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The Linnaean Instinct and List-Making (arbesman.substack.com)
4 points by arbesman 3 months ago | hide | past | favorite | 1 comment



Linnaeus and lists?

Linneaus had an implied design for a flower clock based on an ordering of an ensemble of species selected for their blooming schedules.

Now how about a "living list" with its own "circadian clock" and maturation lifecycle? That is with its own built-in attention allocation schedule among the list's elements. Like the Riddle of the Sphinx, or a logarithmic spiral phyllotaxis of three (1-2-3) archeyptal phases and reproduction. It would be a metaphor of life only with a couple extra properties related to the reproduction death-birth and an additional aspect of how that relates to harmony and the seeming self-undermining paradox. A floral motive representation.

> "How well the skilful Gardner drew

> Of flow’rs and herbs this Dial new;

> Where from above the milder Sun

> Does through a fragrant Zodiack run;

> And, as it works, th’ industrious Bee

> Computes its time as well as we.

> How could such sweet and wholsome Hours

> Be reckon’d but with herbs and flow’rs!"

> --Andrew Marvell. The Garden

Strange that I find myself playing with this over the past year or two and it just yesterday started to really bloom. see https://medium.com/the-sphinx/run-the-logic-17d717792989




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