Synergetics

(Fuller)

Synergetics is the empirical study

of systems in transformation, with
an emphasis on total system
behavior unpredicted by the
behavior of any isolated
components, including humanity's
role as both participant and
observer.
Since systems are identifiable at
every scale from the quantum level
to the cosmic, and humanity both
articulates the behavior of these
systems and is composed of these
systems, synergetics is a very
broad discipline, and embraces a
broad range of scientific and
philosophical studies including
tetrahedral and close-packed-
sphere geometries,
thermodynamics, chemistry,
psychology, biochemistry,
economics, philosophy and
theology. Despite a few
mainstream endorsements such as
articles by Arthur Loeb and the
naming of a molecule
"buckminsterfullerene",
synergetics remains an
iconoclastic subject ignored by
most traditional curricula and
academic departments.

Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983)

coined the term and attempted to
define its scope in his two volume
work Synergetics.[1][2][3] His oeuvre
inspired many researchers to
tackle branches of synergetics.
Three examples: Haken explored
self-organizing structures of open
systems far from thermodynamic
equilibrium, Amy Edmondson
explored tetrahedral and
icosahedral geometry, Stafford
Beer tackled geodesics in the
context of social dynamics, and
Nystrom proposed a theory of
computational cosmography.[4]
Many other researchers toil today
on aspects of Synergetics, though
many deliberately distance
themselves from Fuller's broad all-
encompassing definition, given its
problematic attempt to differentiate
and relate all aspects of reality
including the ideal and the
physically realized, the container
and the contained, the one and the
many, the observer and the
observed, the human microcosm
and the universal macrocosm.

Definition
"Synergetics" is defined by R.
Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) in
his two books Synergetics:
Explorations in the Geometry of
Thinking and Synergetics 2:
Explorations in the Geometry of
Thinking as:
A system of mensuration
employing 60-degree
vectorial coordination
comprehensive to both
physics and chemistry, and
to both arithmetic and
geometry, in rational whole
numbers ... Synergetics
explains much that has not
been previously
illuminated ... Synergetics
follows the cosmic logic of
the structural mathematics
strategies of nature, which
employ the paired sets of
the six angular degrees of
freedom, frequencies, and
vectorially economical
actions and their multi-
alternative, equi-
economical action
options ... Synergetics
discloses the excruciating
awkwardness
characterizing present-day
mathematical treatment of
the interrelationships of the
 independent scientific
disciplines as originally
occasioned by their mutual
and separate lacks of
awareness of the existence
of a comprehensive,
rational, coordinating
system inherent in
nature.[5]

Other passages in Synergetics that

outline the subject are its
introduction (The Wellspring of
Reality) and the section on
Nature's Coordination (410.01).
The chapter on Operational
Mathematics (801.00-842.07)
provides an easy to follow, easy to
build introduction to some of
Fuller's geometrical modeling
techniques. So this chapter can
help a new reader become familiar
with Fuller's approach, style and
geometry. One of Fuller's clearest
expositions on "the geometry of
thinking" occurs in the two part
essay "Omnidirectional Halo"
which appears in his book No
More Secondhand God.[6]
Amy Edmondson describes
synergetics "in the broadest terms,
as the study of spatial complexity,
and as such is an inherently
comprehensive discipline." [7] In
her PhD study, Cheryl Clark
synthesizes the scope of
synergetics as "the study of how
nature works, of the patterns
inherent in nature, the geometry of
environmental forces that impact
on humanity."[8]

Here's an abridged list of some of

the discoveries Fuller claims for
Synergetics again quoting directly:
The rational volumetric
quantation or constant
proportionality of the
octahedron, the cube, the
rhombic triacontahedron, and
the rhombic dodecahedron
when referenced to the
tetrahedron as volumetric unity.
The trigonometric identification
of the great-circle trajectories of
the seven axes of symmetry with
the 120 basic disequilibrium
LCD triangles of the spherical
icosahedron. (See Sec. 1043.00.)
The rational identification of
number with the hierarchy of all
the geometries.
The A and B Quanta Modules.
The volumetric hierarchy of
Platonic and other symmetrical
geometricals based on the
tetrahedron and the A and B
Quanta Modules as unity of
coordinate mensuration.
The identification of the nucleus
with the vector equilibrium.
Omnirationality: the identification
of triangling and tetrahedroning
with second- and third-powering
factors.
 Omni-60-degree coordination
versus 90-degree coordination.
The integration of geometry and
philosophy in a single
conceptual system providing a
common language and
accounting for both the physical
and metaphysical.[9]

Significance
Several authors have tried to
characterize the importance of
synergetics. Amy Edmonson
asserts that "Experience with
synergetics encourages a new way
of approaching and solving
problems. Its emphasis on visual
and spatial phenomena combined
with Fuller's holistic approach
fosters the kind of lateral thinking
which so often leads to creative
breakthroughs.".[10] Cheryl Clark
points out that "In his thousands of
lectures, Fuller urged his
audiences to study synergetics,
saying 'I am confident that
humanity's survival depends on all
of our willingness to comprehend
feelingly the way nature works.'"[11]

Tetrahedral accounting
A chief hallmark of this system of
mensuration was its unit of
volume: a tetrahedron defined by
four closest-packed unit-radius
spheres. This tetrahedron
anchored a set of concentrically
arranged polyhedra proportioned
in a canonical manner and inter-
connected by a twisting-
contracting, inside-outing dynamic
named the Jitterbug
Transformation.
 Shape Volume Properties Shape Volume A B T

tetrahedral A module 1/24 1 0 0

A,B,T modules 1/24
voxels B module 1/24 0 1 0
space-filler, T module 1/24 0 0 1
MITE 1/8
2As, 1B
MITE 1/8 2 1 0
Tetrahedron 1 self dual
Tetrahedron 1 24 0 0
Coupler 1 space filler
Coupler 1 16 8 0
cb.h = 1/2,
Duo-Tet Cube 3 48 24 0
Cuboctahedron 2.5 cb.v = 1/8 of
20 Octahedron 4 48 48 0

Duo-Tet Cube 3 24 MITEs Rhombic

5 0 0 120
Triacontahedron
Octahedron 4 dual of cube
Rhombic
Rhombic radius rt.h < 1, 6 96 48 0
5 Dodecahedron
Triacontahedron rt.v = 2/3 of 7.5
Cuboctahedron 20 336 144 0
space-filler,
Rhombic 2F Cube 24 384 192 0
6 dual to
Dodecahedron
cuboctahedron

Rhombic rt.h =
7.5
Triacontahedron phi/sqrt(2)

edges 1 =
Icosahedron ~18.51 tetrahedron's
edges

edges 1, cb.h
Cuboctahedron 20
=1

2-frequency, 8
2F Cube 24
x 3 volume
 A & B modules
Whole number
volumes

Corresponding to Fuller's use of a

regular tetrahedron as his unit of
volume was his replacing the cube
as his model of 3rd powering.(Fig.
990.01 ) The relative size of a
shape was indexed by its
"frequency," a term he deliberately
chose for its resonance with
scientific meanings. "Size and time
are synonymous. Frequency and
size are the same phenomenon."
(528.00 ) Shapes not having any
size, because purely conceptual in
the Platonic sense, were
"prefrequency" or "subfrequency"
in contrast.

Prime means sizeless,

timeless, subfrequency.
Prime is prehierarchical.
Prime is prefrequency.
 Prime is generalized, a
metaphysical
conceptualization
experience, not a special
case.... (1071.10 )

Generalized principles (scientific

laws), although communicated
energetically, did not inhere in the
"special case" episodes, were
considered "metaphysical" in that
sense.

An energy event is always

special case. Whenever we
have experienced energy,
we have special case. The
physicist's first definition of
physical is that it is an
experience that is
extracorporeally, remotely,
instrumentally
apprehensible.
Metaphysical includes all
the experiences that are
excluded by the definition of
physical. Metaphysical is
always generalized
 principle.(1075.11 )

Tetrahedral mensuration also

involved substituting what Fuller
called the "isotropic vector matrix"
(IVM) for the standard XYZ
coordinate system, as his principal
conceptual backdrop for special
case physicality:

The synergetics coordinate

system -- in
contradistinction to the XYZ
coordinate system -- is
 linearly referenced to the
unit-vector-length edges of
the regular tetrahedron,
each of whose six unit
vector edges occur in the
isotropic vector matrix as
the diagonals of the cube's
six faces. (986.203 )

The IVM scaffolding or skeletal

framework was defined by cubic
closest packed spheres (CCP),
alternatively known as the FCC or
face-centered cubic lattice, or as
the octet truss in architecture (on
which Fuller held a patent). The
space-filling complementary
tetrahedra and octahedra
characterizing this matrix had
prefrequency volumes 1 and 4
respectively (see above).

A third consequence of switching

to tetrahedral mensuration was
Fuller's review of the standard
"dimension" concept. Whereas
"height, width and depth" have
been promulgated as three distinct
dimensions within the Euclidean
context, each with its own
independence, Fuller considered
the tetrahedron a minimal starting
point for spatial cognition. His use
of "4D" was in many passages
close to synonymous with the
ordinary meaning of "3D," with the
dimensions of physicality (time,
mass) considered additional
dimensions.

Geometers and "schooled"

people speak of length,
breadth, and height as
constituting a hierarchy of
three independent
dimensional states -- "one-
dimensional," "two-
dimensional," and "three-
dimensional" -- which can
be conjoined like building
blocks. But length, breadth,
and height simply do not
exist independently of one
another nor independently
of all the inherent
characteristics of all
systems and of all systems'
inherent complex of
interrelationships with
Scenario Universe.... All
conceptual consideration is
inherently four-
dimensional. Thus the
primitive is a priori four-
dimensional, always based
on the four planes of
reference of the
tetrahedron. There can
never be less than four
primitive dimensions. Any
one of the stars or point-to-
able "points" is a system-
 ultratunable, tunable, or
infratunable but inherently
four-dimensional.
(527.702 , 527.712 )

Synergetics did not aim to replace

or invalidate pre-existing geometry
or mathematics, it was designed to
carve out a new foundation with a
language that would serve to
provide a new source of insights.

Starting with Universe

Fuller's geometric explorations
provided an experiential basis for
designing and refining a
philosophical language. His
overarching concern was the co-
occurring relationship between
tensile and compressive
tendencies within an eternally
regenerative Universe. "Universe"
is a proper name he defined in
terms of "partially overlapping
scenarios" while avoiding any
static picture or model of same.
His Universe was "non-
simultaneously conceptual":
Because of the fundamental
nonsimultaneity of
universal structuring, a
single, simultaneous, static
model of Universe is
inherently both nonexistent
and conceptually impossible
as well as unnecessary.
Ergo, Universe does not
have a shape. Do not waste
your time, as man has been
doing for ages, trying to
think of a unit shape
 "outside of which there must
be something," or "within
which, at center, there must
be a smaller something."
(307.04 )

U = MP described a first division of

Universe into metaphysical and
physical aspects, the former
associated with invisibly cohesive
tension, the latter with energy
events, both associative as matter
and disassociative as radiation.
(162.00)
Synergetics also distinguished
between gravitational and
precessional relationships among
moving bodies, the latter referring
to the vast majority of cosmic
relationships, which are non-180-
degree and do not involve bodies
"falling in" to one another (130.00
533.01, 1009.21). "Precession" is a
nuanced term in the synergetics
vocabulary, relating to the behavior
of gyroscopes, but also to side-
effects. (326.13, 1009.92)

Intuitive geometry
Fuller took an intuitive approach to
his studies, often going into
exhaustive empirical detail while at
the same time seeking to cast his
findings in their most general
philosophical context.

For example, his sphere packing

studies led him to generalize a
formula for polyhedral numbers: 2
P F2 + 2, where F stands for
"frequency" (the number of
intervals between balls along an
edge) and P for a product of low
order primes (some integer). He
then related the "multiplicative 2"
and "additive 2" in this formula to
the convex versus concave
aspects of shapes, and to their
polar spinnability respectively.

These same polyhedra, developed

through sphere packing and
related by tetrahedral mensuration,
he then spun around their various
poles to form great circle networks
and corresponding triangular tiles
on the surface of a sphere. He
exhaustively cataloged the central
and surface angles of these
spherical triangles and their related
chord factors.
Fuller was continually on the
lookout for ways to connect the
dots, often purely speculatively. As
an example of "dot connecting" he
sought to relate the 120 basic
disequilibrium LCD triangles of the
spherical icosahedron to the plane
net of his A module.(915.11Fig.
913.01, Table 905.65)

The Jitterbug Transformation

provided a unifying dynamic in this
work, with much significance
attached to the doubling and
quadrupling of edges that
occurred, when a cuboctahedron
is collapsed through icosahedral,
octahedral and tetrahedral stages,
then inside-outed and re-
expanded in a complementary
fashion. The JT formed a bridge
between 3,4-fold rotationally
symmetric shapes, and the 5-fold
family, such as a rhombic
triacontahedron, which later he
analyzed in terms of the T module,
another tetrahedral wedge with the
same volume as his A and B
modules.

He modeled energy transfer

between systems by means of the
double-edged octahedron and its
ability to turn into a spiral
(tetrahelix). Energy lost to one
system always reappeared
somewhere else in his Universe.
He modeled a threshold between
associative and disassociative
energy patterns with his T-to-E
module transformation ("E" for
"Einstein").(Fig 986.411A)

"Synergetics" is in some ways a

library of potential "science
cartoons" (scenarios) described in
prose and not heavily dependent
upon mathematical notations. His
demystification of a gyroscope's
behavior in terms of a hammer
thrower, pea shooter, and garden
hose, is a good example of his
commitment to using accessible
metaphors. (Fig. 826.02A)

His modular dissection of a space-

filling tetrahedron or MITE
(minimum tetrahedron) into 2 A and
1 B module served as a basis for
more speculations about energy,
the former being more energy
conservative, the latter more
dissipative in his analysis.
(986.422921.20, 921.30). His focus
was reminiscent of later cellular
automaton studies in that
tessellating modules would affect
their neighbors over successive
time intervals.

Social commentary
Synergetics informed Fuller's
social analysis of the human
condition. He identified
"ephemeralization" as the trend
towards accomplishing more with
less physical resources, as a result
of increasing comprehension of
such "generalized principles" as E
= Mc2.

He remained concerned that

humanity's conditioned reflexes
were not keeping pace with its
engineering potential, emphasizing
the "touch and go" nature of our
current predicament.

Fuller hoped the streamlining

effects of a more 60-degree-based
approach within natural philosophy
would help bridge the gap
between C.P. Snow's "two
cultures" and result in a greater
level of scientific literacy in the
general population. (935.24)

Academic acceptance
Fuller hoped to gain traction for his
ideas and nomenclature by
dedicating Synergetics to H.S.M.
Coxeter (with permission) and by
citing page 71 of the latter's
Regular Polytopes to suggest
where his A & B modules (depicted
above) might enter the literature
(see Fig. 950.12). Dr. Arthur Loeb
provided a prologue and an
appendix to Synergetics
discussing its overlap with
crystallography, chemistry and
virology.

Errata
A major error, caught by Fuller
himself, involved a misapplication
of his Synergetics Constant in
Synergetics 1, which led to the
mistaken belief he had discovered
a radius 1 sphere of 5
tetravolumes. He provided a
correction in Synergetics 2 in the
form of his T&E module thread.
(986.206 - 986.212)
About synergy
Synergetics refers to synergy:
either the concept of the output of
a system not foreseen by the
simple sum of the output of each
system part, or simply — less used
— another term for negative
entropy — negentropy.

See also
Cloud Nine
Dymaxion House
Geodesic dome
Octet Truss
 Synergetics coordinates
Tensegrity
Quadray coordinates

Notes
1. Synergetics,
http://www.rwgrayprojects.com/sy
nergetics/synergetics.html
2. Fuller, R. Buckminster (1963). No
More Secondhand God.
Carbondale and Edwardsville.
pp. 118–163. ISBN 0-8093-0247-0.
3. CJ Fearnley, Presentation to the
American Mathematical Society
(AMS) 2008 Spring Eastern
Meeting , p. 6. Retrieved on 2010-
Meeting , p. 6. Retrieved on 2010-
01-26.
4. Nystrom, J. F. (October 1999).
"Tensional computation: Further
musings on the computational
cosmograph" . Department of
Electrical and Computer
Engineering, University of Idaho.
5. Synergetics, Sec. 200.01-203.07
6. Fuller, R. Buckminster (1963). No
More Secondhand God.
Carbondale and Edwardsville.
pp. 118–163. ISBN 0-8093-0247-0.
7. Edmondson, Amy C. (1987). A
Fuller Explanation: The Synergetic
Geometry of R. Buckminster Fuller.
Boston: Birkhauser. pp. ix. ISBN 0-
Boston: Birkhauser. pp. ix. ISBN 0-
8176-3338-3.
8. Cheryl Clark, 12 degrees of
Freedom, Ph.D. Thesis, p. xiv
9. Synergetics, Sec. 251.50
10. Edmondson 1987, pp. ix-x
11. Clark, p. xiv

References
R. Buckminster Fuller (in
collaboration with E.J.
Applewhite, Synergetics:
Explorations in the Geometry of
Thinking [1] , online edition
hosted by R. W. Gray with
 permission [2] , originally
published by Macmillan [3] , Vol.
1 in 1975 (with a preface and
contribution by Arthur L. Loeb;
ISBN 0-02-541870-X), and Vol. 2
in 1979 (ISBN 0025418807), as
two hard-bound volumes, re-
editions in paperback.
Amy Edmondson, A Fuller
Explanation , EmergentWorld
LLC, 2007.

External links
Complete On-Line Edition of
Fuller's Synergetics
Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Synergetics_(Fuller)&oldid=79688813
7"

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