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Everything I Know, Section 2

by R. Buckminster FullerBuckminster Fuller Institute

gist

Fuller works as an experientialist under Bridgman's operational science: report every circumstance of observation, not just an isolated laboratory result. Models in the room show compression members that never touch; only tension is continuous, and that is how Universe itself holds together. Technology is therefore nature's own technique, not an alien human add-on. Comprehensive anticipatory design science is the obligation to employ those principles so humanity participates in Universe's regeneration instead of waiting for someone else to invent.

ideas

  • Operational science records the whole circumstance. Einstein and Bridgman require the local conditions of discovery, not only the isolated measurement.
  • Tension is the continuity. Compression occurs as islands; the only continuous structural member in Universe is tension.
  • Tensegrity is nature's scheme. Discontinuous compression and continuous tension hold earth and moon as they hold a model; brick-on-brick is the inefficient exception.
  • Technology is nature. Universe is already technique; human mind discovers and is meant to use those techniques.
  • Design science is anticipatory. Employ known principles to meet humanity's needs instead of waiting for someone else to invent the next environment.

quotes

I am an experientialist. My grand strategy, which I am discussing with you, of coping with problem solving

R. Buckminster Fuller, naming the operational discipline behind the lectures.

a complex of compression struts that do not touch each other, and the only thing that is continuous is the tension

R. Buckminster Fuller, pointing to the tensegrity models in the room.

nature was using discontinuous compression and only continuous tension which was invisible to you and I

R. Buckminster Fuller, identifying Universe's structural scheme.

Now, again, I said that all Universe is technology.

R. Buckminster Fuller, refusing the claim that technology is an alien human add-on.