Connections

October 22, 2023 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

Have you heard of Connections? It’s a recent game from The New York Times, kind of like their Wordle.

You’re given sixteen words, and you have to pick four sets of four, guessing four at a time. Each set has to have something in common, like a common meaning, or parts of two-word phases with a common word (not given), or even something like a letter or word structure in common.

Often you see that more than four things could form a set, or even less than four if you’re on the wrong track. There’s also a web site (see below) where you can play past games and even play them as much as you like. What fun!!

You can try my puzzle if you like! I wish I had interactive features that let you know if your guesses are correct or not, but I don’t. Sorry!

Further Reading:

https://www.connectionsunlimited.org/

[*12.30]

fourfolds, Philosophy

Roads and Rivers

August 26, 2023 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

Heraclitus once said that one cannot step into the same river twice, yet he also said that the road up and the road down are one and the same. These two notions seem to be completely contradictory.

I don’t think he meant that rivers change whereas roads don’t, although the water in the river is changing as it flows by, and the material or dirt of the road usually doesn’t.

If I step into a river and then again later, I also have the memory of stepping into it before. If I travel the road up, then on the road down I remember the journey and what I’ve seen each way, and maybe what’s changed.

Perhaps he meant that the “road up” is the path of increased success and well-being, and the “road down” has those things decreased. Maybe you’re supposed to take both equally, like the Stoics.

Further Reading:

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Heraclitus

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

https://www.albany.edu/~rn774/fall96/philos3.html

fourfolds

Much in Little

August 8, 2023 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

“I’m always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,” said Muskrat, “That is why I speak as I do. You’ve heard of Muskrat’s Much-in-Little, of course?”
“No,” said the child. “What is it?”
Muskrat stopped, cleared his throat, ruffled his fur, drew himself up, and said in ringing tones, “Why times How equals What.” He paused to let the words take effect. “That’s Muskrat’s Much-in-Little,” he said.

— From “The Mouse and His Child”, by Russell Hoban

“What?,” asked the child.
“Yes, exactly!,” said Muskrat.

— Not in the book

“Who?,” said the Owl.

— Maybe somewhere in the book

Further Reading:

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

http://www.ocelotfactory.com/hoban/mouse.html

In Latin, Multum in Parvo.

Multum in Parvo

And now, a nice poem:

Much in Little, by Yvor Winters

Amid the iris and the rose,
The honeysuckle and the bay,
The wild earth for a moment goes
In dust or weed another way.

Small though its corner be, the weed
Will yet intrude its creeping beard;
The harsh blade and the hairy seed
Recall the brutal earth we feared.

And if no water touch the dust
In some far corner, and one dare
To breathe upon it, one may trust
The spectre on the summer air:

The risen dust alive with fire,
The fire made visible, a blur
Interrate, the pervasive ire
Of foxtail and of hoarhound burr.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47783/much-in-little

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

fourfolds, Mathematics, Philosophy, semiotics

What is Information?

July 31, 2023 Martin K. Jones 1 Comment

Information is a difference that makes a difference.

— Gregory Bateson

Information is a distinction that makes a difference.

— Donald M. Mackay

Draw a distinction.

— G. Spencer-Brown

To Luciano Floridi, information can have one (or more?) of the following four properties:

- As something
- About something
- In something
- For something

To Charles S. Peirce, information is about semiosis, integrating the four aspects of:

- Denotation
- Connotation
- Extension
- Comprehension

Further Reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_information#Definitions_of_%22information%22

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

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

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

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

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extension_(semantics)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comprehension_(logic)

Aaron Sloman on Bateson and Information:

https://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/research/projects/cogaff/misc/information-difference.html

https://www.cs.bham.ac.uk//research/projects/cogaff/misc/austen-info.html

https://www.cs.bham.ac.uk//research/projects/cogaff/sloman-inf-chap.html

Various links:

https://www.stephanie-burns.com/blog/2017/3/25/the-difference-that-makes-the-difference

https://www.edge.org/conversation/daniel_c_dennett-a-difference-that-makes-a-difference

Dynamics of Information as Natural Computation (2 links to same paper):

https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/2/3/460

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/220121522_Dynamics_of_Information_as_Natural_Computation

[*13.192, *13.194]

epistemology, fourfolds, Philosophy, religion

Hakuin Ekaku: Four Ways of Knowing

June 23, 2023 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

Hakuin Ekaku: Four Ways of Knowing:

- Gate of Inspiration
- Gate of Practice
- Gate of Awakening
- Gate of Nirvana

Further Reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakuin_Ekaku#Four_ways_of_knowing

Zen Master Hakuin on the Four Ways of Knowing

Others to consider:

Click to access waysofknowing.pdf

What are the four Ways of Knowing (WOKs)?

Ways of acquiring knowledge (knowing)

Intuition/Emotion
Authority/Language
Sense/Observation
Reason/Logics

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/multiple-ways-knowing-expanding-know/

Artistic
Practical
Foundational
Generalized

A Reflection on 4 epistemologies (ways of knowing 😛 )

Presentational
Practical
Experiential
Propositional

Ways of Knowing

Instinct & Intuition
Naming & Description
Narrative
Discourse
Philosophy/Logic
Qualitative Science
Quantitative Science
Models & Simulations

Images:

https://www.google.com/search?q=%22ways+of+knowing%22&tbm=isch

Consciousness, Esoteric, fourfolds, Philosophy, Pseudoscience, Psychology

Walter Bowman Russell (1871-1963)

June 12, 2023 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

Walter Bowman Russell was an American polymath, artist, author, and philosopher who made copious contributions and claims to various fields, including spirituality, art, and metaphysics. While his work encompasses a broad range of ideas, here are four major themes that capture the essence of his philosophy:

Universal Law and Natural Order: One of Russell’s central ideas is the existence of an underlying universal law and natural order that governs all aspects of the universe. He believed that this law operates in perfect harmony, and by understanding and aligning ourselves with it, we can achieve balance and fulfillment in our lives.
Unity and Interconnectedness: Russell emphasized the interconnectedness of all things in the universe. He saw everything as part of a grand, unified whole, where all elements are interdependent and interconnected. According to his philosophy, recognizing this interconnectedness enables us to grasp the fundamental unity of all existence.
Harmonic Vibrations and Rhythmic Balance: Russell believed that the universe is fundamentally vibrational in nature, with everything composed of waves and rhythms. He emphasized the importance of achieving harmony and balance within ourselves and in our interactions with the world around us. By attuning ourselves to the harmonies and rhythms of the universe, we can lead more fulfilling and purposeful lives.
The Power of Mind and Consciousness: Russell regarded the power of the human mind and consciousness as fundamental forces in shaping our reality. He believed that our thoughts and beliefs have the ability to create and influence the world we experience. According to his philosophy, by harnessing the power of our minds and cultivating a positive and constructive consciousness, we can achieve personal and collective transformation.

These four themes offer a glimpse into the multifaceted philosophy of Russell, often presented with his signature illustrations. However, it’s worth noting that Russell’s ideas encompass a vast array of subjects, including a non-standard physics and a spiritual cosmology, all interconnected through his unique perspective and understanding of the universe. Indeed, he was perhaps the first to endorse “new age” thought.

(Thanks, ChatGPT! I didn’t have the strength to read enough to write a quick summary. You were far less skeptical than I would have been, so I made a few small edits.)

Further Reading:

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

https://www.philosophy.org/#/

https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?41699-The-Enigmatic-Walter-Russell

Startseite

RUSSELL, WALTER BOWMAN — MIAMI

WALTER RUSSELL

Only for NYT subscribers:

https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1963/05/20/90548414.html?pageNumber=31

Also, see:

The Decemberists – Cavalry Captain

[*13.175]

fourfolds, Politics, Psychology

Four Positive Attitudes and Their Opposites

June 11, 2023 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

I generally dislike those type of household decorations with words that encourage positive things to promote in your life or to be thankful for. I’m sure you know the kind that I’m talking about, like motivational or inspirational posters for the home. I guess a good word for such things is schmaltz, or more meanly: “virtue signaling”.

One wonders then why I spend so much time making somewhat similar diagrams for this blog, although I don’t (often) print and pin them up for display. And I can say for the most part that they are not of this nature, but that’s just an excuse. Even so, I kind of like this one, so please forgive.

These four attitudes (calm, care, love, and hope) started with their four opposites (anger, spite, hate, and dread) as the key messages I took away from ads from a certain political party a few years ago. Unlike my post Capitalistic Values, which dealt with actual, social objectivities, messages with these four types of negativity were intended to inculcate base subjective emotions.

But the more I looked at them and considered what to say about them, the more I thought that I was adopting these negative attitudes for myself as well. And so I hope that I can choose the positive ones and not their negative counterparts, as things continue forward.

Have Calm, Not Anger
Have Care, Not Spite
Have Love, Not Hate
Have Hope, Not Dread

Or perhaps you’d prefer only the positives.

Further Reading:

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

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

[*13.76]

cycle, epistemology, fourfolds, Science

A Couple of Loops About Thinking and Then Doing

May 28, 2023 Martin K. Jones 14 Comments

The Shewhart Cycle (also known as the PDCA) is an iterative design and management cycle for continuous quality improvement of products and processes. It is named after Walter Shewhart who is known as the father of statistical quality control. The more recent name, PDCA, has several variations in the literature. The PDCA or Shewhart Cycle consists of four parts:

- Plan
- Do
- Check
- Act

Similarly, the OODA Loop is an iterative framework for the improvement and management of decision processes. It is used in various domains such as business, litigation, and military strategy. The OODA Loop consists of four parts:

- Observe
- Orient
- Decide
- Act

Learning Cycles are similar to Design Cycles in that the process to be improved is learning and the product to be improved is knowledge. It would be interesting to compare the two types of cycles to understand their similarities and differences. Some of each type have four stages but others have more or less. I have mentioned several learning cycles with four steps already in this blog, the Kolb learning cycle and the Scientific Method.

Further Reading:

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_A._Shewhart

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

https://www.praxisframework.org/en/library/shewhart-cycle

https://www.google.com/search?q=PDCA+cycle&tbm=isch

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

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

https://www.techtarget.com/searchcio/definition/OODA-loop

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

https://www.google.com/search?q=learning+cycles+and+design+cycles+compared&tbm=isch

[*6.54]

Biology, epistemology, fourfolds, Physics, Psychology, Science, sociology

The Tree of Knowledge System

May 19, 2023 Martin K. Jones Leave a comment

The Tree of Knowledge (ToK) System posits four hierarchical planes of existence having separate dimensions of complexity mapped out or studied by four different kinds of sciences:

Matter/Object: mapped by Physical Sciences
Life/Organism: mapped by Biological Sciences
Mind/Animal: mapped by Psychological, Cognitive, and Behavioral Sciences
Culture/Person: mapped by Human Social Sciences

The ToK System is reminiscent of other “big history” or “cosmic evolution” schemas such as Tyler Volk’s Combogenesis except for the special consideration for the mental and psychological (i.e. subjective) aspects of existence. I would think that this is primarily due to the fact that the developer of the system, Professor Gregg Henriques, is a psychologist.

In order to support his focus on consciousness and psychology, Henriques has developed several theories to address the “problem of psychology”, for example the Justification Systems Theory and the Behavioral Investment Theory. With the ToK System, these and several other key ideas, he claims he has a “Unified Theory of Knowledge” (UToK)!

Further Reading:

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

https://www.unifiedtheoryofknowledge.org/8-key-ideas/the-tree-of-knowledge

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

http://www.gregghenriques.com/

https://www.unifiedtheoryofknowledge.org/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/theory-knowledge

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W6h2wsRx4EqYJ5WuPHxFUwphRJJwy0p1/view

Combogenesis: a constructive, emergent cosmos

eightfolds, Esoteric, fourfolds, religion

The Gnostic Ogdoad

April 17, 2023 Martin K. Jones 2 Comments

ChatGPT said:

The Gnostic Ogdoad is a group of eight divine beings or emanations that were central to certain Gnostic cosmologies. The divisions of the Gnostic Ogdoad vary depending on the specific Gnostic system, but generally, they consist of four pairs of male and female aeons, or divine beings.

Here is one example of the divisions of the Gnostic Ogdoad [note: some of my Greek names at right are different. See refs. below.]:

Barbelo and Bythos: Barbelo represents the divine feminine aspect of the highest deity, while Bythos represents the divine masculine aspect. Together, they represent the ultimate unity and transcendence of the divine.
Nous and Aletheia: Nous represents divine mind or wisdom, while Aletheia represents truth. Together, they represent the intellectual and rational aspects of the divine.
Logos and Zoe: Logos represents divine word or speech, while Zoe represents life. Together, they represent the creative and life-giving aspects of the divine.
Anthropos and Ecclesia: Anthropos represents the divine human or perfect man, while Ecclesia represents the divine assembly or church. Together, they represent the human and social aspects of the divine.

It’s important to note that different Gnostic systems may have different variations or interpretations of the Ogdoad, and some may not include all eight divine beings.

Equivalent Exchange

Connections

Roads and Rivers

Much in Little

What is Information?

Hakuin Ekaku: Four Ways of Knowing

Walter Bowman Russell (1871-1963)

Four Positive Attitudes and Their Opposites

A Couple of Loops About Thinking and Then Doing

The Tree of Knowledge System

The Gnostic Ogdoad

Every Fourth Thing

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Every Fourth Thing