Jungian Functions and Periodic Table Synchronicity

[Serotonin]

Never really considered this until on the train this morning.

The Jungian Function notation has an elemental equivalent in 7 of the 8 functions. With an active enough imagination, one could draw some parallels.

Ti (introverted thinking) - Titanium. It's light, both in colour and weight, and it gleams. You think of the colour white when you think of titanium. You think of rods and wires with good tensile strength, malleability, durability and resistance to corrosion. You could say these characteristics apply to the human function of introverted thinking, which is able to withstand philosophical threats, and is able to draw out the essence of a concept. Titanium is useful and harmless. It embodies the "can do" artisanship of STPs and the philosophical power of NTPs.

Te (extraverted thinking) - Tellurium. Semi-metal used in semiconductors and alloys. Rare. Boring. Kind of like listening to some INTJ professor babble on, or an ESTJ businessman talking about share prices. Not really much I can connect between the two.

Fe (extraverted feeling) - Iron. I love this one. The fact that iron is culturally associated with strength, and that this function is all about giving and selflessness, rings a right bell with me. So many uses I'm not going to even start. Okay, one. Essential for our blood, since Iron binds to haemoglobin. It's about blood, strength, honour. Extraverted feeling.

Si (Introverted sensing) - Silicon. Also an interesting one, in the fact that it's boring and common, and so are SJs. Silicon makes up a good 25% of the earth's crust. Main component of sand. Used to make glass and cement. Yeah, you do that.

Se (extraverted sensing) - Selenium. Toxic semi-metal (like the music that SPs love), yet useful. Photovoltaic, so are active change agents. Used in solar cells and photograph toning. Has a very dionysian red colour when used in glass-making (funnily enough to offset the green caused by iron (Fe) in the Silicon (Si))

Ni (introverted intuition) - Nickel. Silvery ductile metal. What is most impressive is that alloys with iron, so it's somewhat appropriate to call an xNFJ "Kamacite", or "Stainless Steel". The processes of introverted intuition, that is "all constructs or ideas are subjective"..... I have no idea how this relate to nickel.

Ne (extraverted intuition) - Neon. HaaaahaaaaaaaaH! This one's great. A noble gas, i.e. can exist on its own and doesn't like to form compounds with anything else. Parallels the "don't anchor yourself anywhere" philosophy of people with strong Ne. Neon comes from the greek neos or new, and don't NPs love the unexplored. And, of course, Vegas is a playground for the extraverted NP.

Yeah, whatever. too much time on my hands.

[last_caress]

Reminds me of The Artificial Kid by Bruce Sterling, in which one of the characters postulates a theory of social dynamics known as...


THE CHEMICAL ANALOGUE THEORY OF THE BODY POLITIC

"The Chemical Analogue Theory is, of course, an analogy," said Manies. He touched a stud on a heavy braclet on his right wrist and in rushed his secretary Chalkwhistle, a neuter. Manies took a pencil and slate from the neuter and began sketching as he talked. "As you are well aware, dear Sainte Anne, the human body is an immensely complex system, in fact an eco-system with its own flora an fauna. The same is true of the Body Politic, our human society. Their reactions, their structures are very similar. Now, the history of the human body is the history of its organic macromolecules, its linkages (pardon me) or seperate atoms. Similarly, the history of the Body Politic is the history of many small groups and coteries, linked groups of friends. Of course, I would not go so far as to equate a single personality with a single atom. In most cases people would be better considered as small molecules; acids, bases, salts, et cetera. I often consider them atoms for simplicity's sake, however.

"Note that the effect of a single atom in the human body is almost negligible; but if that atom is included in the right molecule, its influence may be crucial! It does not matter which particular atom enters a molecule, you understand; the important thing is that it be the correct kind of atom, and attached in the correct molecular framework! It is the framework that counts, you see, just as the important thing is the relationship within groups of friends, rather than the friends themselves. Of course some atoms are comparatively rare, just as some personality types are comparatively rare, and they can exert a disproportionate influence; but it is the linkages that count.

"I regard myself as an enzyme, constantly endeavoring to link molecular groups into newer and more potent configuarations. This breakfast is just such an attempt."

"In other words it's not who you are, it's who you know," Spinney said, Spinney, Jack, and I were shamelessly gorging ourselves; we had already heard Manies' ludicrous, disjointed theory several times. It was one of the most visible signs of his age. It was no stranger or crazier than other senile theories cooked up by people his age - Rominuald Tanglin, for instance.

"Correct! Such statements show an intuitive understanding of this principle," said Manies happily. "Let me offer a concrete example. Perhaps you recognize this molecule, delta-1 tetrahydrocannabinol." He held up his slate.

"This is a mild hallucinogen and euphoriant," said Manies. "As you can see, its structure is relatively simple, fifty three atoms, all carbon, hydrogen, or oxygen, with no troublesome nitrogen or silicon as in so many drugs. I determined to deliberately replicate its structure as a Chemical Analogue, to determine its effect on the actions of the Body Politic. You may recall the occasion, dear Alruddin. It was the Mid-Year Satyricon, five years ago."

"Wau, do I!" said Spinney enthusiastically. "What a celebration! People were singing, shouting, laughing, crying, stripping off their costumes, linking right in the streets... howling at the Morning Star, diving off the Coral Towers... and at dawn there was a mass nude swim in Telset Bay! It was incredible, unbelievable!" He sobered. "You are not claiming you were responsible for that, Money Manies?"

"Responsible, my dear fellow?" said Manies with a cryptic smile. "You were one of the oxygens! It might have gone on indefinitely if one of my carbons had not eloped with someone else's hydrogen, breaking the structure down into a mere cannabinoid... However, I consider the whole episode a strong point in favor of my theory. THe experiement was well worth the effort of gathering together fifty-three hand picked friends..."

[harris]

I wonder why this was not warmly received.

[Serotonin]

I wonder why this was not warmly received.

Who has time to read this shit when you're busy bitchflaming in another thread?