Gary R. and I have discussed that there may be a chance to pursue my work in threes, which like this but in a totally different area (ethics, aesthetics) may have some relevance to a Peirce root without claiming in any way to be "Peircean", in a thread here. I merely want to suggest that thinking in threes is a tangible human activity that, if it does not relate to Peirce, at least must nod to him since it is, at least for me, the source of the idea.
*@stephencrose <https://twitter.com/stephencrose>* On Sun, Jun 1, 2014 at 2:51 PM, Mary Libertin <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Stephen and Ben, > > I apologize in advance for speculating upon the amazing article which Ben > Udall posted under the subject line "I'm not sure how much this has to do > with Peircean triadicity, but ..." When I read Stephen Rose's response, "It > has everything to do with Peirce, I immediately read the essay and I > totally agree with Ben's speculation. > > I am enthralled and unfortunately not a physicist, but according to the > article, "the rule of threes" which was studied by Rudi Grimm at the > University of Innsbruck, Austria, a so-called Efimov "trimer," a triatomic > molecule set of three particles, can be formed when three components act > in such a way as to form matter (is similar to Borromean rings (in which > three circles are interconnected in such a way that no two are directly > linked). This molecule or set of three properties can be tuned to a > specific value such that in a hypothetical state they have "the ability to > range in size from practically infinitesimal to infinite." (Grimm published > the results in the May 12, 2014, -*Physical Review Letters_*.) Grim > created the first Efimov trimer in 2006, but the theory is not decisively > proven. Cheng Chin, a professor of physics at the University of Chicago and > part of Grimm's team, says "it's very difficult to tell if it's a Russian > nesting doll," but the proof would entail observing consecutive Elimov > trimers, "each enlarged by a factor of 22.7." > > I am enthralled: "The third state is created from the two: Each 22.7 - > times larger. The Efimov state is also 22.7 - squared times weaker, > requiring the optical trap to be cooled even further to allow the new state > to form. Grimm's group perfected its techniques and detected the state at > the very edge of experimental limits." > > Braaten calls 22.7 a "magic number." I have not researched this, but has > anyone discussed how the scaling factor of 22.7 is approximately 3.14 or > Pi? I wonder whether the scaling factor can be seen operating in mereology > as a fractal would operate? Could the number 22.7 reflect an aspect of > Peirce's thirdness (law or rule) that is found as real secondness from a > higher dimension? The creation of a third could be entelechy in action. > (Speculation leads to abduction and this speculation may be leading > nowhere:) So thanks for your forbearance. I am learning so much from the > prestigious contributors on the list. All the best, > > Mary Libertin, PhD > > Professor of English > > Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania > > > > > > > > > On Sat, May 31, 2014 at 6:58 AM, Stephen C. Rose <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> It has everything to do with Peirce. >> >> *@stephencrose <https://twitter.com/stephencrose>* >> >> >> On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 9:37 PM, Benjamin Udell <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> "Physicists Prove Surprising Rule of Threes," _Wired_, May 29, 2014, >>> by Natalie Wolchover (_Quanta Magazine_). >>> >>> http://www.wired.com/2014/05/physicists-rule-of-threes-efimov-trimers/ >>> >>> Best, Ben >>> >>> >>> ----------------------------- >>> PEIRCE-L subscribers: Click on "Reply List" or "Reply All" to REPLY ON >>> PEIRCE-L to this message. PEIRCE-L posts should go to >>> [email protected] . To UNSUBSCRIBE, send a message not to >>> PEIRCE-L but to [email protected] with the line "UNSubscribe >>> PEIRCE-L" in the BODY of the message. More at >>> http://www.cspeirce.com/peirce-l/peirce-l.htm . >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> ----------------------------- >> PEIRCE-L subscribers: Click on "Reply List" or "Reply All" to REPLY ON >> PEIRCE-L to this message. PEIRCE-L posts should go to >> [email protected] . To UNSUBSCRIBE, send a message not to PEIRCE-L >> but to [email protected] with the line "UNSubscribe PEIRCE-L" in the >> BODY of the message. More at >> http://www.cspeirce.com/peirce-l/peirce-l.htm . >> >> >> >> >> >> >
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