That is a very neat idea of having a period table of human experience. I think your finger is on the pulse of the human experience today, as we watch the end days of a society that has tried to unitize the human experience into GDP input and outputs without weighing the non monetary consequences.
I like the idea, although I think you’re mixing metaphors haha. If there is a periodic table of life, that means it’s a hard science, like chemistry. But you also explicitly call it the ART of life. Perhaps there’s something in between like music, which is both an art and a science: notes and chords are measured by specific frequencies and ratios, their proper sequences have all been mapped out and popularized based on which sound of the most pleasing to us, and yet the entire catalog of music is infinite.
The best part of this analogy is that lay people have access to music (whereas chemistry is difficult to understand, and therefore, sometimes alienating) and while a study of music is not necessary for anyone, it is truly enriching of one’s appreciation of the field.
Perhaps what you’re trying to create is a musical scale of life, with loneliness and anger being the notes, habit being the melody, and philosophy being the time signature. I don’t know exactly, but you get the idea. Haha.
This is not meant to be a criticism, but I’m just toying with the idea, which I think is a great one
Grant, really appreciate this comment. First thought, am I mixing metaphors if I'm using similes? 😉 Humor aside, I think your point is valid, so that's why I say it's "like" a periodic table. The sense of discovery and organization of base units, not that it's like a hard science. It clearly isn't, but when trying to find a way of communicating to a science-driven world the analogy has been eye-opening and resonant for folks. (And, like all analogies, breaks if pressed too far.)
I like your musical scale reference. And this reminds me I need a suite (pun intended) of analogies to reach different kinds of readers. Essentially this is an ethical anthropology I'm offering, but how to communicate that is something I'm putting a great deal of thought into. I'll be writing more about this so I'll look forward to seeing how things land for you.
"One idea makes a poor container for the entirety of the human condition." What a great insight Chad. Also, amazing pictures!!
Thanks James! I wish I could take credit for the photos haha. Guess my credit captions didn't make it over - will remedy that.
That is a very neat idea of having a period table of human experience. I think your finger is on the pulse of the human experience today, as we watch the end days of a society that has tried to unitize the human experience into GDP input and outputs without weighing the non monetary consequences.
Appreciate the comment! And don't get me started on GDP as a measure of, well, much of anything lol
I like the idea, although I think you’re mixing metaphors haha. If there is a periodic table of life, that means it’s a hard science, like chemistry. But you also explicitly call it the ART of life. Perhaps there’s something in between like music, which is both an art and a science: notes and chords are measured by specific frequencies and ratios, their proper sequences have all been mapped out and popularized based on which sound of the most pleasing to us, and yet the entire catalog of music is infinite.
The best part of this analogy is that lay people have access to music (whereas chemistry is difficult to understand, and therefore, sometimes alienating) and while a study of music is not necessary for anyone, it is truly enriching of one’s appreciation of the field.
Perhaps what you’re trying to create is a musical scale of life, with loneliness and anger being the notes, habit being the melody, and philosophy being the time signature. I don’t know exactly, but you get the idea. Haha.
This is not meant to be a criticism, but I’m just toying with the idea, which I think is a great one
Grant, really appreciate this comment. First thought, am I mixing metaphors if I'm using similes? 😉 Humor aside, I think your point is valid, so that's why I say it's "like" a periodic table. The sense of discovery and organization of base units, not that it's like a hard science. It clearly isn't, but when trying to find a way of communicating to a science-driven world the analogy has been eye-opening and resonant for folks. (And, like all analogies, breaks if pressed too far.)
I like your musical scale reference. And this reminds me I need a suite (pun intended) of analogies to reach different kinds of readers. Essentially this is an ethical anthropology I'm offering, but how to communicate that is something I'm putting a great deal of thought into. I'll be writing more about this so I'll look forward to seeing how things land for you.
Good point. People today are obsessed with science, so you gotta meet them where they are.
Maybe you need a periodic table of analogies, including the periodic table lol