WORK IN PROGRESS - TO BE EXPANDED It is quite commonplace for kitchen philosophers to point out that what we experience is not the "real" world. What our senses deliver is what evolution has found to be useful for our survival. Like many "philosophical" debates, vistas open if you say, so what? What then? What else do our minds construct that is "useful" but not "real" in the usual sense? Do we see worlds that are constructed entirely by our minds? Worlds that are "unreal" in any sensible meaning of the the term? The list is endless. It is here where we find the unique capabilities of the human mind, where other minds are stuck with just being "useful." MATH https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-mathematical-world-real/ LARGE LANGE MODELS The following is a good explanation of Large Language Models, which turn out to model a certain aspect of human thought. Most of the discussion is around how amazing the models ...

 Why did Christianity survive when empires collapsed around it. Ideas: At one point, it was the "state" religion, effectively outlawing competitors. This tradition continued in one form or another well into modern times; Christianity offers eternal life if and only if you "believe" in some formula that all Christian sects agree on. The Devil is in the details; Christianity continues the tradition of other Abrahamic religions in having a written tradition. Disagreements on dogma routinely result in schisms - effectively creating a religion based on human opinion but also leading to the spread of hundreds of variations. The dazzling family tree of "Chrisitan" sects is presented here .

Watching this podcast on Kant. Kant's categories seem like a primitive version of object-oriented analysis. UML gives a taste of what happens when you extend this idea to describe what actually happens in the real world. Surfaces and Essences challenge Kant's idea of categories. In S&E, categories are analogies analogies and can get spectacularly arbitrary. I see a glimmer of how Hegel challenges the idea that we can know anything in the cut-and-dried categories Kant describes. It would be interesting to compare Kant's ideas with a modern understanding of the brain's workings. For example, space and time are hard-wired in the brain. Kant represents thought as processing categories - a kind of calculation. In our modern efforts to build a brain, we find this approach is limited ( Expert Systems ). Lately, we have learned the role of language. Large language models rely on patterns in language--not necessarily structured and logical. Intelligible language can be pro...

Angkor Wat Notes: Picture - a blindfolded warrior or a battle scene where everyone is blindfolded (or VR goggles); Perfect idea from Chat-GPT: In the midst of a vast, open field, four gallant knights in shining armour stand poised for battle. Each knight is blindfolded, their helmets securely fastened to obscure their vision. The sun hangs low on the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow on the scene. The knights hold their swords and shields at the ready, their body language exuding a sense of determination and courage. They rely solely on their instincts and training as they anticipate the clash of blades and the rush of their opponents.  Spectators encircle the field, their hushed whispers filling the air with anticipation. The blindfolded knights symbolize the uncertainty and unpredictability of battle, where victory depends on skill, intuition, and unwavering bravery. VR goggles are also good for the same idea. pyramids in the background a field of slaughtered innocents $20 US/...

Occasionally, we all get asked the question: Do you believe*** in God? Lots of people have no problem answering this: Yes. Others, such as myself, are tempted to answer the question with a question: What do you mean by "God?" That has been my strategy for many years, but now I'm beginning to think it misses the issue. Let me put aside those who define "God" any way they like and assert that they "believe" in whatever that is. That boils down to linguistics- a dispute about words. ** The important issue is whether you believe in the God described in the major "theistic" religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam.) This, in turn, is a question of whether you accept the mythology, theology and rituals of the given religion (whether or not you actually participate.) So, if your answer to the key question is "no," then you are claiming that all the actions based on religious motives are based on nothing . For example, prayer is pointless, ...

" This is the first time in history that we have no idea what the world will look like in 10 years" Great interview with Lex Fridman. Numerous great books: "What is suffering" rather than "meaning." Observe what is happening when you observe suffering  Very good advice on mindfulness Deep insight into the role of stories in the way we see the world Insight into where AI is going and how it's surprising even though he's been writing about it Fear of death and how we die a bit when we lose anything People expect a story to answer fear of death

This was a good time to update my old essay on intelligence . It is now possible to ask real AI (CHAT-GPT) if it can "understand" analogies. It's also possible to get AI assistance with the essay using Grammarly . Grammarly suggested that I rewrite several sentences for clarity. All of its suggestions were accepted. I hope you enjoy the rewrite. CHAT-GPT (Slightly corrected by Grammarly) Summarized the essay as follows: The SE-I (Surfaces and Essences Intelligence) definition of intelligence is the ability to rapidly and accurately identify the core elements of a new situation by drawing upon insightful precedents stored in memory. This involves finding strong and useful analogies. In contrast, the commonly equated intelligence quotient (IQ) focuses on individual performance on standardized tests, which may only partially capture the essence of intelligence. SE-I suggests that intelligence can be developed and is influenced by culture, and it emphasizes the importance of ...