29 NOV 2013 by ideonexus

 Propagating Genes VS Memes

I have been a bit negative about memes, but they have their cheerful side as well. When we die there are two things we can leave behind us: genes and memes. We were built as gene machines, created to pass on our genes. But that aspect of us will be forgotten in three generations. Your child, even your grandchild, may bear a resemblance to you, perhaps in facial features, in a talent for music, in the colour of her hair. But as each generation passes, the contribution of your genes is halved. ...
Folksonomies: memetics memes genes legacy
Folksonomies: memetics memes genes legacy
  1  notes

Our genes will only last in recognizable form for three generations or so, being halved with each generation; our memes, however, have the potential to live far beyond our lifetimes and have greater influence.

19 APR 2013 by ideonexus

 Progress of Science in the Eighth Epoch

The march of the sciences is rapid and brilliant. The Algebraic language becomes generalized, simplified and perfected, or rather it is now only that it was truly formed. The first foundations of the general theory of equations are laid, the nature of the solutions which they give is ascertained, and those of the third and fourth degree are resolved. The ingenious invention of logarithms, as abridging the operations of arithmetic, facilitates the application of calculation to the various obj...
Folksonomies: history science
Folksonomies: history science
  1  notes

After the invention of the printing press, the sciences flourish in many fields.

18 JAN 2013 by ideonexus

 Science is Inherently Political

When speaking about science to scientists, there is one thing that can be said that will almost always raise their indignation, and that is that science is inherently political and that the practice of science is a political act. Science, they will respond, has nothing to do with politics. But is that true? Let's consider the relationship between knowledge and power. "Knowledge and power go hand in hand," said Francis Bacon, "so that the way to increase in power is to increase in knowledge....
Folksonomies: politics science knowledge
Folksonomies: politics science knowledge
  1  notes

Knowledge is power, science creates new knowledge, new knowledge challenges established orders.

06 JUN 2012 by ideonexus

 Science is a Relay Race

History of science is a relay race, my painter friend. Copernicus took over his flag from Aristarchus, from Cicero, from Plutarch; and Galileo took that flag over from Copernicus.
Folksonomies: history science
Folksonomies: history science
  1  notes

Being handed off from scientist to scientist.

16 JAN 2012 by ideonexus

 The Creator Put the Sun in the Center of the Universe

Copernicus, who rightly did condemn This eldest systeme, form'd a wiser scheme; In which he leaves the Sun at Rest, and rolls The Orb Terrestial on its proper Poles; Which makes the Night and Day by this Career, And by its slow and crooked Course the Year. The famous Dane, who oft the Modern guides, To Earth and Sun their Provinces divides: The Earth's Rotation makes the Night and Day, The Sun revolving through th'Eccliptic Way Effects the various seasons of the Year, Which in their Turn for...
Folksonomies: astronomy theology
Folksonomies: astronomy theology
  1  notes

Because this makes more sense according to Richard Blackmore... Little did he know the Sun would soon be ousted as the center.

05 JAN 2012 by ideonexus

 Roberto Bellarmino's Condemnaton of Galileo's Theory

It seems to me that your Reverence and Signor Galileo act prudently when you content yourselves with speaking hypothetically and not absolutely, as I have always understood that Copernicus spoke. To say that on the supposition of the Earth's movement and the Sun's quiescence all the celestial appearances are explained better than by the theory of eccentrics and epicycles is to speak with excellent good sense and to run no risk whatsoever. Such a manner of speaking is enough for a mathematicia...
  1  notes

The inquisitor responsible for Giordano Bruno's prosecution argues that Galileo's theory that the sun is the center of the Universe would refute scripture.

19 APR 2011 by ideonexus

 Evolution from Inner-Philsophy to Natural Philosophy

There have always been two ways of looking for truth. One is to find concepts which are beyond challenge, because they are held by faith or by authority or the conviction that they are self-evident. This is the mystic submission to truth which the East has chosen, and which dominated the axiomatic thought of the scholars of the Middle Ages. So St. Thomas Aquinas holds that faith is a higher guide to truth than knowledge is: the master of medieval science puts science firmly into second place....
  1  notes

Summary of human culture moving from introspectively-revealed knowledge of the Dark Ages to the outward-viewing philosophy of naturalism.