1. Introduction: Space as a Cognitive Template
Human perception of space is not merely a geometric matter; it is a profound cognitive template, a conceptual mother tongue that shapes the foundations of society, culture, and individual existence. We live, think, and dream through spatial imagery, even if we are unaware of it. This article will analyze three fundamental phenomenological concepts: Round Being, which grants us a sense of center and security; Verticality, which expresses our aspiration for growth and transcendence; and Center-Periphery relations, the power dynamics that organize social space. We will demonstrate how these principles—though seemingly philosophical and abstract—reveal themselves as a powerful framework for understanding distinct modern phenomena, ranging from skyscraper architecture and geopolitical tensions in globalization to power struggles in the digital sphere. Understanding the "Geometry of the Spirit" is not an intellectual exercise; it is the uncovering of the code that operates our social and built reality—a code hidden from our eyes precisely because it is so foundational. We begin at the most basic starting point of human existence: the circle.
2. Foundations of Existence: Round Being and the Dialectics of Inside-Outside
At its core, human being is "round." This is not a geometric assertion, but a profound phenomenological insight: we affirm our existence from an inner center, a core sense that separates us from the world. The perfect model for this "round life" is found not in man-made works, but in nature—in the form of the bird and the nest it weaves. The bird, in its spherical and concentrated form, is an embodiment of a complete cosmic being, protected from all sides. The round nest it builds is more than physical shelter; it is a material reflection of wholeness, domesticity, and protection. The nest is the ultimate home, the secure point of departure.
From this foundational pattern emerges the first and most important existential dialectic: the distinction between "Inside" and "Outside." The contour of the circle is not just a physical boundary, but a constitutive cognitive distinction. The "Inside" is the space of "Yes"—the zone of self-affirmation, security, and belonging. The "Outside," conversely, is the space of "No"—the alien, unfamiliar, and threatening world. We construct our identity out of this tension, from the knowledge that we possess a protected center from which we can act. Yet, while the circle provides security and a center, an additional dimension is required to allow for movement, development, and aspiration—the dimension of verticality.
3. The Vertical Aspiration: From Circular Security to Sovereign Observation
If round being provides us with sanctuary, verticality provides us with movement, growth, and ambition. In the architecture of the soul, verticality is embodied not in a rigid straight line, but in a spiral. This wondrous form perfectly combines the cyclical security of the circle with the human drive to progress upward. It allows for ascent and development without losing the connection to the secure point of origin. Here, architecture transforms from material engineering into the geometry of the spirit: man, much like the bird in its nest, fortifies a protected round world around himself, yet from that same spherical core, he climbs the vertical axis toward knowledge and consciousness.
The dialectic between horizontal security and vertical aspiration reaches its peak at the highest point—atop a tower or a spire. At this point, a cognitive transformation occurs. The "Inside" and "Outside" are no longer separated by walls but meet in full exposure to the cosmos. This is not a blurring of boundaries, but transcendence. The closed, protected being opens up, and the personal center shifts from a point of refuge to a sovereign vantage point, allowing the individual to observe the entire world from a position of control they have fashioned for themselves. This transition, from closed existence to an open gaze, parallels a broader perceptual shift characterizing human thought in the modern age.
4. The Perceptual Shift: From a Verbal World to a Visual World
The current era is characterized by a transition from the hegemony of verbal, conceptual, and linear thinking to the hegemony of visual and cinematic thinking. Thinkers such as Arnheim argued that there is no fundamental difference between verbal and visual thought, yet our understanding of the world is primarily composed of pure visual perceptions, rendering the role of language secondary in establishing that understanding. We are witnessing a dramatic reversal in the historical relationship between word and image. While in the past the image was a rare commodity and words were in abundance—allowing a whole world of interpretation to be built around a single image—today the situation is reversed. We are flooded with an infinite abundance of images, while the words that give them meaning have become rare and precious. This incessant visual overload has become the central feature upon which contemporary consciousness is based, to the extent that our worldview has become cinematic—one where the filmed world is often perceived as more real than reality itself. This visual dominance is not merely an aesthetic matter; it directly affects how we understand and organize the dynamic forces in social space: center-periphery relations.
5. The Dynamics of Power: Center-Periphery Relations and Motivating Forces
Center-periphery relations are a foundational component of human thought, the kinetic grammar of social organization. Originally, they may be expressed verbally and linearly—for example, in texts of "law" and "order" that establish a hierarchical sequence. However, in the visual era, these relations are increasingly expressed through "control by design." Every form of spatial existence, from a private home to a global empire, maintains an internal tension between center and periphery. This tension is driven by two opposing forces, familiar to us from the world of physics:
Centripetal Force: A movement from the periphery inward, toward the center. This is the unifying force. Historically, it was expressed in human association during the Neolithic period, leading to the establishment of permanent settlements, exchange economies, and the founding of a shared language based on fixed structures. This is the movement that establishes community.
Centrifugal Force: A movement from the center outward, toward the periphery. This is the distributing and expanding force. It began to gain momentum with the rise of cities and written language and became dominant in Ancient Greece. This is the movement that establishes empire, spreading an idea or a culture.
It is essential to understand that these are not absolute historical epochs; the rise of the centrifugal force did not negate the centripetal force, but rather integrated with it, creating a complex dynamic of forces acting in parallel. This process, which combines both, is the essence of "Spatiality": a centripetal movement that gathers flows of people, goods, and ideas to create a "central junction," which in response radiates centrifugal movement outward, channeling it in all directions. This dynamic is the hidden engine driving many contemporary social phenomena.
6. Contemporary Expressions: Architecture, Globalization, and Digital Space
Now, we shall apply the theoretical framework we have developed to analyze three central phenomena in the modern world, showing how fundamental spatial concepts reveal their internal dynamics.
Verticality as an Expression of Centrality: Modern architecture, led by the skyscraper, is the most distinct visual expression of center-periphery relations. The vertical axis is not just a physical dimension, but a differential of value: the guiding principle is that "whatever is higher is considered more important," and therefore more central and prestigious. This is the dialectic of the "Sublime"—the aspiration toward the "above and beyond," where the vertical axis becomes the concentration point for elevated human values: power, achievement, faith, and ambition. The skyscraper is not merely a symbol of real estate value; it is a modern temple to the sublime. This imagery is realized in the human geography of the "City Center," where the tallest buildings soar. Similarly, the modern airport serves as a visual expression of the vertical conquest of the air. It is not just a transportation hub, but a staged cinematic landscape, a vision of the city of the future.
Globalization and Political Tensions: Complex global processes are nothing more than the expression of the struggle between centripetal and centrifugal forces. Globalization itself is a result of these deep historical forces. Current political tensions can be analyzed through this lens: the social polarization in the United States, the European Union's deliberations over its future path, or China's ambition to integrate Hong Kong—all of these are expressions of the struggle between central forces attempting to unify and control, and peripheral forces striving for autonomy or a different direction.
Social Arenas: The center-periphery dynamic also operates within the microcosm of daily social arenas:
The Education System: The classroom is an arena of constant confrontation between the teacher's aspirations (centripetal force), seeking to instill uniform knowledge and concentrate attention around themselves, and the students' aspirations (centrifugal force), seeking to express themselves and break the frame.
The Internet: Digital space is a clear battlefield between the massive centripetal forces of giant corporations, striving to centralize information and traffic within their platforms, and the centrifugal forces of individuals and small groups using the web to spread ideas and organize independently.
7. Conclusion: A New Look at Built and Social Space
Round being, vertical aspiration, and center-periphery dynamics are not abstract philosophical concepts. They are tangible shaping forces, foundational templates etched into human consciousness and expressed in every aspect of our lives. This analysis has shown how this "Geometry of the Spirit" provides unique and powerful tools for interpreting contemporary phenomena—from the way we build our cities and design our landscapes to the way we communicate, educate, and organize socially and politically. Understanding these spatial codes allows us to look anew at the familiar world and discover the hidden forces that drive it. Ultimately, the physical space we build around us is nothing but a reflection of the mental space within us.
