Evolution is often thought of as a single thing. Yet’s it’s not even a thing at all — it’s a phenomenon, a figment of our imaginations, one way that we interpret the world we live in. It is perhaps one of our most abstract scientific concepts. At the same time, no one even just somewhat… Continue reading Rates of Evolution
Tag: language
Motivational Characteristics of Marketplace Participants
I have thought about issues related to “Motivational Characteristics of Marketplace Participants” for quite some time already. Although that title is already quite long, I think I need to narrow down what I intend to write about today even more. I want to contrast two instances of marketplaces — one from the past, the other… Continue reading Motivational Characteristics of Marketplace Participants
Learning How to Code
You may recall that in my previous installment [ https://socio.business.blog/2023/04/09/reboot-2-0-are-we-ready-for-a-renaissance-in-open-source-information-technology ], I mentioned that one of the first “codes” to be made open source were Latin texts. Latin, however, was not one of the first codes to exist. The text / texts above is / are encoded using Cuneiform, which is generally considered to be… Continue reading Learning How to Code
Reboot 2.0 — Are We Ready for a Renaissance in Open Source Information Technology?
In my opinion, the time is ripe for a reboot in open source information technology — yet exactly what that term “open source information technology” is supposed to mean might first need some clarification. There are quite a few possible misinterpretaions (“mis-” as in: “in disagreement with me” 😉 ). My point of view is… Continue reading Reboot 2.0 — Are We Ready for a Renaissance in Open Source Information Technology?
A jumping off point for the truth
I listen to quite a few podcasts, and I have already mentioned some of them here before. Now I am going to mention an episode of “Factory Settings” (another episode of which I also mentioned a few months ago — see “There (but for the Grace of God) Go I“). In this new (or at least… Continue reading A jumping off point for the truth
Routing Around Regulatory Bodies
Apparently, several centuries ago, William Shakespeare invented some new words. [1] Of course these words are less new now … some of them might even be considered rather ordinary or regular (or whatever). In contrast to Ludwig Wittgenstein’s supposition about how languages seem to limit what humans are capable of expressing, good ole Bill simply… Continue reading Routing Around Regulatory Bodies
The Contexts of Algorithms
IT’s an unsolvable problem: there is not some magical equilibrium in the middle that will make this work. IT’s about finding a balance. “There is No Algorithm for Truth – with Tom Scott” [18:00 – 18:15] (see also https://www.tomscott.com ) That quote comes from a presentation (apparently given in September 2019) — and the “IT”… Continue reading The Contexts of Algorithms
More about Modes and Levels of Literacy
I have mentioned before that it is wrong to contrast literacy with illiteracy (see e.g. “Literacy = ! { an on-off switch }“). Instead, I believe there are many modes and levels of literacy. Take, for example, language written on paper. If someone were to call a person who could read either cuneiform written on tablets… Continue reading More about Modes and Levels of Literacy
Supply, Demand, Natural Language & Free Markets — Some Preliminary Thoughts & Ideas
Many if not most — or even all? — (educated) people have probably heard of supply and demand before — and perhaps also that they are the basic building blocks of free markets. Likewise, many may be familiar with the expression “supply creates its own demand” (which is a sort of shorthand for views expressed… Continue reading Supply, Demand, Natural Language & Free Markets — Some Preliminary Thoughts & Ideas
Manufacturing Consent
Today I talked a friend of mine into watching one of Noam Chomsky’s documentary films (in this case “Requiem for an American Dream”). I have to say that Chomsky’s ideas have influenced my thinking far more than anything I ever thought would influence my thinking … and I also feel there is something unsettling about… Continue reading Manufacturing Consent