Online research in philosophy

The history of science is polarized by debates over Plato and Aristotle’s holism versus the atomism of Democritus and others. This includes the complementarity of continuous and discrete, one and the many, waves and particles, and analog or digital views of reality. The three-fold method of the Pythagorean paradigm of unity, duality, and harmony enables the calculation of fundamental physical constants required by the forces of nature in the formation of matter; thereby demonstrating Plato’s archetypal viewpoint.

The Cosmological Circle from ancient geometry, with its right triangles, and the ratios of the Pythagorean Table are found to be harmonically related to the fundamental physical constants. After a brief history of harmonic mathematics, harmonic values are calculated for the speed of light constant, gravitational constant, Planck's constant, and the inverse fine-structure constant. We then calculate the harmonic of electron mass and proton mass, showing the related Pythagorean/Cosmological Circle harmonics; and speculate on geometry and symmetry.

An archetypal model for the constants of nature is found from the ancient geometry of the the Cosmological Circle and is related to Plato's cosmology, with its dynamics and harmonics of time cycles. The inverse fine-structure constant and the proton-electron mass ratio are calculated, connecting fundamental mathematical constants of geometry with the latest theoretical and experimental values of these physical constants. Continuing in the tradition of George Gamow's suggestion, "Since the works of Sir Arthur Eddington, it has become customary to (...) discuss from time to time the numerical relations between various fundamental constants of nature. Although until today such discussions have not led to any practical results - that is, to any valuable road signs toward further development of the theory of the still unclear fundamental facts in physics - it may be of some interest to survey the present status of this 'clairvoyant' branch of science.". (shrink)

From the cosmology of classical quintessence and the Cosmological Circle of ancient geometry, quintessence is calculated as the primary fundamental physical constant. The role of the fine-structure constant in quantum electrodynamics is briefly discussed and the same value for inverse alpha, the inverse fine-structure constant found in previous work, is confirmed. Then the cosmological constant is calculated, confirming a recent theoretical prediction related to the fine-structure constant and the cosmological constant.

Plato's theory of everything is an introduction to a Pythagorean natural philosophy that includes Egyptian sources. The Pythagorean Table and Pythagorean harmonics from the ancient geometry of the Cosmological Circle are related to symbolic associations of basic mathematical constants with the five elements of Plato's allegorical cosmology: Archimedes constant, Euler's number, the polygon circumscribing limit, the golden ratio, and Aristotle's quintessence. Quintessence is representative of the whole, or the one in four, extraneously considered a separate element or fifth force. This (...) relationship with four fundamental interactions or forces also involves the correlation of constants with the five Platonic solids: tetrahedron, hexahedron, octahedron, icosahedron, and dodecahedron. The values of several fundamental physical constants are also calculated, and a basic equation is given for a unified physical theory in the geometric universe of Plato's natural philosophy. (shrink)

Wolfgang Pauli was influenced by Carl Jung and the Platonism of Arnold Sommerfeld, who introduced the fine-structure constant. Pauli’s vision of a World Clock is related to the symbolic form of the Emerald Tablet of Hermes and Plato’s geometric allegory otherwise known as the Cosmological Circle attributed to ancient tradition. With this vision Pauli revealed geometric clues to the mystery of the fine-structure constant that determines the strength of the electromagnetic interaction. A Platonic interpretation of the World Clock and the (...) Cosmological Circle provides an explanation that includes the geometric structure of the pineal gland described by the golden ratio. In his experience of archetypal images Pauli encounters the synchronicity of events that contribute to his quest for physical symmetry relevant to the development of quantum electrodynamics. (shrink)