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The R. Buckminster Fuller FAQ

Christopher J. Fearnley, cjf@CJFearnley.com

v.1.4.0, 6 November 2002

This is the Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQ) Resource on R. Buckminster Fuller. It is based primarily on the history of the discussions, interests, and needs of the readers of the BITNET mailing list Geodesic and its USENET gateway bit.listserv.geodesic (I will use the word ``GEODESIC'' or sometimes simply ``the list'' to refer to these two gatewayed discussion areas). Some of the information could be in error (especially addresses and phone numbers). Please send all errors and suggestions to the FAQ maintainer, Chris Fearnley ( cjf@CJFearnley.com).

1. Introduction

2. Synergetics

2.1 What is a tetrahedron (tetra), octahedron (octa), and an icosahedron (icosa)?
2.2 What is ``synergy?''
2.3 What is Fuller's definition of ``Universe?''
2.4 What is the ``Isotropic Vector Matrix'' (IVM)?
2.5 What is an octet truss?
2.6 What is the ``vector equilibrium'' (VE)?
2.7 What is the ``jitterbug''?
2.8 What is a sphere?
2.9 What is Fuller's concept of ``space?''
2.10 What is a ``system?''
2.11 What is the ``minimal system?''
2.12 What are the A and B quanta modules?
2.13 What is the ``omnidirectional halo?''
2.14 What does Fuller mean by 4D?
2.15 Does synergetics provide an extension or modification of the ``scientific method?''
2.16 Are there connections between synergetics and fullerenes (besides the name, of course)?
2.17 Why use synergetics' conversion factors and other irrationals?
2.18 What is ``precession?''
2.19 What is the equation for finding the volume of a pyramid? [Steve Mather]
2.20 How to communicate synergetically?
2.21 Modeling suggestions?
2.22 What applications of synergetics are being discovered?
2.23 Is it possible to develop an operational pi?
2.24 What are Koski's and Kajikawa's modules?
2.25 What is Richard Hawkins' curVE model?
2.26 Fuller's Synergetics and Sex Identity.
2.27 Tips for reading Synergetics.

3. Fuller's Ideas About Human Society: Critical Path

3.1 What is the Design Science Revolution?
3.2 What is the ``cosmic accounting system?'' --- Fuller's Economics.
3.3 What is the World Game?
3.4 What were Fuller's views on religion and God?
3.5 What is the Global Energy Grid idea?
3.6 What is a ``trimtab?''
3.7 Was Bucky a socialist?
3.8 What were Fuller's views on Education?
3.9 What is the difference between ``Class I'' and ``Class II'' evolution?
3.10 How to house humanity? And other reflections on Making the World work.
3.11 Was Bucky an ``optimist'' or a ``pessimist''?
3.12 What about Fuller's plan for a nationless world?

4. Geodesic Domes

4.1 What is a geodesic dome?
4.2 Dome Math: What you've all been waiting for!!!
4.3 How to build a geodesic dome?
4.4 Did Fuller invent the Dome?
4.5 Dome References

5. Other Inventions

5.1 What is a tensegrity model?
5.2 What are ``cloud nines?''
5.3 What is ``dymaxion?''
5.4 What was the ``Dymaxion Car?''
5.5 What is a ``fog gun?''
5.6 What was Fuller's ``floating city?''
5.7 What was the Old Man's River City Project (circular cities)?
5.8 What was the Dymaxion Deployment Unit?
5.9 What is the Dymaxion Map?
5.10 What was the Dymaxion House?

6. Miscellany

6.1 What are ``fullerenes'' and ``buckyballs?''
6.2 What is Biosphere II?
6.3 What were Fuller's early years like?
6.4 Was Fuller formally educated?
6.5 Bibliography: Culled from many postings
6.6 Organizations and Corporations mentioned on GEODESIC (incomplete and dated)
6.7 Computer tools (may or may not be useful to dome design or synergetics' modeling).
6.8 Fuller's ``failures.''
6.9 Where would you encourage your best friend to start in the Fuller literature? (For maximum ease of mastery) [Jeff Perth]
6.10 Quotes and Coinages.
6.11 Bucky: humanitarian or cold-hearted technocrat --- The value of a man?
6.12 What was the nature of Fuller's involvement with Werner Erhardt, EST and the World Hunger Project? [Lance Fletcher]
6.13 What were relations like between Fuller and his Students?
6.14 What is GENESIS II?
6.15 Could Fuller's proposed Very Large Structures work?
6.16 Why did Fuller apply for patents?
6.17 Is there a Bucky CD-ROM available?
6.18 Why is overspecialization dangerous?
6.19 Letters from Bucky to Mark A. Burginger.

7. Net Resources

7.1 The current version of the FAQ is on the Web
7.2 On-line Discussion Forums
7.3 Web Resources

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