claims there is a forthcoming book called “The Philosopher’s Wheel”. This seems like an interesting project and it’s a shame that the book is still “in process”.

Meece has certainly been working on these ideas for a few years. Starting with a Master’s thesis in 1979, and a presentation in 2001, he also has a collection of articles available to the reader that are related to his theme.

The philosopher’s wheel is essentially composed of three polarities:

Materialism vs. Spiritualism
Rationalism vs. Empiricism
Essentialism vs. Existentialism

Two polarities are related to Jung’s Psychological Types:

Rationalism (Thinking)
Empiricism (Sensing)
Existentialism (Feeling)
Essentialism (Intuiting)

I’ve tried to represent these dualities a little differently than Meece. Note in the above diagram that Materialism mediates Rationalism and Empiricism, and Spiritualism mediates Essentialism and Existentialism, similar to the wheel representation.

At right is an attempt at eliminating the “isms”. Perhaps I should have read some more of his writings before making these efforts.

Further Reading:

http://philosopherswheel.com/

http://philosopherswheel.com/philosophycircle.htm

Notes:

The more I think about it, the more I like to compare this with

https://equivalentexchange.wordpress.com/2017/09/09/simon-magus-and-the-six-roots-of-boundless-power/

Images of the Philosopher’s Wheel:

https://www.google.com/search?q=philosopher%27s+wheel&tbm=isch

Astronomy, fourfolds, Science

Cassini

September 15, 2017 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

“Thanks, and farewell, faithful explorer.”

— Cassini program manager Earl Maize

Today, Cassini’s impetus succumbed to Saturn’s gravity.

Further Reading:

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.usatoday.com/story/667937001/

fourfolds, mythology, religion

Behold, the Tetramorph

September 15, 2017 Martin K. Jones 1 Comment

I’ve felt a fondness for the Tetramorph for a long time. Four beings considered simultaneously: a man, an ox, a lion, an eagle.

They are the Babylonian symbols of the four fixed signs of the zodiac: ox or bull for Taurus (and earth), lion for Leo (and fire), eagle for Scorpio (and water), man for Aquarius (and air).

They can be thought of as representing the ancient four elements: earth, fire, water, and air.

They are mentioned in the Judeo-Christian Bible in the books of Ezekiel and Revelation. They have also been paired with the four evangelists and their books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (although the pairing is not fixed).

They are shown on the Tarot card for the “Wheel of Fortune” in the Rider-Waite deck, and the card for the “World” in the Tarot of Marseilles.

Why these four creatures, and not others?

Further Reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetramorph

The Tetramorph; The Sumerian Origins of a Christian Symbol

Sacred Symbols: The Four Evangelists (Tetramorph)

Under The Sign Of Tetramorph

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrology_and_the_classical_elements#Elements_of_the_zodiac

44. The Tetramorph and more

[*8.38, *8.96]

Esoteric, sixfolds

Simon Magus and the Six Roots of Boundless Power

September 9, 2017 Martin K. Jones 2 Comments

As we had a taste of Christian Eschatology last time we now nibble on Christian Gnosticism. Simon was mentioned in the bible and in apocryphal works was purported to be a sorcerer of some renown. He developed a philosophically idealistic system wherein six roots of mental aspects issue from a fundamental principle of “Fire”:

Mind (Heaven)
Voice (Sun)
Reason (Air)
Reflection (Water)
Name (Moon)
Thought (Earth)

These six roots form three pairs:

Mind [Nous] – Thought [Epinoia]
Voice [Phone] – Name [Onoma]
Reason [Logismos] – Reflection [Enthumesis]

Above is a representation of these six roots forming their three pairs or syzygies. Most of Simon’s teachings have been either been lost or perhaps even degraded from their original meaning. Do I waste both my time as well as yours to perpetuate this esoteric nonsense? Or is there some merit in it, if only for idle amusement?

Further Reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Magus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simonians

https://hermetic.com/sabazius/simon

http://gnosis.org/library/grs-mead/grsm_simon_magus.htm

http://www.katinkahesselink.net/his/Simon-Magnus.html

http://www.sacred-texts.com/gno/fff/fff21.htm

G. R. S. (George Robert Stow) Mead / Simon Magus: His Philosophy and Teachings

Notes:

Sometimes Mind is called Reason, and then Reason is called Judgment.

Greek philosopher Heraclitus also thought that fire was the fundamental element.

http://www.heraclitusfragments.com/categories/fire.html

Simon was thought to have written the book “The Four Quarters of the World”, now lost to us. Perhaps it was in the Library of Alexandria?

Compare the six roots to de Bono’s six thinking hats.

[*9.222, *9.223]

fourfolds, religion

The Four Last Things

September 6, 2017 Martin K. Jones 1 Comment

Over the years, there has been much religious consideration of the four last things in Christian Eschatology. They are

Death
Judgment
Heaven
Hell

Many books have been written and many paintings have been painted. In my project to present every fourth thing, I imagine I’ll come to them eventually, but why wait until then? Or maybe I’m thinking of the “Last Four Things”.

Actually, I’d much rather play the video game on my Mac, because it looks like a lot more fun. Plus it uses classical music for a background soundtrack and images from Hieronymus Bosch’s paintings, such as the Garden of Earthly Delights. When will the Mac version be available? Anyone?

Further Reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_last_things

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_eschatology

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Last_Things_(video_game)

http://joemcrichardson.com/fourlastthings/presskit.html

Robert Southwell / A Four-fold Meditation of the Four Last Things

News:

FLT is finally out on Android and iOS! There is much rejoicing!

http://steamcommunity.com/games/503400/announcements/detail/1669015871902809029

[*10.32]

fourfolds, Psychology

I Dare You!

September 6, 2017 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

In 1931, William H. Danforth published the book “I Dare You! Four fold development: stand tall, think tall, smile tall, and live tall.” Perhaps he is better remembered as the founder of the Ralston Purina Company, maker of many fine products and particularly of Chex Cereals. Indeed, Danforth saw life as a type of checkerboard, such that four key components (or “squares”) – the mental, the physical, the social, and the religious – needed to be in balance in order to achieve fulfillment and success in life.

His book was the expression of his personal philosophy of “Four-square” personal development, and was a early example of the “self-help” style of book that has become so popular. Success! Fulfillment! So much can become yours if you take chances and work hard. If only life was that simple! His four aspects of personal development are

Physical: Stand Tall!
Mental: Think Tall!
Social: Smile Tall!
Spiritual: Live Tall!

Further Reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Danforth

William H. Danforth / I Dare You! Only $1 in Kindle format from Amazon! Worth every penny! Don’t delay, buy today!

[*10.31]