When Herodotus wrote in the second volume of his History that the Great Pyramid of Giza was built from top to bottom, no one understood anything. People wondered how it was to first build at the top and then down? So she'll fall! The “smartest” ones got out of it by inventing that it was about the cladding, which was supposedly laid from top to bottom.
But if you use logic, this is also nonsense. So what did Herodotus mean?The point is that when reading primary sources you need to understand what is being said. Herodotus wrote:
Thus, first the upper part of the pyramid was completed, then the middle and finally the lowest steps on earth were built.
For those who are familiar with the internal step structure of the pyramid, everything is clear. But even for others, Herodotus gave another hint:
This is how this pyramid was built. First, it goes in the form of a staircase with ledges, which others call platforms, or steps.
Even for the very best, everything is laid out on shelves, or rather steps. Herodotus speaks of the internal “step” structure of the pyramid, for it is this that determines its properties. And it is precisely the technology of its construction that he is talking about, and not about some abstract object with pyramidal proportions, which many of his readers imagine.
But since we are already familiar with the internal structure of the pyramid, we will reproduce this technological process construction of the pyramid.
1. In the beginning you need to have a source of energy. We talked about this in the articles Earth - Geocrystal and Ascending and descending currents in the pyramid. Let's briefly revive this knowledge.
That is, we are looking for places of faults in the earth’s crust or release of geoenergy in “places of power” or at points of the IDSZ, or on its edges. An example of such a place is the “Dancing Forest” on the Curonian Spit.
When there is a lot of energy, plants feel good. And when there is too much of it, similar “dances” begin. Where does so much energy come from on the Curonian Spit? The answer is simple. Let's look at the Earth's IDS in this place.
Exactly, an edge passes through it between points No. 2 and No. 11. And if you look closer, other details are visible.
Usually, the Earth's energy does not come out evenly, but where it is more convenient for it, where the resistance to its exit is minimal. Such places are called places of power. It was noticed that geoenergy goes around diamagnetic regions and exits into paramagnetic regions. The screenshot clearly shows that the edge of the IDSZ crosses the reservoir, and the water is diamagnetic, and only in the middle of it is there a place for energy to escape - the Curonian Spit. The theoretical line is separated from the real one in our case by 25 km. This is a normal error.
Moreover, a closer look also shows the area of this place.
We see a clear circle with a diameter of 350 meters through which energy comes out. These are the places that are suitable for building pyramids.
So, we sorted out the energy.
2. Orientation.
Why are all the pyramids oriented to the north - because their energy source is oriented. Since the Earth's energy comes through regular energy grids, in particular, the Hartmann grid, and it is oriented along the cardinal points, the pyramid will also be oriented. Otherwise, its effectiveness will be insignificant.
Well, can we build a pyramid? No. You need the right materials.
3. Materials laboratory.
U building materials is a property of magnetic permeability based on the magnetic reactivity of each material. Based on this, materials are divided into diamagnetic, paramagnetic, and ferromagnetic. If you don’t know these properties and make a pyramid with iron reinforcement, then this reinforcement will shield all geoenergy from the pyramid.
(c) pyramids.iicufi.org
With such a “foundation” we are guaranteed to cut off the pyramid from the energy of the Earth.
And if before that we make a pillow of sand, not knowing that SiO2 is a diamagnetic
(c) pyramids.iicufi.org
Then in such a pyramid no “upward flows” will ever appear. They will go around the pyramid along its perimeter. But we still have downward flows. But if we install steel ferromagnetic reinforcement there too,
(c) pyramids.iicufi.org
then we reliably shield our pyramid from any energy in principle. And instead of a pyramid we get a bunker.
Therefore, you need to know the laws by which energy flows in the pyramid, plus you need a laboratory of materials to understand where to use which and how to change or synthesize their properties.
In total, to build a pyramid, you need four types of materials:
A. A strong paramagnetic and durable structural material (granite, for example) for the construction of the base of the pyramid, pyramidion and internal chambers.
b. Weak paramagnetic, inexpensive in volume and quite durable material (sandstone, dolomite) for filling internal structure step pyramid.
V. A weak diamagnetic, inexpensive in volume and relatively durable material (calcite, for example) for filling the space between the steps and the cladding.
d. Strong diamagnetic, relatively durable structural material (for example, marble) for cladding the pyramid.
These materials may not necessarily be natural. On the contrary, their properties can and should be programmed using modern binders and fillers. But for this you need a materials laboratory to take measurements directly from the supplier or at the construction site. As a last resort, make a series of materials and take measurements in a magnetic laboratory. These are available in many branches. research institutes, but you can also make these devices yourself.
Here is an excerpt from the monograph “INTRODUCTION TO MAGNETOCHEMISTRY OF PORTLAND CEMENT” by A. P. Nikolaev, 2011.
B) The Gouy method requires less complex equipment. Since the sample used in this method has a fairly large mass (1 - 10 g), an analytical balance can be used to determine the forces acting on it from the magnetic field. It is possible to study magnetic susceptibility in solutions. However, there are also limitations associated with a large sample mass. this method: It is not very easy to thermostate a sample, and when studying powdery substances, errors arise due to the heterogeneity of their packaging.
A) In the Faraday method, the big advantage is the small amount of the substance under study (two to three orders of magnitude less than for the Gouy method). The sample is easier to thermostate. It is possible to study the anisotropy of single crystals and magnets of any type, including ferro-, ferri- and antiferromagnets. Errors associated with sample packaging have been eliminated. However, small samples are less protected from relative exposure environment, create almost insoluble difficulties when studying solutions, and the force F, which is two to three orders of magnitude smaller, requires the use of extremely sensitive instruments for its registration, which complicates the installation for measuring magnetic susceptibility. Taking into account the above, it can be stated that, depending on the problems being solved, the Faraday and Gouy methods can be used with equal success and complement each other well.
In the process of carrying out the work, such a device was made, and based on its readings, studies were carried out. This kind of apparatus is mandatory when building a pyramid, since it allows one to evaluate the magnetic qualities of materials on the spot.
3. Stages of construction.
Well, only now we get to Herodotus. So how was the pyramid built from top to bottom? Well, for starters, any pyramid needs a base - a foundation made of a durable paramagnetic material - granite or a synthetic structural material with high paramagnetic and strength characteristics. But even before this, we need to resolve the issue of using downward flows - if we make a diamagnetic lining, as in the Cheops pyramid, then an underground chamber is not needed. And if the lining is paramagnetic, even partially, then it makes sense to make an underground chamber from a strong paramagnetic material to concentrate the downward energy.
But this is already the aerobatics of pyramid building, so in the first case you can do without it and make a lining from a diamagnetic material.
Then, after establishing a strong paramagnetic zero cycle, you can proceed to the pyramid, namely its sixth stage. Yes, yes, not the first but the sixth. Herodotus spoke precisely about this. The pyramid is built starting from the sixth step, so it seems that it is from top to bottom. This is what this step looks like.
At the top we see two energy mirrors, made of a stronger paramagnetic material, which redirect our upward energy to the top of the pyramid. Here we need to add that if we want to have any chambers inside the pyramid, then they need to be made at the first stage of construction - in the 6th stage. The chambers are made structurally from a strong paramagnetic material with high strength, from which the base of the pyramid is made. The stage itself is made of a weak paramagnetic material.
We install it (a strong paramagnetic) and line the pyramid itself with a strong diamagnetic material.
And only then will our pyramid work and be beneficial.
But that's a completely different story :) All the best to us and useful pyramids. Thank you for your attention.
While working as a McKinsey consultant, Barbara Minto created her own method for writing policy papers based on how people perceive information.
Business text is well perceived when ideas are logically interconnected and built according to the principle of a hierarchical pyramid. Ideas at a lower level of the hierarchy serve to reveal the content of ideas at a higher level of the hierarchy.
Ideas within the pyramid are subject to three “golden rules”:
- ideas at each level must generalize ideas grouped at the level below;
- ideas in each group should always be of the same type / interrelated
- ideas in each group should go to logical sequence, which can be one of the following types:
- deductive (major premise, minor premise, conclusion),
- chronological (first, second, third),
- structural (Boston, New York, Washington),
- classification and comparative (the first most important subject, the second most important subject, etc.).To form a pyramidal structure of the text, you can use the question “Why?”.
For example, “Buying a large English company Leyland under a franchise agreement" breaks down into three components that answer the question "Why?":
“The company’s growth rate will exceed the industry growth rate”
"The company will have positive financial results»
“It won’t be difficult to get things going.”
These three components break down into three or two more sub-items.
The construction of a pyramid must begin with “Leading”
The introduction is written in narrative form; it should formulate the main question to which the answer is given later in the document. The introduction describes the situation and the development of this situation. Both of these elements should definitely be familiar to the reader. The development of the situation initiates a question that is answered in the document. The question should not arise ahead of time, but only as a result of the development of the situation.
The structure of the introduction consists of the following sections:
- Situation. This is a judgment about an object that is self-sufficient and indisputable.
- Difficulty/Problem
- The question that arises in the reader’s mind after realizing the problem
- Answer to question = key idea of the document
There are two main approaches to building a pyramid: top-down and bottom-up.
"Top down":
1. Complete the top block of the pyramid by answering the questions:
- What exactly are you discussing?
- What question about the topic (object) facing the reader are you answering?
- What's your answer?
2. Formulate and clarify your entry question
- What is the situation?
- What are the difficulties?
- Are the question and its answer formulated?
3. Define the line of key statements
- What new question is raised by the above answer?
- Shall we answer it inductively or deductively?
- If inductively, what is the plural noun?
4. Structure supporting considerations.
“Bottom-up” (most effective method) :
- Write down all the ideas you would like to express.
- Think about how they relate to each other.
- Draw conclusions from ideas and connections.
Bottom-up construction can begin when all the arguments and ideas are known and it is necessary to build a logic of presentation based on them - the Minto pyramid.
- When you choose words for titles and tables of contents, try to reflect essential ideas rather than general categories or stages of comprehension
- Try to start building the pyramid from the top
- Use the description of the situation as the beginning of the process of thinking about the introduction.
- Don't forget to justify your entry
- Always include information about the occurrence of the situation in the introduction.
- The information in the introduction should only be that which the reader believes to be true.
- Be sure to justify each position of the key line. Statements must be substantiated until new questions no longer arise.
- Build bridges between structural units of the text. To do this, you can refer to what was said earlier, BUT: do not repeat what you DID.
Structure your document:
- Reflect the structure of the document in the text, using:
- Headings. Headings should reflect the flow of reasoning and include the main ideas. Do not use simple numbers or impersonal headings (such as Section 1)
- Bold and underline for key ideas
- Hierarchical numbering (in addition to section titles).
In 1963, Barbara Minto became the first female consultant famous company McKinsey. Management noted Barbara's outstanding writing abilities and sent her to London in 1966 to develop writing skills among the company's employees. It was McKinsey employees and clients who were Minto's first students. Barbara explored problems in writing texts that involve unclear formulation of thoughts. Barbara Minto took up the study of the thinking process, believing that it is its features that underlie a person’s ability to clearly express their thoughts. Ultimately, this served as the basis for the development of the theory of the pyramid principle. Since 1973 Barbara has been managing own company Minto International Inc. She successfully teaches at business schools at Harvard, Stanford, Chicago, as well as largest companies USA and Europe. She specializes in teaching the golden rules to both business novices and professionals whose responsibilities include compiling complex reports, analyses, memos and presentations.
These rules and the operation of the Minto Pyramid Principle are set out by Barbara in the book of the same name. The carefully compiled content of the book will be useful in mastering skills business communication. But even a quick glance at the key ideas of the Minto Pyramid Principle will help you present any information logically, clearly and understandably.
LOGIC IN WRITING
1. Pyramid.
Ideas are necessarily grouped according to some characteristics. The most effective method of presenting ideas is from top to bottom, so the correct grouping is represented in the shape of a pyramid. Ideas within the pyramid must obey three “golden rules”:
- Ideas at each level should summarize the ideas grouped below.
- The ideas of each group must be logically interconnected.
- The ideas of each group should proceed in a logical sequence.
For correct drafting The document should be schematically summarized into a pyramid and checked for compliance with the three “golden rules”.
2. Components of the pyramid.
Using a pyramid structure, ideas are arranged vertically in the form of a question-answer dialogue, and horizontally through a logical connection based on the principle of induction or deduction, but without mixing these two methods. The introductory part of a document is written in narrative form and is a Question that is answered by the rest of the document.
3. Building a pyramid.
Top down:
- Identify the Subject.
- Define the Question.
- Give answer.
- Check that the situation and the Development of the situation lead to the Question.
- Check the Answer.
- Complete the Main Level.
Down up:
- Make a list of all the statements you would like to make.
- Determine the connection between them.
- Draw conclusions.
- Write the introductory part.
4. Features of writing an introduction.
The introductory part is written for each group of Main Level ideas and should briefly summarize and recall the ideas, rather than inform at length about them. The introductory part should consist of the Situation, Development of the Situation, Question and Answer.
5. Deduction and induction.
Deduction is a sequence of judgments arising from each other. Induction involves grouping together similar ideas or related activities. Therefore, at the Main Level it is better to use the inductive method.
LOGIC IN REASONING
6. Establishing a logical sequence.
A very important action aimed at identifying the relationship of ideas.
Types of logical sequence:
- Chronological - if you need to describe the process.
- Structural - if you need to describe the structure of something.
- Comparative - if the grouping is based on classification by degree of importance.
To best structure your presentation, state each idea as briefly as possible -> group similar ideas -> arrange them in the appropriate sequence.
When describing actions, formulate each action as specifically as possible so that it represents an end product -> group together those actions that lead to the same result -> identify the process or structure that formed the basis of the grouping and arrange the ideas in the appropriate sequence ->
If a situation is being described, group similar ideas -> determine the structure that underlies the grouping -> formulate the ideas into complete sentences and arrange them in the appropriate sequence -> make sure you haven't missed anything.
7. Summarizing grouped ideas
Ideas within one group should be mutually exclusive, and taken all together, they should exhaustively characterize the subject (the MECE rule applies here - Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive).
When generalizing ideas that describe actions, it is necessary to group them depending on the result achieved. When generalizing ideas that describe a situation, they should be grouped according to the characteristic that unites them. Finding a unifying characteristic of ideas is quite simple - all similar ideas will relate to the same subject, or all of them will consider the same action, or they will all be directed at the same object, or all of them will imply one thing and the same statement.
We structure the ideas as follows.
Action ideas: State ideas briefly, leaving only keywords-> determine the level of abstraction -> formulate ideas as clearly as possible -> determine the result of their implementation.
Ideas describing the situation: find similarities in subjects, actions or objects -> determine the category that unites them -> formulate a conclusion.
LOGIC IN PROBLEM SOLVING
8. Definition of the problem
We determine the problem by the following course of action:
- Determine the area in which the problem arose.
- Determine what has disrupted the stability in this area.
- Identify Undesirable Outcome P1.
- Define Desired Outcome P2.
- Determine whether any action has been taken to resolve the problem.
- Identify the Question that needs to be answered in the study.
The resulting problem definition should be used in the introductory part of the document.
9. Structuring the problem analysis process
Here you can use logical trees to search possible ways solving a problem and identifying relationships between the ideas of one group. But first define the problem -> use research models to visualize the structure of the problem area -> come up with some hypotheses regarding possible reasons problems -> collect information that confirms or disproves hypotheses.
LOGIC IN PRESENTATIONS
10. Displaying a pyramid of ideas on document pages
Create a clear document structure using headings, indents, underlines, fonts, and numbering.
Use links to move from one group of ideas to another.
11. Displaying a pyramid of ideas on the screen.
When creating text slides, express your thoughts as concisely and simply as possible. Use slides with images to visually demonstrate the data, making sure to include a title. Sketch your presentation to ensure the correct order of the slides. Frequent rehearsals will help you deliver an effective presentation.
12. Displaying a pyramid of ideas in writing.
Describe the mental image you created of what you want to talk about.
Although the book is intended for a wide range of readers, abundance practical examples from the life of a consulting company will in many ways prove useful specifically to employees in this field of activity.
Barbara Minto "The Minto Pyramid Principle: The Golden Rules of Thinking" business letter and oral presentations" [translated from English by I.I. Yurchik, Yu.I. Yurchik]. - M.: Mann, Ivanov and Ferber, 2008. - 272 p.
Barbara Minto "The Minto Pyramid Principle. Logic in writing, thinking and problem solving"
Chip Scanlan, journalist, writer, columnist. Translation Olga Dobrovidova.
Invented more than a century ago to take advantage of new communications technologies, the inverted pyramid remains a controversial but widespread method of news reporting - and journalists across all media agree it has a future well into the 21st century.
The inverted pyramid places the most valuable information in the news at the top, followed by details in descending order of importance, ending with the least important at the very end. Historians argue when exactly this form of presenting news was invented, but they agree that the invention of the telegraph pushed its development so that by the beginning of the 20th century it was widely used in newspapers and then relatively young news agencies.
Journalism historian David T. Z. Mindich believes that one of the first inverted pyramid leads was written by a correspondent reporting on the assassination attempt on Abraham Lincoln in April 1865:
In the Associated Press
The President was shot at a theater this evening and may be mortally wounded.
(V English language this example is slimmer, The President was shot in a theater tonight and is perhaps mortally wounded, because “the president” is the subject with a passive voice in both parts of the sentence - this emphasizes that who exactly shot the president, on at this stage doesn't matter at all. If you're interested, you can see what all the material looked like on the NYT website - approx. lane)
(More historical information can be found in my article “The Birth of the Inverted Pyramid: A Child of Technology, Business and History” (eng))
The pyramid should be big on top because it should answer all the readers' questions. The remaining details are arranged in descending order of importance. The rules of the inverted pyramid require the reporter to summarize the story, get to its heart and meaning, and quickly and concisely present the answer to the question “what’s the news?” This approach answers the most important questions at the very beginning of the story, it gives a thesis and then expands on it with supporting material.
Journalism is “complicated” with an inverted pyramid. Proponents of this form find it useful, especially for breaking news. The inverted pyramid, or at least its most important part, the lead summary, is used very widely - it is one of the most recognizable forms in modern communications. You'll find it on the front and back pages of most newspapers, the Associated Press and around the world on other online news resources.
“The inverted pyramid organizes material not around ideas or chronology, but around facts. It weighs and mixes various pieces of information, focusing with remarkable singleness on their relative eventual value,” writes journalism historian Mitchell Stevens in his History of the News.
Critics of the inverted pyramid say it is stilted, boring and unsophisticated, outdated and one of the reasons for the declining readership that newspapers have had to contend with in recent decades.
The inverted pyramid, according to critics, is anti-history. It presents the material backwards and conflicts with traditional storytelling practice, where there is a beginning, middle and end. Instead of rewarding the reader with a satisfying ending, the pyramid loses steam and fizzles out, as if challenging readers to see if they can stay awake, much less read to the end.
Despite decades under attack, the inverted pyramid lives on. As Bruce DeSilva of the Associated Press once famously said, “The inverted pyramid remains the Dracula of journalism: it never stops rising from the grave and sneaking into the newspaper.”
There are good reasons for this persistence. Many readers are impatient and want material to get straight to the point. In breaking news situations, when events and circumstances change quickly, the inverted pyramid allows the writer of the news to constantly rewrite the story's beginning, maintaining its relevance.
It is also a very useful tool for organized thinking, since the pyramid forces the journalist to express the meaning of the entire story in one paragraph. Journalism students who learn the inverted pyramid and go on to work in other industries say it's useful for writing everything from legal briefs to grant applications.
The inverted pyramid and lead resume can be a difficult shape for some journalists. At least, it was difficult for me when I first started working. Retell three hours of a school board meeting or answer five W-questions (who, did what, where, when, why; in English, all these question words begin with the letter W - approx. lane) about a fatal car accident, and then deciding what other information was needed in the text and in what order - it took a lot of effort and was annoying, especially under the pressure of a deadline.
Also, as a newbie, I usually didn't know the topics I was covering well enough to easily answer the big question: What would be the news stories in this event, and in what order of importance? I resisted the disciplined thinking that the inverted pyramid requires and, like many colleagues, considered the form uncreative and unnatural. I preferred the writer's approach to stories to the "just the facts" style of reporting.
Over time it became easier and I began to understand how this form helps develop skills critical thinking, analysis and synthesis, that is, the basis for clarity of thinking and text. The inverted pyramid is the basic “building block” of journalistic style.
During the times of printing on cast typesetting machines (hot type; invented around the 1880-1890s - approx. lane) when materials needed to be fit into a limited space, the inverted pyramid allowed editors and even typesetters laying out the page in the backroom to trim text from the bottom if necessary - without requiring any journalistic judgment. Technology continues to make its impact: Research shows that those who read news on a computer are reluctant to view more than one screen at a time, so it is not surprising that online media continues to make extensive use of the inverted pyramid. (In 1996, Jakob Nielsen, an influential Internet usability expert, wrote about "inverted pyramids in cyberspace"). Whether we like it or not, journalists in the 21st century need to master this form.
Excerpt from the book (Oxford University Press; the original link to the book does not work, another one is provided - approx. lane)
In life, we all face the need to convey our own thoughts and ideas, the results of reasoning, to other people. We communicate verbally, by phone, write short notes and business documents and at the same time we want to present our ideas in such a way that the interlocutor understands us immediately and unambiguously.
In a business environment, written communication is most used: we prepare letters and analytical notes, presentations and reports and we do not always have the opportunity to be present when the interlocutor reads the documents and give the necessary explanations.
How to prepare documents so that they are clear and understandable to the reader?
I read her book, which was published in Russia under the title “The Golden Rules of Harvard and McKinsey. Rules of the magic pyramid for business writing” and today I offer you a synopsis of this book.
Minto's Pyramid Principle
Barbara says that if the reader is not controlled and given a pre-thought-out structure for presenting his thoughts, he will be forced to come up with it himself. And it is in this imaginary structure that your reader will locate and arrange the ideas coming to him, and combine them into groups. What he will succeed is completely unclear, and there is a high probability that both you and your interlocutor will waste time.
To organize your ideas, Barbara Minto suggests using a pyramid. At the top level of the pyramid is your key idea, the conclusion, and at the next levels of the pyramid the main idea finds its justification.
- The construction of the pyramid must begin with the introduction
The structure of the introduction consists of the following sections:
- Situation. This is a judgment about an object that is self-sufficient and indisputable.
- Difficulty/Problem
- Question which arises in the reader after realizing the problem
- Answer to the question= key idea of the document
There are two main approaches to building a pyramid: top-down and bottom-up. In a top-down approach:
1. Complete the top block of the pyramid by answering the questions:
- What exactly are you discussing?
- What question about the topic (object) facing the reader are you answering?
- What's your answer?
2. Formulate and clarify your entry question
- What is the situation?
- What are the difficulties?
- Are the question and its answer formulated?
3. Define the line of key statements
- What new question is raised by the above answer?
- Shall we answer it inductively or deductively?
- If inductively, what is the plural noun?
4. Structure supporting considerations.
I recently structured the key ideas of one presentation using this principle. Here's what happened:
When building “Bottom-up”:
- Write down all the ideas you would like to express.
- Think about how they relate to each other.
- Draw conclusions from ideas and connections.
Bottom-up construction can begin when all the arguments and ideas are known and it is necessary to build a logic of presentation based on them - the Minto pyramid.
- When you choose words for titles and tables of contents, try to reflect essential ideas rather than general categories or stages of comprehension
- Try to start building the pyramid from the top
- Use the description of the situation as the beginning of the process of thinking about the introduction.
- Don't forget to justify your entry
- Always include information about the occurrence of the situation in the introduction.
- The information in the introduction should only be that which the reader believes to be true.
- Be sure to justify each position of the key line. Statements must be substantiated until new questions no longer arise.
- Build bridges between structural units of the text. To do this, you can refer to what was said earlier, BUT: do not repeat what you DID in the chapter, say the main idea of the chapter/section.
A separate section of the book is devoted to the differences in inductive and deductive methods of building logical relationships, as well as recommendations on when it is advisable to use each of these methods. I won’t describe all the recommendations here, but the essence of the methods can be easily understood from the picture:
Structure your document:
- Reflect the structure of the document in the text, using:
- Headings. Headings should reflect the flow of reasoning and include the main ideas. Do not use simple numbers or impersonal headings (such as Section 1)
- Bold and underline for key ideas
- Hierarchical numbering (in addition to section titles).
I thought the ideas in the book were very sound. Due to my line of work, I often need to prepare presentations and other business documents, and last week I tried the principle of the Minto pyramid when preparing a presentation - and was very pleased with the result.
I made a summary of the book in the format of mental maps - mind maps:
Summary of the book “The Pyramid Principle” by Barbara Minto
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