pitspotter2

6 ms·

1.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
Philosophy (as I regard it) is a sort of history of very clever but confused thinking, thinking which didn't lead anywhere. Thinking which did lead somewhere got relabelled science or something-else-not-philosophy. Thus what little p
2.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
Yes. Dopamine is the mediator of the brain's seeking system, SEEKING being one of the seven emotional drives, according to Jaak Panksepp and Mark Solms. The full list of instinctual emotion systems comprises SEEKING, LUST, PANIC, GRIEF
3.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
For me it's not an issue of perception, but sheer lack of working memory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2FXfFeRtJo
4.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
I've heard that submarines can now extract information from ambient ocean noise. Car honkings and traffic noise have got to be at least as useful, for the roads. Would require a microphone array to be added to the car.
5.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
I wonder what are the implications for the automated cars.
6.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
Corundum vs carborundum. It's a conundrum!
7.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
And while we're in the Sahara Desert with abundant sunshine, sand and carbon dioxide, let's build a silicon carbide brick factory . Sunlight to provide electrical power and, via focussed mirrors, heat. Sand to supply the silicon.
8.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
Additionally I would like knurling on the knobs and muted musical tones to provide feedback, not the blaring monotonous beeps of today. Star Trek TNG was wrong about the desirability of flat screen interfaces but right about audible feedbac
9.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
(1) and (2) might empirically-speaking look similar over long enough timescales. Also if (2) is correct then fundamental progress, arising from periodic breakthroughs, depends more upon who we are than what we do. Doing stuff would then l
10.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
I get that bad news sells. It grabs attention I think partly because it's useful. It's a sort of 'prediction error' which helps us to learn from the misfortunes and mistakes of others. However this doesn't explain t
11.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
Two different philosophies of hope: (1) Optimism . The world has been getting better and all present evils can eventually be cured by developing the specific know-how (think Apollo programme) (2) Eucatastrophe . The world has been getting
12.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
SEM == scanning electron microscopy
13.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
Can you solder? Because in my experience with corded headphones the first thing to fail is the cord itself.
14.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
My parenting tip is: if you're expert at something, teach it to your children.
15.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
Another explanation for depression I've heard from Mark Solms. Or partial explanation. He thinks it may be a dysfunctional or pathologised form of mourning . There are two relevant emotional needs which all mammals possess: 1. Seeking
16.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
Matt Ridley makes the case for attempting to bring back the 'penguins of the north': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJbXk7NldnM#t=18m
17.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
Without Delia Derbyshire Dr Who might have sounded more like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1SZs4xudf8
18.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
The hilarity illustrates an important point. We never just make a thing. A recipe or blueprint is a convenient fiction. Rather we participate in a dynamic evolving process which itself evolved through many cycles of copying, repetition and
19.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
The format of Foundation is rather terse and spare encyclopaedic entries alternating with stories of the characters meeting each other, conversing and so on. One of the reason it fires the imagination I think is that the encyclopaedia por
20.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
Thank you!
21.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
I've read The Tacit Dimension but I'd be interested to know what are your favourite Polanyi links or writings?
22.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
(1) Keep a couple of pencils on the piano to write your fingering on the manuscript, (2) Feel free to ignore the editor's fingering if it's clunky for you, (3) No premature optimisation. Play through sections multiple times before
23.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
The reason these false conspiracy theories spread is because many people distrust the motives of those in charge, now more than ever I think. Motives can't be observed scientifically of course but they're still there. In a bette
24.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
In evolution things usually persist for multiple reasons. It seems possible that the gesture is both functional (in terms of the dog's hearing) and attractive (to humans). An attempt to perceive correctly and a signal of openness and
25.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
Also note the absence of that sweet/sickly smell on one's breath. This implies a reduced level of circulating acetaldehyde , the primary carcinogen associated with alcohol consumption.
26.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
It does seem to work as a hangover preventative provided you take it before starting to drink alcohol. (Somewhere between 15 minutes to a few hours before.)
27.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
I agree that it provides no evidence of the objective risks.
28.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
Didn't know that. I enjoyed those stories! Another favourite is of course Lieutenant Commander Data. His goal, rather than to destroy humanity, was to become more human himself. This is finally realised when he is presented with an &#x
29.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
I'd assumed until recently that early robots and other forms of artificial being were friendly and regarded as a good thing in early science fiction. Now it seems they were symbols of arrogance and guilt right from the start! The cance
30.
by pitspotter2 5y ago
Check out Chapter 11 of The Hidden Spring by Mark Solms. In it he identifies subjective experience, for example perceiving the colour red, as an observational perspective. He reminds us that we can also experience vision objectively, wi

More ›