27 JUL 2018 by ideonexus
We Need Play to Learn the Rules of the Game for the Civil...
The Real Significance of Play.—This scheme is, doubtless, imperfect, as critics of Groos’s book have taken occasion to point out, but the idea which underlies it all is a most suggestive and illuminating one, when rightly understood. In his latest work on the play of man, which has recently appeared, Groos makes clear this point (253, p. 492), when he observes: ‘I presuppose everywhere the existence of innate impulses (Triebe), and assume that these have only led to play-exercise (Spiel... 1 
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notes25 MAY 2015 by ideonexus
Ian Bogost: "Science"
The rhetoric of science has consequences. Things that have no particular relation to scientific practice must increasingly frame their work in scientific terms to earn any attention or support. The sociology of Internet use suddenly transformed into “web science.” Long accepted practices of statistical analysis have become “data science.” Thanks to shifting educational and research funding priorities, anything that can’t claim that it is a member of a STEM (science, technology, engi... 1 notes
notes22 FEB 2015 by ideonexus
What is Transhumanism
Transhumanism is a term used synonymously to
mean “human enhancement.” It is an international
cultural and intellectual movement that endorses
the use of science and technology to enhance the
human condition, both mentally and physically.
In support of this, transhumanism also embraces
using emerging technologies to eliminate the
undesirable elements of the human condition
such as aging, disabilities, diseases, and involuntary
death. Many transhumanists believe these
technologies will be ...Folksonomies: transhumanism
Folksonomies: transhumanism
1 20 DEC 2014 by ideonexus
Kindness and Generosity Make for Long Lasting Relationships
Throughout the day, partners would make requests for connection, what Gottman calls “bids.” For example, say that the husband is a bird enthusiast and notices a goldfinch fly across the yard. He might say to his wife, “Look at that beautiful bird outside!” He’s not just commenting on the bird here: he’s requesting a response from his wife — a sign of interest or support — hoping they’ll connect, however momentarily, over the bird.
The wife now has a choice. She can respond ...Folksonomies: mindfulness relationships
Folksonomies: mindfulness relationships
1 notes
notes12 AUG 2014 by ideonexus
Autodidact
At a young age, Gates was already an autodidact, someone compelled to learn for himself what he needed to know. Over the course of his life, Gates has maintained this habit: He dropped out of college after two years, but he has continued his education through incessant reading and conversing. Michael Specter, a New Yorker writer who profiled Gates for the magazine, has said that the Microsoft founder “is one of these autodidacts who reads, reads, reads. He reads hundreds of books about immu... 1 notes
notes24 DEC 2013 by ideonexus
We All Experiment
Experimentation is something done by everyone all the time. Babies experiment with what might be good to put in their mouths. Toddlers experiment with various behaviors to see what they can get away with. Teenagers experiment with sex, drugs, and rock and roll. But because people don’t really see these things as experiments or as ways of collecting evidence in support or refutation of hypotheses, they don’t learn to think about experimentation as something they do constantly and thus need...Roger Schank describes a world where we are all collecting evidence to test various hypotheses.
18 JAN 2013 by ideonexus
Scientists Need Open Free Societies
. Historically, the brightest minds have migrated to open societies. and once there have made discoveries and created works that enriched and advanced those societies. A classic example is the intellectual flight from fascist Europe in the years leading up to World War 11. Persecution, particularly of Jews and homosexuals, spurred emigration that turned America into an intellectual mecca. America offered scientists and artists freedom, tolerance, egalitarianism, opportunity, and support for t...Historically, they have migrated to such societies and generated improvements in the quality of life.
28 MAR 2012 by ideonexus
Parenting Means Having Explanations at "A Moment's Notice"
There are many outstanding resources for adults wishing to consider the arguments in support of and in opposition to religious belief itself. And that’s important work: Intellectual and ethical maturity can be measured in part by a person’s willingness to engage in constant reflection on what he or she holds to be true and good. Parents in particular must be able to articulate the foundations of their own values and beliefs at a moment’s notice—and what better describes the appearance... 1 notes
notesSo it's important for parents to have a strong philosophical ground and have spent time reflecting on issues.
28 SEP 2011 by ideonexus
Adam Smith Defends Taxes
The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities; that is, in proportion to the revenue which they respectively enjoy under the protection of the state. The expense of government to the individuals of a great nation, is like the expense of management to the joint tenants of a great estate, who are all obliged to contribute in proportion to their respective interests in the estate.
1 Which should be proportional to a person's monetary interest in the country. The more of America you own, the more you have for the government to protect.
29 MAY 2011 by ideonexus
Eccentric English Spelling is the Result of Dictionaries
The eccentric spelling of the English language is preserved because of a pervasive meme that there are right and wrong ways to spell words. This meme has all kinds of support, including dictionaries, computer spell-checkers, and children's spelling bees. But before the Use a dictionary strategy-meme became prevalent during the 18th and 19th centuries, people spelled words any way they wanted. It's not True that there's one and only one correct way to spell a word-it's just a meme. As Mark Twa...Spelling could evolve naturally before we started referencing dictionaries for a correct way of spelling words that don't sound like how they are spelled anymore.
