systems of classifying, identifying, and catergorizing: elements and values
(what I was thinking about while waking up this morning)

Happy Birthday Meredith Parker.

Elements
The ancient Greeks established a system that includes four basic elements: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. This is what is used in most of the astrology and numerology that we know.
(This link is rather interesting, especially if you know the placement of all the planets or the balance of elements in your astrological chart.)

The Hindus and Buddhists include five elements in their system, referred to in Sanskrit as Namasivaya (na = earth, ma = water, si = fire, va = wind, ya = sky).

Still, other systems of considering the general elements of life view these things slightly differently.

It seems that all of the schools of thought include Fire and Water, so perhaps these two can be considered the most essential of essential elements. The additional ones often include Earth, Air, Ether, Wind and/or Sky, but not always. Some other Eastern cultures recognize a different variation on 5 elements, being: Wood, Metal, Fire, Water and Air.

It also seems that all systems recognize either 4 of 5 elements; no more, no less.

The person who compiled this information lauds the significance of the number 5, and while much supporting evidence is cited, it seems to me that such significance could likely be found for all of the single digit numbers (perhaps the lower ones more so) if one looks hard enough.

Values
I strongly dislike the connotations that the word and concept of "values" have come to be associated with.

First, personal values are largely believed to be associated with religion and God, and thus dictated to people by a source outside of themselves. How can personal values come from a construction separate from the individual and not from within? Even if there were to be a definitive system of values, it would not be honestly definitive unless each individual arrived upon it on their own.

Secondly, the term "values" in this context, is not amply defined and narrowed down. For instance, at certain times I might claim that eating the food on the plate in front of me is my highest value because I am really really hungry.
No.

Hands down, the best way that I have been introduced to the concept of a system of values includes a broad but specific four:

Peace
Freedom
Love
Truth

To me this system of four seems quite universal, and anyone should be able to conceive of it, regardless of the specific beliefs that they hold. These four can be placed in any order, depending on the individual or circumstances, although it seems like certain trends exist when people place these 4 values in a hierarchical model through their actions and perceptions.

For instance: in their actions many people often place Peace above the other 3 values because in the moment it is often easiest to avoid conflict/confrontation, etc. However, this is frequently a dishonest outlook, as real beliefs and feelings are being compromised in order to keep this momentary, topical peace. This ironically results in a lack of inner peace, and thus is not really peace at all.

My favorites are Truth and Love.