Archive for August, 2009
Catlins Coast
Catlins Coast, on the south tip of NZ – there is nothing after here until Antarctica…
More here
No comments
Wheels
While the boss was away, the new -273 intern took the opportunity to upgrade the company vehicles.
Due to budget restrictions it was felt wings would not be essential on the new -273 puddle jumper…
On the Nature of Things (Some notes)
Those who claim for themselves to judge the truth are bound to possess a criterion of truth. This criterion, then, either is without a judge’s approval or has been approved. But if it is without approval, whence comes it that it is truthworthy? For no matter of dispute is to be trusted without judging. And, if it has been approved, that which approves it, in turn, either has been approved or has not been approved, and so on ad infinitum – Sextus Empiricus.
He raised concerns which applied to all types of knowledge and advocates simply giving up belief: that is, suspending judgment about whether or not anything is knowable. Only by suspending judgment can we attain a state of peaceful enlightenment (Ataraxia).
Taraxia means something like mess. When you put an ‘a’ before a word in the Greek language it means ‘the opposite’ of what the original word means. Ataraxia signifies the balanced state of robust tranquility that derives from eschewing faith in an afterlife, not fearing the gods because they are distant and not concerned with us, avoiding politics and vexatious people, surrounding oneself with trustworthy and affectionate friends and, most importantly, being an affectionate, virtuous person, worthy of trust.
Enlightened individuals can escape periodically from their own hungers and passions and look down with compassion on poor humanity, including themselves, who are on average ignorant, unhappy, and yearning for something better than what they see around them. Personal responsibility then consists of speaking and living personal truth.
Skepticism goes back at least as far as Pyrrho of Elis. Pyrrho found peace by admitting to ignorance and seeming to abandon the criterion by which knowledge is gained. Pyrrho’s ignorance was not the ignorance of children or farm animals: it was a knowledgeable ignorance, arrived at through the application of logical reasoning and exposition of its inadequacy.
No commentsInductive reasoning
Induction also known as inductive reasoning or inductive logic is a type of reasoning which involves moving from a set of specific facts to a general conclusion. Inferring from observables. There are problems with this however.
Sextus Empiricus questioned how the truth of the Universals can be established by examining some of the particulars, since examining particulars is difficult as they are infinite in number.
I was curious how a few could look when represented visually such as linear, nonlinear series or nonlinear equations.
Renaissance
Back in the day in London things were mad tough for a while. This song helped me stay focused and motivated to get out of there. One of those songs which change your life. Empathy can be a powerful force. Stumbled upon it today and it took me back.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Brazil Street art
Thought I would share with you this short video of street art my friend Jakob put together from his recent trip to Sao Paulo and Rio.
No commentsNassim Nicholas Taleb: A Crazier Future
Author Nassim Nicholas Taleb discusses his book, The Black Swan in relation to predicting the future, learning from the consequences of the unknown, and the power of randomness.
Well worth watching/listening to his talk here.
Hat tip to Zero Hedge.
No comments
