The Power of Four

The Power of Four: Elements, Humors, Temperaments, Types is a sweeping history of four foundational concepts that have guided Western thought from the earliest days of Western civilization. Divided into four parts, the book takes an evolutionary stance, looking at how each concept developed and then evolved into the next. It also leans heavily on the nature or 'power' of four, both 'fourness,' as in the four elements, humors, and temperaments, and 'fourfoldness,' as in sixteen (4 x 4) personality types. Although touching upon other schemes related to elements, humors, temperaments and types (e.g., phrenology, physiognomy, astrology, as well as various modern typologies, etc.), the author stays focused on the Power of Four, the most prevalent construction upon which most of Western thought is built.