tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4455700514377143758.post4172745721486495330..comments2024-03-28T07:00:06.844+00:00Comments on Now Appearing: What is an element?Brian Clegghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12723555872580740773noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4455700514377143758.post-65008596129514923072009-10-09T13:34:11.243+01:002009-10-09T13:34:11.243+01:00Clare - I don't think the idea is to dispose o...Clare - I don't think the idea is to dispose of conventional thinking, but to supplement it.<br /><br />Dave - that's the fellow. I think the 'types and shadows' version is a medieval development on Plato's cave.<br /><br />This comes through, for example, in the medieval hymn 'Now, my tongue, the mystery telling' which has the lines: 'types and shadows have their ending/for the newer rite is here.'Brian Clegghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12723555872580740773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4455700514377143758.post-49552627788649399762009-10-09T10:31:56.226+01:002009-10-09T10:31:56.226+01:00close -Plato posited that all things in the materi...close -Plato posited that all things in the material world are like shadows cast on a cave wall to people who never leave the cave (us). These shapows are to the real world outside the cave as real objects are to the 'ideal' forms of things.dave bartramnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4455700514377143758.post-26572642907534323662009-10-09T10:17:01.461+01:002009-10-09T10:17:01.461+01:00Interesting way of reclassifying chemical knowledg...Interesting way of reclassifying chemical knowledge - but still think the conventional thinking on the periodic table is more practically useful.Clare Dudmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06197558842580794165noreply@blogger.com