19 DEC 2013 by ideonexus
Accelerating Knowledge
The rate at which man has been storing up useful knowledge about himself and the universe
has been spiraling upward for 10,000 years. The rate took a sharp upward leap with the
invention of writing, but even so it remained painfully slow over centuries of time. The next
great leap forward in knowledge—acquisition did not occur until the invention of movable
type in the fifteenth century by Gutenberg and others. Prior to 1500, by the most optimistic
estimates, Europe was producing books at a r...
1 Toffler describes and quantifies the increasing production of information in human civilization and its implications.
08 APR 2013 by ideonexus
Science Can Keep You Alive is Magic Fails
Harry thought, considered, chose his weapon. "Draco, you want to explain the whole blood purity thing to me? I'm sort of new."
A wide smile crossed Draco's face. "You really should meet Father and ask him, you know, he's our leader."
"Give me the thirty-second version."
"Okay," Draco said. He drew in a deep breath, and his voice grew slightly lower, and took on a cadence. "Our powers have grown weaker, generation by generation, as the mudblood taint increases. Where Salazar and Godric and Row... 1 
notes
notesRational Harry Potter explains to Draco the error in his thinking that muggles are thinning out the magic in the world and making it weaker.
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.... 1 notes
notesKnowledge is power, science creates new knowledge, new knowledge challenges established orders.
27 AUG 2012 by ideonexus
On the Importance of Bacon
The most singular, as well as the most excellent, of all his works, is that which is now the least read, and which is at the same time the most useful; I mean his "Novum Scientiarum Organum." This is the scaffold by means of which the edifice of the new philosophy has been reared; so that when the building was completed, the scaffold was no longer of any use. Chancellor Bacon was still unacquainted with nature, but he perfectly knew, and pointed out extraordinarily well, all the paths which...Folksonomies: discovery natural philosophy
Folksonomies: discovery natural philosophy
1 notes
notesBarbarism discovered many useful inventions by accident, but Francis Bacon discovered natural philosophy according to Voltaire.
05 JUN 2012 by ideonexus
Science Goals VS Society Goals
To this day, we see all around us the Promethean drive to omnipotence through technology and to omniscience through science. The effecting of all things possible and the knowledge of all causes are the respective primary imperatives of technology and of science. But the motivating imperative of society continues to be the very different one of its physical and spiritual survival. It is now far less obvious than it was in Francis Bacon's world how to bring the three imperatives into harmony, a... 1 notes
notesScience seeks omniscience, while society seeks survival and spiritualism.
13 DEC 2011 by ideonexus
Francis Bacon on Approaching Books
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; other to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books; else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things. Reading maketh a fu... 1 notes
notesThe different relationships we have with different kinds of books. A very eloquent passage.
13 DEC 2011 by ideonexus
Francis Bacon on Mathematics
In the mathematics I can report no deficience, except it be that men do not sufficiently understand this excellent use of the pure mathematics, in that they do remedy and cure many defects in the wit and faculties intellectual. For if the wit be too dull, they sharpen it; if too wandering, they fix it; if too inherent in the sense, they abstract it. So that as tennis is a game of no use in itself, but of great use in respect it maketh a quick eye and a body ready to put itself into all postur...Folksonomies: mathematics
Folksonomies: mathematics
1 notes
notesHe likens it to tennis, not useful in itself, but teaches skills useful elsewhere in life.
25 JUL 2011 by ideonexus
Fear of Science Toppling God
Lastly, you will find that by the simpleness of certain divines, access to any philosophy, however pure, is well-nigh closed. Some are weakly afraid lest a deeper search into nature should transgress the permitted limits of sober-mindedness, wrongfully wresting and transferring what is said in Holy Writ against those who pry into sacred mysteries, to the hidden things of nature, which are barred by no prohibition. Others with more subtlety surmise and reflect that if second causes are unknown... 1 notes
notesPeople fear scientific inquiry because they fear negating the scriptures with their discoveries. A very prescient observation by Francis Bacon.
25 JUL 2011 by ideonexus
Francis Bacon Takes Issue With Postmodernism
The doctrine of those who have denied that certainty could be attained at all has some agreement with my way of proceeding at the first setting out; but they end in being infinitely separated and opposed. For the holders of that doctrine assert simply that nothing can be known. I also assert that not much can be known in nature by the way which is now in use. But then they go on to destroy the authority of the senses and understanding; whereas I proceed to devise and supply helps for the same. 1 notes
notesBacon attacks postmodernism and the idea that we cannot know anything through the senses, even though postmodernism didn't exist yet.
30 MAY 2011 by ideonexus
Francis Bacon's Only Flaw Was that He Was Not Revolutionary
We do not know what we should admire the most, his rich intuitive views on all subjects or the dignified tone of his style. His writings can be compared only with those of Hippocrates on medicine; and they would be neither less admired nor less read if the cultivation of the mind were as dear to the human race as the conservation of health. But only the writings of leading sectarians can achieve a certain vogue; Bacon was not one of them, and his philosophic method was opposed to this: it was... 1 notes
notesHe was too dignified, his philosophy to straightforward to make waves in culture, but his simple idea to look at nature for what it is was a revolutionary idea.
