The familiar periodic table of the elements may be overwhelming in its usual initial presentation. You may not have noticed that there are four blocks of elements in the table, and they even have names! All good atomists need to become facile with the chemical elements though, because they are indeed the building blocks of the universe!

The table is usually presented as a partial grid, consisting of 7 rows and 18 (or 32) columns, although there are alternate representations. But columns (C) are called groups (G) and rows (R) are called periods (P)!

Within the grid, elements are arranged in four blocks, with the following properties:

s-block: 2C x 7R = 14 (G1-2,18, P1-7) “sharp”
p-block: 6C x 6R = 36 (G13-18, P2-7) “principal”
d-block: 10C x 4R = 40 (G3-12, P4-7) “diffuse”
f-block: 14C x 2R = 28 (between G2 and G3, P6-7) “fundamental”

Note how columns (groups) increase (by four!) as rows (periods) decrease! Blocks are named after electron orbitals which are also named s, p, d, and f.

Thus there are currently 118 elements having a unique “atomic number” in the usual periodic table, with the rows or periods having the following number of elements:

P1: 2 (2s)
P2: 8 (2s, 6p)
P3: 8 (2s, 6p)
P4: 18 (2s, 6p, 10d)
P5: 18 (2s, 6p, 10d)
P6: 32 (2s, 6p, 10d, 14f)
P7: 32 (2s, 6p, 10d, 14f)

Note the number of groups increases as the period does. This is due to the properties of electrons and their shells. Familiar elements are scattered throughout the table, although they occur less and less as the atomic number increases. Elements can also occur as different isotopes due to having a differing number of electrons than usual, and so may have a positive or negative charge.

As an homage to the classical four elements, I’ve arranged the blocks as follows: the s-block has the reactive alkali and alkaline metals (fire), the p-block includes the noble gases (plus C, N, and O needed for life as we know it) (air), the d-block has the precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum (plus liquid at room temp mercury but not bromine) (water), and the f-block with the heaviest and often radioactive elements like uranium and plutonium (earth).

Further Reading:

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_(periodic_table)#s-block

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_(periodic_table)#p-block

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_(periodic_table)#d-block

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_(periodic_table)#f-block

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodic_table_(electron_configurations)

fourfolds, Philosophy

Direction of Fit

November 22, 2022 Martin K. Jones 1 Comment

The notion of “Direction of Fit” can describe several associated concepts, from a specific one in “Speech Act Theory” (SAT) to the more general one in the “Philosophy of Mind” (POM). For SAT, the concept depends on whether words accurately describe the world (word-to-world), or if the world is actually altered by words (world-to-word) (or possibly both or neither). For POM, the concept is generalized to be between mind (or thought) and world, and of course, word could serve to mediate between mind (or thought) and world.

I propose that direction of fit could also be enlarged to encompass the fits of world-to-world and word-to-word.

Perhaps the notion of world fitting to world is tautological, that it is always true by necessity. For any fit of world to world is natural, in as much as we understand it, because anything else would be super-natural. This is the realm of science then, when we try to explain how the mechanism of the world behaves in its ordered operation. I imagine that we could also put engineering and technology in this case, since we are trying to create an artifact in the world that meshes with the normal goings on of nature. If it meshes very poorly, it either breaks or nature does instead.

The notion of word fitting to word is interesting as well. It is not given that words I write will fit with the words that you read, or there is a proper fit between speaking and listening. I guess the art of rhetoric can be placed here, as how we can fashion our words best to convince or explain or engage. In the POM sense, perhaps any art could be included as well, from literature to music to visual arts, since they strive to convey thoughts to thoughts. I am reminded of the notion of the perfect language in accurately describing the world or of complete understanding between minds.

Maybe words describing world could also be science, but perhaps its proper realm should be more of history or the states of human affairs. This is more in agreement with the opposite direction of World-to-Word, or world fitting to word.

Maybe I’m just thinking of a certain fourfold of Richard McKeon, and want to make a correspondence of

Word-to-World => Thought
World-to-Word => Action
Word-to-Word => Word
World-to-World => Thing

although I’m not sure this works.

Further Reading:

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

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/speech-acts/

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Message_in_the_Bottle#%22The_Delta_Factor%22

https://read.dukeupress.edu/the-philosophical-review/article-abstract/123/4/429/87552/On-the-Very-Idea-of-Direction-of-Fit?redirectedFrom=fulltext

https://www.jstor.org/stable/44290001

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/belief/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/intention/

http://www.gavinjensen.com/blog/category/Philosophy+of+Language

Things, Thoughts, Words, and Actions

[*12.96, *12.98]

fourfolds, Physics, Science

The Six Flavors of Quarks

November 11, 2022 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

Further Reading:

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

The Standard Model of Particle Physics

Working to Understand the Changing Flavors of Quarks

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eightfold_way_(physics)

[*13.8]

Philosophy, religion

The Four Paths of Yoga

September 24, 2022 Martin K. Jones 1 Comment

According to the Vedanta, the 4 major margas (paths) are Jnana Yoga (the path of wisdom and knowledge), Bhakti Yoga (the path of devotion), Karma Yoga (path of selfless action or service) and Raja Yoga (path of self-discipline):

Jnana Yoga: The path of wisdom and knowledge
Bhakti Yoga: The path of devotion
Karma Yoga: The path of selfless action and service
Raja Yoga: The path of self-discipline

Further Reading:

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

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

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

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C4%81ja_yoga

https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-four-paths-of-yoga/QQURiPuOVM2eIw#

https://chopra.com/articles/the-4-paths-of-yoga

fourfolds, Psychology, twelvefolds

Build Your Atomic Habits

September 9, 2022 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

In Atomic Habits, author James Clear describes the behavior of making and breaking habits in four stages:

Cue:
To increase a habit, make its cue obvious
To decrease a habit, make its cue invisible
Craving:
To increase a habit, make its craving attractive
To decrease a habit, make its craving offputting
Response:
To increase a habit, make its response easy
To decrease a habit, make its response hard
Reward:
To increase a habit, make its reward satisfying
To decrease a habit, make its reward unfulfilling

Further Reading:

James Clear / Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

https://www.samuelthomasdavies.com/book-summaries/self-help/atomic-habits/

https://aliabdaal.com/book-notes/atomic-habits-summary/

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

[*13.86]

sixteenfolds

Four qua Four

August 12, 2022 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

Here is a diagram for a set of four things standing in for each other, as in their being, character, function, or capacity. Qua is a proper English word (from Latin) meaning “as” or “as being” but also “in the function of” or “in the capacity of”. Often used as “A qua A” rather than “A qua B”.

I suppose the diagram could be altered to be four things qua four other things, with apostrophes or something. It could also be altered for a double duality, as shown below, with some nice symmetries.

It is somewhat similar to my diagram of the Tetrameria, but of course arranged differently. The only other example that I can think of as being “Four qua Four” is the Archic Matrix.

Further Reading:

https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2591:_Qua

Carl Jung’s Alchemical Tetrameria

https://latin-dictionary.net/definition/32572/quaqua

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

[*13.90]

Esoteric, fourfolds

Et in Arcadia Ego

July 23, 2022 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

Further Reading:

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Et_in_Arcadia_ego_(Guercino)

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

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

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

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

[*10.70]

fourfolds, Psychology

Surrounded by Idiots

July 19, 2022 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

Here’s another modern-day take on the Four Temperaments, a popular book series by Thomas Erikson called “Surrounded by Idiots.” After the original which is subtitled “The Four Types of Human Behavior and How to Effectively Communicate with Each in Business (and in Life),” he has written sequels titled “Surrounded by Narcissists,” “… by Psychopaths,” “… by Bad Bosses,” and “… by Setbacks”.

I have found a simple chart explaining his original four types using a two-by-two matrix of introvert vs. extrovert and task or issue-oriented vs. relation-oriented, and a review I read indicates that the DISC Theory of personality is the main influence for the author (and which is also related to humorism.)

- Red: Extrovert and Task/Issue-oriented
- Yellow: Extrovert and Relation-oriented
- Blue: Introvert and Tasks/Issue-oriented
- Green: Introvert and Relation-oriented

Notably the cover art for the series uses four colors for the different types of people: Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue. These colors are sometimes also used by others to denote the Four Temperaments. These four colors are often used for other classification schemes, and even for corporate logos. Also, these four colors are the set union of the three primary colors of light and the (traditional) three primary pigments.

Further Reading:

Thomas Erikson: Surrounded by Idiots

https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/learning/surrounded-by-idiots-book-review

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

[*13.87]

Esoteric, sixteenfolds

Georgia Guidestones, RIP

July 17, 2022 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

Georgia Guidestones
Born: March 22, 1980
Died: July 6, 2022

Let These Be
Guidestones
to an Age
of Reason (*)

Capstone with (*) written in Four Ancient Languages

- Cuneiform
- Hieroglyphics
- Greek
- Sanskrit

Ten Recommendations (**) about

- Population
- Environment
- Governance
- Spirituality

Four Upright Stones with (**) written in Eight Modern Languages

- English and Spanish
- Swahili and Hindi
- Hebrew and Arabic
- Chinese and Russian

One Center Stone supporting Capstone for Three Astronometries

- Finding the Celestial Pole
- The Sun’s Annual Travel
- Sun’s Position at Noon over the Year

Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,
Nor the furious winter’s rages;
Thou thy worldly task hast done,
Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages:
Golden lads and girls all must,
As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

–– William Shakespeare (from Cymbeline)

Further Reading:

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

https://www.coastalbreezenews.com/news/a-new-world-order-for-the-few-left-behind/article_c811714a-69c5-5889-8cc6-8ce58f7c991a.html

https://www.onlineathens.com/story/news/local/2022/07/11/georgia-guidestones-elbert-county-talk-rebuilding-after-monument-destroyed/10014859002/

https://www.wired.com/2009/04/ff-guidestones/

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50428/song-fear-no-more-the-heat-o-the-sun-