  We review a recently proposed Clifford-algebra approach to elementary
particles. We start with: (1) a philosophical background that motivates a
maximally symmetric treatment of position and momentum variables, and: (2) an
analysis of the minimal conceptual assumptions needed in quark mass extraction
procedures. With these points in mind, a variation on Born's reciprocity
argument provides us with an unorthodox view on the problem of mass. The idea
of space quantization suggests then the linearization of the nonrelativistic
quadratic form ${\bf p}^2 +{\bf x}^2$ with position and momentum satisfying
standard commutation relations. This leads to the 64-dimensional Clifford
algebra ${Cl}_{6,0}$ of nonrelativistic phase space within which one identifies
the internal quantum numbers of a single Standard Model generation of
elementary particles (i.e. weak isospin, hypercharge, and color). The relevant
quantum numbers are naturally linked to the symmetries of macroscopic phase
space. It is shown that the obtained phase-space-based description of
elementary particles gives a subquark-less explanation of the celebrated
Harari-Shupe rishon model. Finally, the concept of additivity is used to form
novel suggestions as to how hadrons are constructed out of quarks and how
macroscopically motivated invariances may be restored at the hadron level.
