02 JAN 2014 by ideonexus

 Democracy in Socialism

The people's democratic dictatorship uses two methods. Towards the enemy, it uses the method of dictatorship, that is, for as long a period of time as is necessary it does not let them take part in political activities and compels them to obey the law of the People's Government and to engage in labour and, through labour, transform themselves into new men. Towards the people, on the contrary, it uses the method not of compulsion but of democracy, that is, it must necessarily let them take par...
  1  notes

An important point to remember that one is a form of governance and the other is an economic model; therefore, the two are not in opposition.

16 AUG 2012 by ideonexus

 Benjamin Franklin on Future of Science

The rapid progress true science now makes occasions my regretting sometimes that I was born so soon. It is impossible to imagine the Height to which may be carried, in a thousand years, the Power of Man over Matter...Agriculture may diminish its Labour and double its Produce; all Diseases may, by sure means, be prevented or cured, not even excepting that of Old Age, and our Lives lengthened at pleasure even beyond the antediluvian Standard. O that moral Science were in as fair a way of Improv...
Folksonomies: prescience optimism
Folksonomies: prescience optimism
  2  notes

An optimistic vision of the future of man and a lament that he won't be able to see it.

17 MAY 2012 by ideonexus

 Benjamin Franklin's Forsight

I always rejoice to hear of your being still employed in experimental researches into nature, and of the success you meet with. The rapid progress true science now makes, occasions my regretting sometimes that I was born so soon: it is impossible to imagine the height to which may be carried, in a thousand years, the power of man over matter; we may perhaps learn to deprive large masses of their gravity, and give them absolute levity for the sake of easy transport. Agriculture may diminish it...
  1  notes

He sees the future of science and the possibilities, but laments that it will not change the morals of man.

28 JAN 2012 by ideonexus

 Space Extends Everywhere

That the machine of Heaven is not a hard and impervious body full of various real spheres, as up to now has been believed by most people. It will be proved that it extends everywhere, most fluid and simple, and nowhere presents obstacles as was formerly held, the circuits of the Planets being wholly free and without the labour and whirling round of any real spheres at all, being divinely governed under a given law.
Folksonomies: astronomy iconoclasm
Folksonomies: astronomy iconoclasm
  1  notes

An assertion from Tycho Brahe that captures the change of perspective of his time on the night skies.

04 JAN 2012 by ideonexus

 Keynes Predicts Unemployment from Automation

We are being afflicted with a new disease of which some readers may not yet have heard the name, but of which they will hear a great deal in the years to come—namely, technological unemployment. This means unemployment due to our discovery of means of economising the use of labour outrunning the pace at which we can find new uses for labour.
Folksonomies: employment automation
Folksonomies: employment automation
  1  notes

He predicts technological progress will outrun the pace for which we can find new uses for labor in 1930.