Buckminster Fuller

I saw a fine play earlier tonight about Bucky, and it inspired me to start this topic. The play has a website called http://www.buckyfuller.com and has some great links to other sites. If you want to get up to speed fast, go to http://www.cjfearnley.com/fuller-faq.html It's where I got the introduction to this topic and will explain all of the basic concepts of synergy, jitterbug, space, systems, omnidirectional halos, and precession. Precession is fascinating. From the faq again: From Chris Fearnley] I think the simplest first-order definition of precession is the side effects of a system in motion (generally occurring at 90 degrees to the direction of motion). [Blaine D'Amico] Bucky said that precessional effects are what most people label ``side effects.'' i.e., I teach a person to fish so he can feed his family (Direct effect). One of his no longer hungry children now can focus in school and goes on to become an important scientist (precessional effect). [From Gerry Segal] My college physics books defines precession as: ``a complex motion executed by a rotating body subjected to torque, by a conical locus of the axis'' That's quite a mouthful. Bucky gets even more complex. In Synergetics [533.08], he defines precession as: ``the intereffect of individually operating cosmic systems upon one another. Since Universe is an aggregate of individually operative systems, all of the intersystem effects of the Universe are precessional, and the 180-degree imposed forces usually result in redirectional resultants of 90 degrees.'' A beautiful example is given in Synergetics [417.00]. Here two exact sets of 60 Closest-packed spheres (wedges) are rotated 90-degrees and twisted (torque). An unexpected and marvelous result is a perfect 8 ball edged, 7-frequency tetrahedron that is formed. I doubt that I have been successful in helping you understand precession. But I do know that if you take the time and build the models you'll have an underlying sense of the meaning that provides the basis of understanding that the written word only hints at. [From Leo Elliott] The clearest example I recall Bucky giving of the notion of ``precession'' was that from the viewpoint of a waterbug or a jellyfish on the surface of the water, directly in the path of some big ship, which will send out precessional waves slightly ahead of the bow, thereby alerting the astute bug or jellyfish that something big is indeed on the way. [From David Worrall] Imagine a pebble dropped into a pond. The pebble goes to the bottom (closer to the centre of gravity of the earth!) The wave created moves outwards, at 90 degrees, precessionally, to the pebble. [From Kirby Urner] ``Precession'' in synergetics shows up as the relationship between two sides of the same generalized principle coin. Gravity begets radiation begets gravity. Tension begets compression begets tension. Pull on two ends of a rope, and its strands are squeezed even more tightly together. Where two very general aspects of nature always and only co-exist, and their relationship is generally precessional. Synergetics is unlike traditional physics in its insistence on gravity as a circumferential pulling together (and thereby implosive), versus a radial explosiveness emanating from the center -- a 90 degree relationship. The Sun is a giant squeeze ball. Strands of thought are likewise circumferentially implosive, nonlinear hypertext countervailing against vs the information explosion. By extension, ``precession'' refers to nature's way of getting the job done at 90 degrees to human selfishness and ignorance. We ``do the right things for the wrong reasons.'' The graduating from Class II to Class I evolution which Fuller anticipates involves our starting to do the right things for the right reasons, like you don't need the Cold War to have the space program to have higher living standard spin-off technologies (goodies yielding at 90-degrees to ignorance and fear). We don't have time for that kind of bumbling anymore.

From http://www.buckyfuller.com/play.htm (about the play I saw tonight) 1927, at the age of 32, Buckminster Fuller stood on the shores of Lake Michigan, prepared to throw himself into the freezing waters. His first child had died. He was bankrupt, discredited, and jobless, and he had a wife and newborn daughter. On the verge of suicide, it suddenly struck him that his life belonged, not to himself, but to the Universe. He chose at that moment to embark on what he called, "an experi- ment to discover what a little, penniless, un- known individual might be able to do effectively on behalf of all humanity." Over the next fifty-four years, he proved, time and again, that his most controversial ideas were practical and workable. During the course of his remarkable experiment he: was awarded 25 U.S. patents authored 28 books received 47 honorary doctorates in the arts, sciences, engineering and humanities received dozens of major architectural and design awards including, among many others, the Gold Medal of the American Institute of Architects and the Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects. created work which found itself into the permanent collections of museums around the world circled the globe 57 times, reaching millions through his public lectures and interviews.

One playgoer noted (herself a playwright): "Bucky Fuller anticipated many of the breakthrough insights of modern business trends. His precession concept predicted our understanding of complex, nonlinear systems and the evolution of markets and products. In the short span of a highly entertaining play, the audience members will get tools to transform their understanding of daily management challenges." -- Elota Patton, lecturer, University of Texas

This is fascinating Terry. I dipped in here cos I hadn't heard of the guy. I'll follow up the lead you gave when I have a moment. I'll write more later when I've thought about it.

An email from Brad Armstrong (who plays Bucky in the play) notes that "we are confirmed to do the play at the United Nations on Wednesday, May 24th at 6:30 as part of its Millennium Forum."

His brilliantly conceived buildings are most interesting to live in. (My dad had 11 patents and two Army-Navy E's) awarded to him. Check in Chemical Abstracts...it's all there!)

Really, domes are great structures. I've built a copule. They're just hard to build cabinets in. I want to get in to the "Self Disciplines of Buckminister Fuller" which is a handout sheet I got at the play. For example: 4. Seek to accomplish whatever is to be attained in such a manner that the advantage attained would never be secured at the cost of another or others."

Noble, indeed. It will allow you to sleep at night if conscience has been a bothersome thing (Cannot imagine you taking advantage of others no matter how obliquely!)

Here's another for comment. 14. Above all, seek to comprehend the principles of eternally regenerative universe and disocer how humans function in these principles.

Ah yes, my favorite opposition to tbe Big Bang. If we do not regenerate we die, no matter what the function - thought, activity, things; but it cannot be done eternally at the cost of a finite world.

Even if we did have a new carboniferous period, the time it takes on the scale of human life to turn it into fuel is an impossibility. Some things just do not regenerate on human scales, and that must be the key. Using fossil water is just as bad just to make the deserts bloom!

Barrett Golding (beedge@well.com) a fairly dense audio/textual presentation of Buckminster Fuller's ideas. still screwing w/ it; any thoughts/comments would be helpful http://www.hearingvoices.com/bucky/ I told him about the http://www.buckyfuller.com site. I wonder how the showing at the UN went?

Email sent to Barrett and Brad.

I know a guy who used to hang around Northern California named J Baldwin who hung around with Bucky Fuller for 33 some odd years (off and on). He taught me that you need to drive big trucks with your thumbs up on the steering wheel so you don't injure them if the wheel jerks back. J was full of perceptive comments on just about everything. He has a book called "Buckminster Fullers Ideas for Today". Possibly worth looking in to, a good one to check out of the library.

Sounds like a good one to put on the easy access book shelf in your house! He's right about the thumbs - they don't get ripped back that way!

the full title of J Baldwin;s fine book: "Bucky Works; Buckminster Fullers Ideas for Today" it's an overview of Bucky's inventions. as for web esources, don't forget the Buckminster Fuller Institute:

...that's http://www.bfi.org

Hey, thanks for the heads up on the url Barrett. I got your email and I'm glad you'll be checking in with us. How did your interest in Bucky Fuller get started?

1st saw his books described in the original "whole earth catolog." they were raving about this guy. so i had to read a book or two, and that got me hooked on his ideas, concepts, and, more than anything, his vow to make his life an experiment -- to look around and see what needs doing, and if no one else is doing it, to take it on. (his assertion: that individuals can accomplish things the great nations and corporations canno.) i liked the way his ideas encompassed a regard for art, technology, design and nature seamlessly. seemed insticntively and fundamentally correct. now, as my frieds will woefully attest to, i often begin talking with this phrase: "well, buckminster fuller says..." especially when primed with the proper dosage of whiskey.

'Tis a whole lot better than quoting Howard Stern...(depending on your personal taste, of course!)

I'll have to check on where in Geo we were discussing Bucky Balls... People who had never heard of him know who he is now!