representational inquiry regarding meaning » concrete conditions » liberty
The symbols for L-phase nodes are horizontally oriented disks, but they're wobbling disks, and so they extend more or less into the vertical dimension, marking out levels in a developmental progression. The B-node occurs near the vertical axis representing ideality; it thereby represents an advanced stage in a developmental progression—the fifth of six.
The letter B is used to represent this node primarily given the relation of its traditional numerical value (2) to the other L-phase nodes as arranged in a triangle. See letter L for an explanation.
Originally depicting a house, the letter beth (B) suggests the basic duality of inner and outer, where inner and outer are analogous to psychological and physiological (conditions) respectively, and where B is associated with inner/psychological. For instance, the Hebrew letter bet (ב) can be used as a prefix meaning within. This simplest of divisions can be thought to mirror, for example, the distinction important in Stoicism recognizing the difference between what's in our control and what's not. We can't always control the external circumstances of our lives, but, with discipline, we can at least control how we respond to those circumstances, both in attitude and in action. In other words, we can to a great extent control the quality of our character—an important part of our psyche. So, with self-discipline, by taking full responsibility for those things in our control, we can free ourselves from unnecessary worry and more easily find our proper place in the world. These ideas work well with this Project's B-node addressing conditions pertaining to liberty and the freedom that comes with self-actualization.
