Our epistemology

Our epistemology  (approach to learning and development) is that of the Academy and the Agora as practiced by Pythagoras, Plato and Socrates.  It was for the common people to create, not from an authoritative source. Instead, it is to be self-discovered through experience and reflection. It was not the way of the Sophists (who spoke to be influencers seen as the expert, or the role model to be copied,) but that of Socratic Method Resource (who spoked to help people think for themselves. Not that of the Knower, but the Seeker.

The Student is a Self-determining examiner, discoverer and learner in a virtual Agora. There are no knowers smarter than others. Pythagoras and Socrates do not write down their ideas to avoid that intention, but invited experience and reflection; and taught others to use the same method. Pythagoras felt math was necessary for good thinking and judgment. Geometry and numbers were the way to truth. He examined life with graduated frameworks that elevated understanding through different levels of complexity. Three-term mathematical structures  were the first level of dynamics, dimensionality and development. And then he added depth for four and more levels for exploration. We do this throughout the materials with frameworks to order our thinking. Embrace them as a way to disrupt and uplift things. Av;oid trying to simplify back to what you already know. Reachinto domains you find unfamiliar but has new wisdom for you. New language means there are new ideas that needed a new name to remind us not to slide back to the old assumptions.

The Agora was the place of learning, through engagement. The exercises are designed fpr three or more persons. Each of our three Greek guides, not gods, formed Schools that had forums for dialogue. Not lectures, but questions, reflections, and then ideas. Not the reverse order. It you take time to read Plato’s Dialogues, you see the Socratic method was in a community with more questions  moving thinking toward exploration, and not testing by the teacher. Although this is often misunderstood when thinking of Socratic questioning. Socrates saw his role as restraining certainty and as being a Resource to developing thinking; that is Socrates sought to return the student to themselves as a source, not to Socrates as the source of knowledge, the teacher. He repeatedly drew out thinking among students in small groups as well. In community. In an Agora.

The workbooks and exercise we offer here are designed for 3 or more (not less) people to be involved and engaged. Plus, perhaps a Socratic Resource. Pythagoras students report that he studied triangles intensely for very good reasons. Triangles aren't just mathematically significant, they are also fundamental to the way we build our environments, both physical and virtual. Triangles are special because they are exceptionally strong*. Out of all the two-dimensional shapes we can make out of straight struts of metal, only a triangle is unbendable and non-collapsible. All three angles are held constant and doing it own job.

And three-term forms play out in relationship and thinking in levels and dimensionalizing. You will be introduced to threes in many forms. (3 Levels of work, and 3 forces of systems: activating, restraining, reconciling). Pythagoras would have been so pleased. Event Kant’s philosophy speaks to three forces in everything alive. In every event or situations, there must be three perspectives to conceive of the unpolarized whole, for the complexity and completeness of understanding. Notice the difference when you try to work alone or in pairs, compared with three persons minimum or set of 3s. In addition to dimensions and dynamics, three persons mean that each have to engage in development of self to stay steady and stable as the dynamics unfold. For example, we often seek neutral parties, or other perspectives in a marriage, or higher source for breaking out of our attachments.

Find at least two others to engage in this self study endeavor.

_{* Buckminster Fuller: Triangles build the strongest structures, proved with Geodesic domes, multiple sets of triangles. Pythagoras, Bucky and Socrates pointed to building from and beyond threes but not less, because we otherwise bifurcate and fragment.}