R. Buckminster Fuller and Systems Theory
2004 stamp commemorating Buckminster Fuller1i
In addition to being a successful architect and inventor, R Buckminster Fuller was also known as a systems philosopher.He used the phrase “Spaceship Earth” to express the need for mankind to use teamwork to fully utilize Earth’s limited resources.1Ephemeralization was another systems’ term coined by Fuller to express the concept of accomplishing more with fewer resources.2His third system philosophy is Synergetics which is an attempt to combine various scientific disciplines to describe the energy output of an overall system exceeding the output from individual parts of a system.3
Buckminster Fuller, James Joyce, Philip K. Buckminster Fuller to Children of Earth. Cosmography: A Posthumous Scenario for the Future of Humanity. Book information and reviews for ISBN:,Cosmography: A Posthumous Scenario For The Future Of Humanity by R. Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. The Buckminster Fuller Reader. Edited by James Meller. Buckminster Fuller to Children of Earth. Cosmography: A Posthumous Scenario for the Future of Humanity. Mchale george brazillier new york 1962 bucky a guided tour of buckminster fuller by hugh kenner william morrow and company new york 1973 buckminster fuller at home in the universe Aug 29, 2020 cosmography a posthumous scenario for the future of humanity Posted By Patricia CornwellMedia Publishing.
Table of Contents
Spaceship Earth
Spaceship Earth is Fuller’s concept of doing more with less and being able to spread limited resources on the planet to satisfy the growing population.Fuller’s was expelled from Harvard in 1914, attempted to and eventually succeeded in joining the Navy from which he was honorably discharged in August 1919.Inspired by his experience in the Navy, he felt that men should be in service to humanity and spent most of his life devoted to that service.He felt that economic profiteering after the war was ruining man’s connection to the Human Family and that man should be in service of the public as sailors labour for a common cause.The philosophy of Thomas Malthus was popular at the time promoting the idea that as populations grew, the food supply would decrease leading to disaster.Fuller felt this philosophy was wrong in that it only looked at things from an economic standpoint and didn’t factor in scientific advancement.He felt like Henry Ford’s assembly line, engineering could be used to solve the problem of finite resources to accommodate the growing population. 4
Another aspect of Fuller’s Spaceship Earth philosophy is the concept of ecology and utilitarian philosophy.He had this concept in mind when he developed the Dymaxion House in the 1930’s.Dynamic, maximum, and ion were placed together to form the word Dymaxion.He named several inventions under this brand name such as a Dymaxion car, Dymaxion House, and other structures.The Dymaxion House could be put up in less than 24 hours.The roof was designed to utilize the dome effect which ventilated hot air out and forced cooler air downward creating natural air conditioning.4 The house also used packaging toilets which would package waste for composting. The bathroom was a one piece prefabricated unit with fogging shower heads to conserve water. The fogging showerhead used compressed air and water instead of exclusively water.
Example of neighborhood with Dymaxion houses3i
View of the interior of a Dymaxion House4i
Several Dymaxion Houses were bought by the military leading into World War II which led Fuller to design his first dome structures which were also purchased by the military since they were lightweight and easy to construct and could be adjusted to suit a client’s needs. Many of these domes where used on military bases including the Distant Early Warning Line near the Arctic Circle which were a series of radar stations built for surveillance during the Cold War. These domes where lightweight and could be built and carried by helicopter to a military base's location.5
DEW line radar station featuring Fuller's dome design5i
Buckminster Fuller Cosmography Pdf Viewer File
Fuller also developed a Dymaxion car in 1933 which was a 3 wheeled car designed for 11 passengers.12 The steering was provided by the pivoting rear wheel with a Ford V8 engine getting 30 miles to the gallon. Fuller said the top speed could go 120 mph, but it only had a top documented speed of 90 mph. During the 1933 World's Fair, an accident occurred in which the car overturned killing the driver and seriously injuring the 2 passengers. Because of this accident, the car was never put into production.13
Contributing to his Spaceship Earth philosophy was Buckminster Fuller’s development of polyhedron cuboctahedron map of the world which was a cutout in one of the most popular issues of Life Magazine.6Users were allowed to visualize the Earth as one spaceship in the air age which would soon lead to the space age.Much of the mathematics and design principals used in this map would lead to Fuller’s development of the geodesic domes.The map and the domes exemplified his principles of the sum being greater than the parts and using engineering to maximize the end product with minimal materials.
example of Fuller's polyhedron cuboctahedron map of the world2i
During the early 60’s, Fuller did a significant amount of travelling and lecturing on the impact of the growing population and how to satisfy its needs.This allowed him to experience different cultures and see things from a global perspective.Writing in 1963, Fuller stated, “One third of the human family is now doomed to premature death due to causes arising directly from inadequate solution to the housing problem.”6Buckminster Fuller, himself provided solutions this problem with his dymaxion homes and felt designers and scientist in the future would provide solutions to satisfying the needs of the increasing population with finite resources.
Around this time, Fuller and other public figures made reference to “Spaceship Earth” and began to theorize about structuring the Earth’s societies in an orderly fashion such as astronauts on an idealized space colony.In his book Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth, Fuller wrote “Man is going to be displaced altogether as a specialist by the computer.”He envisioned a master computer with all knowledge and felt the designers and scientists were the only competent group to lead Spaceship Earth and the human family.He wrote, “So, planners, architects, and engineers take the initiative. Go to work.”7
Fuller taught “World Planning” while teaching at the SouthernIllinois University.He encouraged students through a multidiscipline approach.“The design scientist would not be concerned exclusively with the seat of a tractor but [with] the whole concept of production and distribution of food”, Fuller wrote.8He proposed several miniature Earths which mapped out areas of high population and encouraged thinking towards efficiently satisfying the needs of those areas.He also created a “World Game” where groups would tackle individual problems such as a lacking resource and discuss how to fulfill the needs of the population.These simulations led to thinking globally and enforcing the concept of earth as a Spaceship.It also enforced Fuller’s belief that “Malthusian philosophy is fallacious”9 and that human creativity and innovation could solve the world’s increasing population problem.
Fuller’s popularizing a global view and emphasis on allocating resources, many of which are natural, helped to inspire the fledgling environmental movement in the 60’s.Some environmentalist felt that the same as Fuller that new technologies would allow the needs of the growing population to be satisfied while other environmentalist felt that the existing resources should be used more efficiently instead of hoping for new technologies to come along.Although Fuller’s geodesic domes and inventions aren’t as popular as they were during the Cold War, the concept of Spaceship Earth continue to impact the current age especially the global consciousness due largely to the internet and communication technology, using limited resources to satisfy an ever expanding population, and developing technology in harmony with nature.
Ephemeralization
Ephemeralization is the term coined by Fuller to express the drive to use less material for greater results such as for housing and his geodesic domes. Fuller developed this philosophy partly in reaction to the philosophy of Thomas Malthus.Thomas Malthus felt that the finite resources of planet earth coupled with the increase of human population would eventually result in a running out of resources for the human race.Buckminster Fuller disagreed and felt that technology, improved design, and engineering would help to allow mankind to use the existing resources more efficiently causing greater output with decreased input.His goal was to do 'more and more with less and less until eventually you can do everything with nothing.'2He looked to Henry Ford’s assembly line as an example of ephemeralization where efficient design was used to increase productivity.Generally, technology increases ephemeralization such as the steam ship replacing wooden sailing ships allowing for faster sea travel. Computers and computing power is also an example of ephemeralization. Based on Moore's Law (named after Intel founder Gordon E. Moore), the number of transistor's on an integrated circuit doubles every two years.13 As a result, computers that used to take up entire rooms have gotten progressively smaller over the past few decades. In spite of speculation that Moore's Law may have reached it's physical limits14, designers and engineers continue to find ways to increase computing power enforcing the principle of ephemeralization.15
Synergetics
'Synergetics is the system of holistic thinking which R. Buckminster Fuller introduced and began to formulate. Synergetics is multi-faceted: it involves geometric modeling, exploring inter-relationships in the facts of experience and the process of thinking. Synergetics endeavors to identify and understand the methods that Nature actually uses in coordinating Universe (both physically and metaphysically). Synergetics provides a method and a philosophy for problem-solving and design and therefore has applications in all areas of human endeavor.'
- Synergetics Collaborative16
'101.01 Synergy means behavior of whole systems unpredicted by the behavior of their parts taken separately.
102.00 Synergy means behavior of integral, aggregate, whole systems unpredicted by behaviors of any of their components or subassemblies of their components taken separately from the whole.
962.40 Synergetic geometry embraces all the qualities of experience, all aspects of being.'
- R. Buckminster Fuller, Synergetics17
- R. Buckminster Fuller, Synergetics17
Like other Fuller concepts, Synergetics is interested in the production of the machine as a whole and not the individual parts. He wanted to maximize the output of the Spaceship Earth for the benefit of humanity. He explained this largely through geometry and geometric structures. Synergetics is wide ranging study utilizing expertise in various sciences and arts such as thermodynamics, chemistry, psychology, biochemistry, economics, philosophy and theology. Fuller outlined his philosophy in his 2 volume book Synergetics in collaboration with E. J. Applewhite. Looking at Fuller's dome structures, smaller geometric shapes are used as building blocks for the main structure. For example, triangles within the greater shape of his geodesic domes. I think these concepts are easier to understand visually rather than reading a textual explanation. So, the following images and links show some of Fuller's work using his principles of Synergetics.
The following link is a compilation of YouTube video shorts showing Synergetics in action using various mediums by the Synergetics Collaborative (http://synergeticscollaborative.org/).
A video summarizing the early part of Buckminster Fuller's life and the development of his most famous dome, the Montreal Biosphere.
1949 Autonomous Living Unit.8i
Montreal Biosphere designed by Buckminster Fuller for the 1967 Montreal Expo.9i
Spaceship Earth at Disney's Epcot Center inspired by Buckminster Fuller.10i
Spaceship Earth at Disney's Epcot Center inspired by Buckminster Fuller.9i
[table of contents]
References
1.Fuller, Buckminster (1963). Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth. (New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., 1963), 1.4.
2.R. Buckminster Fuller, Nine Chains to the Moon, (Anchor Books [1938] 1971) pp. 252–59.
3.Synergetics, http://www.rwgrayprojects.com/synergetics/synergetics.html
4.Peder Anker, Frank Lloyd Wright, ‘Buckminster Fuller as Captain of Spaceship Earth’, Minerva, Volume 45, Issue 4 (December 2007), 417-434.
5.Richard Buckminster Fuller, Ideas and Integrities, ed. by Robert Marks. (Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1963), 96.
6. Anonymous, ‘R. Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxian World’, Life, 1 March 1943, 40–55.
7.Richard Buckminster Fuller, Ideas and Integrities, ed. by Robert Marks (Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1963), 187.
8.Fuller, Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth, (New York: E.P. Dutton & Co. 1963). 44, 133.
9.Richard Buckminster Fuller, Utopia or Oblivion (New York: Overlook, 1969), 293.
10.Edwin Schlossberg quoted in Richard Buckminster Fuller et al., World Game Report (New York: New York Studio School, 1969), Note 37, 1.
11. US Patent 2101057
13. Moore, Gordon E. (1965). 'Cramming more components onto integrated circuits'. Electronics Magazine. p. 4. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
14. Kaku, Michio. 'Parallel universes, the Matrix, and superintelligence'. Kurzweil. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
15. Ray Kurzweil (2001-05-01). 'The Law of Accelerating Returns'. KurzweilAI.net. Retrieved 2006-06-24.
16. http://synergeticscollaborative.org/. Retreived 2013-11-02.
17. Fuller, Buckminster. Synergetics: Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking (Macmillan Publishing Co. Inc. 1975, 1979). 100.00 Synergy, 900.00 Modelability.
R Buckminster Fuller Dome
Books by R. Buckminster Fuller
4D Timelock Privately published 1928, Chicago, Illinois; 200 copies. Reprinted by Biotechnic Press, Lama Foundation, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1972.
Nine Chains to the Moon J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, New York, London, Toronto, 1938. Republished Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York, 1963.
The Dymaxion World of Buckminster Fuller With Robert W. Marks. Anchor Press, Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York, 1960.
Untitled Epic Poem on the History of Industrialization Simon & Schuster, New York, 1962.
Education Automation Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York, 1963.
Ideas and Integrities Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1963. Collier, Macmillan, Toronto, Canada, 1963.
No More Secondhand God Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York, 1963.
Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth E.P. Dutton & Company, New York, 1963.
World Design Science Decade Documents Seven publications from the World Design Science Decade 1965-1975 series.1: 'Inventory of World Resources, Human Trends and Needs,' by R.B. Fuller;2: 'The Design Initiative,' by R.B. Fuller;3: 'Comprehensive Thinking,' by R.B. Fuller;4: 'The Ten Year Program,' by J. McHale;5: 'Comprehensive Design Strategy,' by R.B. Fuller (published in Utopia or Oblivion);6: 'The Ecological Context,' by J. McHale;7: 'The World Game,' by R.B. Fuller.
The Buckminster Fuller Reader Edited by James Meller. Jonathan Cape, London, 1970. Penguin Books, Ltd., Middlesex, England, 1970.
I Seem to be a Verb With Jerome Agel and Quentin Fiore. Bantam Books, New York, 1970.
Intuition Anchor Press, Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York, 1970.
Buckminster Fuller to Children of Earth Text by Fuller, compiled and photographed by Cam Smith. Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York, 1972.
Earth, Inc. Anchor Press, Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York, 1973.
Synergetics: Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking In collaboration with E.J. Applewhite. Introduction and contribution by Arthur L. Loeb. Macmillan Publishing Company, Inc., New York, 1975.
Tetrascroll Limited Edition. Universal Limited Art Editions, West Islip, New York, 1976. St. Martin's Press, New York, 1975 and 1982.
And It Came to Pass -- Not to Stay Macmillan Publishing Company, Inc., New York, 1976.
Synergetics 2: Further Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking In collaboration with E.J. Applewhite. Macmillan Publishing Company, Inc., New York, 1979.
R. Buckminster Fuller on Education Edited by Robert Kahn and Peter Wagschal, University of Massachusetts Press, Amherst, 1979.
Synergetics Folio: A Collection of Ten Posters with Introductory Essay by Buckminster Fuller Privately printed, 1979.
Buckminster Fuller Sketchbook University City Science Center, Philadelphia, 1981.
Critical Path With Kiyoshi Kuromiya, adjuvant. St. Martin's Press, New York, 1981.
Grunch of Giants St. Martin's Press, New York, 1983.
Humans in Universe With Anwar Dil. Mouton, New York, 1983.
Cosmography, A Posthumous Scenario for the Future of Humanity With Kiyoshi Kuromiya, adjuvant. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 1992.
Books about R. Buckminster Fuller
Buckminster Fuller Cosmography Pdf Viewer Free
R. Buckminster Fuller by John McHale. George Brazillier, New York, 1962.
Bucky: A Guided Tour of Buckminster Fuller by Hugh Kenner. William Morrow and Company, New York, 1973.
Buckminster Fuller: At Home in the Universe by Alden Hatch. Crown Publishers, New York, 1974.
Cosmic fishing: An account of writing Synergetics with Buckminster Fuller by E.J. Applewhite. Macmillan, Publishing Company, Inc., New York, 1977.
Buckminster Fuller: An Autobiographical Monologue/Scenario by Robert Snyder. St. Martin's Press, New York, 1980.
Synergetics Dictionary, The Mind Of Buckminster Fuller; in four volumes. by E.J. Applewhite, ed. Garland Publishing, New York and London, 1986.
A Fuller Explanation: The Synergetic Geometry of R. Buckminster Fuller (Design Science Collection) by Amy C. Edmondson. Birkhauser Publications, 1987.
Buckminster Fuller's Universe: His Life and Work by Lloyd Steven Sieden. Plenum Press, 1989.
Buckminster Fuller by Martin Pawley. Trefoil, London, 1990
Bucky Works: Buckminster Fuller's Ideas for Today by J. Baldwin. Wiley and Sons, New York, 1996.
Your Private Sky: R. Buckminster Fuller by Joachim Krausse and Claude Lichtenstein, eds. Lars Muller Publishers, Baden, Switzerland, 1999.
Buckminster Fuller: Anthology for a New Millennium edited by Thomas T.K. Zung. St. Martin's Press, New York, 2001.
Buckminster Fuller Cosmography Pdf Viewer Software
Buckminster Fuller: Designing for Mobility by Michael John Gorman. Skira Books, Milan, Italy, 2005.