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Work #643 · Late

Black Elk Speaks

Nicholas Black Elk (Heȟáka Sápa), recorded by John G. Neihardt
1932 · Lakota (recorded in English)
Native American spiritual autobiography · Lakota / Native American religious philosophy

Black Elk's 1932 foundational Lakota spiritual autobiography — the Great Vision and the sacred hoop

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Black Elk Speaks (Late)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Cyclical
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Plural
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency Cosmic-ordering
Observer · Moral Authority Tradition
Observer · Theological Method —
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

⧖

Time

Black Elk Speaks

The cyclical sacred-hoop time.

✦

Space

Black Elk Speaks

The relational-spiritual Plains space.

◉

Matter

Black Elk Speaks

The relational-spirit-pervaded material.

◎

Observer

Black Elk Speaks

Black Elk as Lakota visionary.

⚡

Energy

Black Elk Speaks

Energies of the sacred hoop and the six grandfathers.

⧉

Information

Black Elk Speaks

Foundational Lakota visionary-spiritual framework.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Black Elk Speaks

Black Elk Speaks foundational for Native American spirituality; the relation between Black Elk's Lakota tradition and his later Catholic catechism complex.