Buckminster Fuller on the number 47

Synergetics 2 Section 1238.51
“The first prime number beyond the trigonometric limit is 47. The number 47 may be a flying increment to fill allspace, to fill out the eight triangular facets of the non-allspace-filling vector equilibrium to form the allspace-filling first nuclear cube. If 47 as a factor produces a Scheherazade Number with mirrors, it may account not only for all the specks of dust in the Universe but for all the changes of cosmic restlessness, accounting the convergent-divergent next event, which unbalances the even and rational whole numbers. If 47 as a factor does not produce a Scheherazade Number with mirrors, it may explain that there can be no recurring limit symmetries. It may be that 47 is the cosmic random element, the agent of infinite change.”

Synergetics 2. Further Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking -R. Buckminster Fuller & E.J. Applewhite

I asked ChatGPT this question:
What did Buckminster Fuller mean when he said “It may be that 47 is the cosmic random element, the agent of infinite change”

Buckminster Fuller’s statement, “It may be that 47 is the cosmic random element, the agent of infinite change,” is a reflection of his creative and unconventional thinking. Fuller was a visionary, often exploring deep concepts about the universe, geometry, and the interconnectedness of all things.

The number 47 in this context is likely symbolic, rather than a literal reference. Fuller was known for exploring patterns, numbers, and geometry, often linking them to his broader ideas about the structure and nature of reality. The “cosmic random element” could suggest that this number, 47, represents an unpredictable or random force that drives change and evolution in the universe.

Fuller had a tendency to view the universe as a dynamic, ever-changing system, and he often used abstract concepts like this to illustrate the interconnectedness and the randomness inherent in the world. The idea of “infinite change” reflects Fuller’s belief in constant transformation and innovation—whether in human society, technology, or natural systems.

To fully appreciate this, you’d also need to understand Fuller’s broader philosophy, which emphasized the role of humanity in adapting to and influencing these dynamic systems, often with technology and design serving as a means of guiding this change toward greater sustainability and harmony.