Classical element

Many ancient philosophies used a set of archetypal classical elements to explain patterns in nature. These naturally-occurring fundamentals are actually more accurate in being classical states of matter than "elements" as they are defined in modern science. Most notably the four Greek classical elements Earth, Water, Air, and Fire correspond approximately with the four states-of-matter, Solid, Liquid, Gas, and Plasma. The fifth Greek classical element "Idea" ("quintessence" in Latin; "Aether" in Hindu theory; "Void" in Japanese theory) corresponds approximately with the non-matter (non-material world) of cyberspace, mathematics, algorithms, and computer programs that run in analog as well as digital computers, regardless of whether their material embodiment is mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, optical, electric, or otherwise, i.e. a computer program is made of the fifth state-of-matter even if the computer itself is made of solid matter ("Earth"). In the Plato/Aristotle sense, the mind is made of Idea (non-matter), whereas the brain in which the mind "runs" is part of the material world (matter).
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