Fourfolds and Captain Planet

Heidegger argues that in order for an object to have "thinginess," it must exist with the fourfold. The fourfold creates a dwelling rather than a place, in which an thing creates meaning and relationship.

I have to admit that I don't understand the fourfold. As Bay and Rickert address, why earth, sky, human, and gods? How do these four create a meaning? Why not reduce the fourfold to a twofold? Is not human encompassed by earth and gods by sky? While I may not understand why Heidegger choose the four traits that he did, I believe I understand what he's trying to get at.

The fourfold reminded me of the four elements: earth, fire, wind, and water. It is believed that these elements make up all material objects. But the problem with this comparison is that while the four elements may make an object, they don't make that object have thinginess.

Take a nicknack. It's made out of clay (earth), molded using water, set out to dry (air), and fired. For one person, this nicknack may have sentimental value but to another it may be nothing more than a paper weight. When an object exists in the fourfold, meaning is created. This is what Heidegger is getting at with the fourfold.

I have to thank Abby for bringing up the Captain Planet reference. The teens use the four elements to summon captain planet, but the fifth "element" they use is heart. And that's what separates the four elements from the fourfold. Earth, fire, wind, and water simply create an object. The fourfold creates heart which give an object thinginess.