Clear all
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.