Essentialism & Prime Numbers

I oftentimes read or listen to people smarter than I nerd out about prime numbers, and I always struggled to understand why they care so much about them, especially in a non-mathematical context. But when looking at them as an irreducible entity, carrying its own unique properties, I start to see the significance. Similarly to Greg McKeown’s work on Essentialism, what is represented is getting to the essence of what resonates with us as individuals.

Rather than getting swept up by composite demands of others and society, essentialism directs us to focus in on the very few things that are irreducible to us — that which is truly essential.

Prime numbers are the foundational building blocks of mathematics just as the essential things in our life are.

Linguistically, “prime” has many interesting morphologies: “primary” as in important ; “primary” colors, as in the building blocks for all other colors; “priming” a pump; “primo” as in exceptional or extraordinary; etc.

Each of these has significance of being “first” or foundational to future composites, whether it being the building blocks for other colors, composite numbers, a process to get something operational, or simply being the 1st in things ordered by quality. Human nature has a fascination and connection to things that are “first.” First impressions have disproportionate impact, to the winner goes the spoils, etc.

This highlights something my dad was very interested in: linguistics as a map and a puzzle for deeper understanding of meaning. Words contain clues to the deep, interconnected nature in our universe that helps bridge the realms of science, philosophy, and the human experience.

McKeown prompts us to self-inquire about that which is truly essential to us — that which cannot be reduced any further and upon which everything is built.

There is so much extra stuff and noise in each of our lives. In an ideal world, we could shed all the superfluous s*** and be left with only the essential — similar to prime factorization. 

Mental un-health can have a myriad of causes, many of which are not subject to our own influence. But some mental un-health is downstream of our choices, habits, focal points, attachments, desires, fears, etc. Here we do have some influence.

I believe doing the equivalent of prime factorization on desires, fears, attachments, will bring us to what is truly essential to us. While multiplication/division is basic to many of us — I think the parallel for our own psyches — self inquiry, reflection, contemplation — is a skill more foreign to us.