tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post7219343036084264868..comments2023-09-27T07:44:19.769-04:00Comments on Sabine Hossenfelder: Backreaction: The Lightcone InstituteSabine Hossenfelderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06151209308084588985noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-17092915946482281512008-11-01T20:56:00.000-04:002008-11-01T20:56:00.000-04:00Hi Bellamy,Is the paragraph that ends with a quota...Hi Bellamy,<BR/><BR/>Is the paragraph that ends with a quotation mark a quotation? If so, by whom and in what context? I can't make much sense out of it.<BR/><BR/>I think Google must have changed something about the word verification. The words are still nonsensical, but now pronounceable. Like, maybe they random sample syllables together or so. Probably easier to retype. <BR/><BR/>My sociopathy Sabine Hossenfelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06151209308084588985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-16414972949115028672008-11-01T18:30:00.000-04:002008-11-01T18:30:00.000-04:00"I fall among the 4% of sociopaths though."Really,..."I fall among the 4% of sociopaths though."<BR/><BR/>Really, dear. What kind?<BR/><BR/><BR/>The first is conviction grounded in faith and the second a statement deduced from a premise. The first excludes reason as to not to be questioned, while the second only falsifiable if the premise can be shaken. Personally I prefer the second for it holds the promise it may lead to understanding while the bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12243108422389386105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-50240722356056859492008-10-29T23:57:00.000-04:002008-10-29T23:57:00.000-04:00It will be more difficult in terms of building mod...It will be more difficult in terms of building models, I think, to partially abrogate the rational hypothesis than it would be to leave it intact and look at other ways to modify the existing models.<BR/><BR/>For example, the rational hypothesis operates in conjunction with another hypothesis that each person has a static set of preferences than can be ordered lexically. Why not, instead of Michael F. Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15279501532684851571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-28480685510490792832008-10-29T19:28:00.000-04:002008-10-29T19:28:00.000-04:00Thanks for the quote, I might reuse that elsewhere...Thanks for the quote, I might reuse that elsewhere!Sabine Hossenfelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06151209308084588985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-21288657424006130762008-10-29T17:06:00.000-04:002008-10-29T17:06:00.000-04:00I know, economics is not so much at the focus of t...I know, economics is not so much at the focus of the Lightcone Institute, but I just stumbled upon this essay <A HREF="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v455/n7217/edsumm/e081030-02.html" REL="nofollow">Economics needs a scientific revolution</A> by Jean-Philippe Bouchaud in this week's edition of Nature. A quote:<BR/><BR/><I>The supposed omniscience and perfect efficacy of a free market stemsstefanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09495628046446378453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-75849097023575338052008-10-28T07:25:00.000-04:002008-10-28T07:25:00.000-04:00Hi Michael,There is nothing that insists that the ...Hi Michael,<BR/><BR/>There is nothing that insists that the truths being cited are to be considered good for a group, yet simply reasonable as an individual’s expectation of how they should be considered within one. If you were to argue the truths themselves don’t qualify as being self evident, I would say here you may have a point. As for example if you were to compare them to something that is Phil Warnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15671311338712852659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-55459046972462607492008-10-27T16:02:00.000-04:002008-10-27T16:02:00.000-04:00"I’m a Platonist — a follower of Plato — who belie...<I>"I’m a Platonist — a follower of Plato — who believes that one didn’t invent these sorts of things, that one discovers them. In a sense, all these mathematical facts are right there waiting to be discovered."Harold Scott Macdonald (H. S. M.) Coxeter</I><BR/><BR/>JohnG:<I>I actually think the protospace for physicality and the protospace for consciousness (aka God) is the same thing... CliffordPlatoHagelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00849253658526056393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-72951237641144028072008-10-27T12:56:00.000-04:002008-10-27T12:56:00.000-04:00Phil,The question of whether a particular religiou...Phil,<BR/><BR/>The question of whether a particular religious belief leads believers to act in ways that promote the good of the group is as testable (and falsifiable) as any claim that could be made about human behavior. I'm not sure why you think otherwise.<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/><BR/>MichaelMichael F. Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15279501532684851571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-8580504271895833282008-10-27T12:46:00.000-04:002008-10-27T12:46:00.000-04:00"In as the issue is truth, to claim one that provi..."In as the issue is truth, to claim one that provides no means to be challenged to one that does as being simply an aesthetical difference for me serves only to trivialize reason rather then to elevate it."<BR/><BR/>Sounds like Peter Woit's arguement against string theory. This isn't surprising, I actually think the protospace for physicality and the protospace for consciousness (aka God) is theAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-70925901525752106112008-10-27T06:16:00.000-04:002008-10-27T06:16:00.000-04:00Hi Michael,“Thus religion becomes not antithetical...Hi Michael,<BR/><BR/>“Thus religion becomes not antithetical to reason, but subject to and harmonious with it.”<BR/><BR/>In as the issue is truth, to claim one that provides no means to be challenged to one that does as being simply an aesthetical difference for me serves only to trivialize reason rather then to elevate it. <BR/><BR/>Oh yes for the sake of clarity I’m not a scientist so the Phil Warnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15671311338712852659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-77454653018547212822008-10-26T21:56:00.000-04:002008-10-26T21:56:00.000-04:00In SF the idea that you present has a name since l...In SF the idea that you present has a name since long time ago. It is the "psicohistory" presented on the Iaac Asimov books related to the foundations.<BR/><BR/> It is my second area of interest n science beyond quantum gravity and I have been learning all the apropiate tools (as far as I see them) on the subject that I have had time to study. But I alwasy have thought of it as a hobby, not like Javierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17845977289427117418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-45553517125521454252008-10-26T20:23:00.000-04:002008-10-26T20:23:00.000-04:00Phil,Although I don't disagree with you, there are...Phil,<BR/><BR/>Although I don't disagree with you, there are other ways to interpret that edit.<BR/><BR/>For example, if one were to take a naturalistic view of religion "sacred and undeniable" could be interpreted to mean --to important to the health of the group to be abrogated for the sake of any individual interest--. Thus religion becomes not antithetical to reason, but subject to and Michael F. Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15279501532684851571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-73920312864615688512008-10-26T19:04:00.000-04:002008-10-26T19:04:00.000-04:00Hi Plato,“Thomas Jefferson…….. We hold these truth...Hi Plato,<BR/><BR/>“Thomas Jefferson…….. We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable.”<BR/><BR/>“Benjamin Franklin….. We hold these truths to be self evident."<BR/><BR/>The first is conviction grounded in faith and the second a statement deduced from a premise. The first excludes reason as to not to be questioned, while the second only falsifiable if the premise can be shaken. Personally IPhil Warnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15671311338712852659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-46206049866631801102008-10-26T17:13:00.000-04:002008-10-26T17:13:00.000-04:00The Power of Myth, by Joseph CampbellWith Bill Moy...<B>The Power of Myth</B>, by Joseph Campbell<BR/><BR/>With Bill Moyers,<BR/><BR/>Myth and the Modern World, Pg 31,<BR/><BR/>"<I><B>Campbell</B>:Yes. This is the first Nation in the world that was ever established on the basis of reason instead of simply warfare. These were eighteen-century deists, these gentlemen. Over here we read, In God We Trust." But that is not the God of the Bible. These PlatoHagelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00849253658526056393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-28057507775989256462008-10-26T16:58:00.000-04:002008-10-26T16:58:00.000-04:00ISAACSON: The virtue of tolerance, which I think i...<I>ISAACSON: The virtue of tolerance, which I think is the most important virtue we need in the 21st century. When Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration, he had a great line, "<B>We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable.</B>" And Franklin crossed out "sacred and undeniable" and put, "<B>We hold these truths to be self evident.</B>" [Franklin] said we need to be a very PlatoHagelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00849253658526056393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-73845070486073182922008-10-26T13:47:00.000-04:002008-10-26T13:47:00.000-04:00Bee, well there's still hope for you. I've persona...Bee, well there's still hope for you. I've personally voted twice for Ray-gun, four times for Bush Leaguers and there was even a SpongeBob Dole Pineapple in there somewhere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-64325292416824787242008-10-26T12:51:00.000-04:002008-10-26T12:51:00.000-04:00Hi John,I'm really sorry to disappoint you, but I'...Hi John,<BR/><BR/>I'm really sorry to disappoint you, but I'm unfortunately a very unesoteric person. I fall among the 4% of sociopaths though. Best,<BR/><BR/>B.Sabine Hossenfelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06151209308084588985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-20185888191226718282008-10-26T12:32:00.000-04:002008-10-26T12:32:00.000-04:00Bee, "esoteric" is just one example of being broad...Bee, "esoteric" is just one example of being broader (that got mentioned at Peter's blog cause Peter was talking about Hagelin). Here I added the Thomas Jefferson quote about banks and the idea of world leaders being O.J Simpson-like, nothing esoteric about that. In discussing O.J., Bill O'Reilly mentioned that four percent of the general population are sociopaths. That's one out of every 25 Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-45817962722347984172008-10-26T12:06:00.000-04:002008-10-26T12:06:00.000-04:00Hi John G,I have always found it interesting that ...Hi John G,<BR/><BR/>I have always found it interesting that the U.S. constitution was largely written by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin being persons studied in and as such inspired by social philosophy and science. I would say it stands to strengthen Bee’s contention that such elements serve well as the fundamentals in this endeavor. It further lends reason to believe that many may Phil Warnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15671311338712852659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-39763849688491426312008-10-26T10:03:00.000-04:002008-10-26T10:03:00.000-04:00Hi Christophe,The problems you raise are exactly t...Hi Christophe,<BR/><BR/>The problems you raise are exactly the kind of problems scientific research - ideally - is supposed to take care of. Of course nothing is ever ideal, and since scientists are human only they are subject to all kinds of self-delusions as everybody else. The process of scientific research has some means to address this issue, like anonymous peer review, or external advisory Sabine Hossenfelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06151209308084588985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-31156302089812020042008-10-26T09:47:00.000-04:002008-10-26T09:47:00.000-04:00Hi John,I don't think any of the topics I talked a...Hi John,<BR/><BR/>I don't think any of the topics I talked about in this post are esoteric, and I have no interest in esoteric research. Best,<BR/><BR/>B.Sabine Hossenfelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06151209308084588985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-79389458608814693762008-10-26T09:46:00.000-04:002008-10-26T09:46:00.000-04:00Hi Michael,Religion is certainly an interesting so...Hi Michael,<BR/><BR/>Religion is certainly an interesting social phenomenon that has had a major influence on the course of world history, and as such is definitely worth studying. Best,<BR/><BR/>B.Sabine Hossenfelderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06151209308084588985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-27337991604523289022008-10-26T09:33:00.000-04:002008-10-26T09:33:00.000-04:00Maybe where ever you start your Academy Bee you mi...Maybe where ever you start your Academy Bee you might have something placed over the door way much like I did.:-)<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Ematc/math5.geometry/unit6/0603.gif" REL="nofollow" TITLE="Over the doors to his academy were the words">"Let no one destitute of geometry enter my doors."</A><BR/><BR/>You have to get the full scope of Thomas Jefferson, not only in his PlatoHagelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00849253658526056393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-42255756370196230512008-10-26T04:19:00.000-04:002008-10-26T04:19:00.000-04:00Hi Bee,This Lightcone institute sounds like a grea...Hi Bee,<BR/><BR/><BR/>This Lightcone institute sounds like a great idea, but I believe that the objectives are very difficult to achieve. A lack of money and people may be only the beginning of the problems. The primary issue, I believe, is that there is no such thing as <EM>the</EM> truth. There are only individual truths based on what each one of us has heard, seen, learned, experienced, and Christophe de Dinechinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15212549796119667462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22973357.post-35596076247927155012008-10-25T23:01:00.000-04:002008-10-25T23:01:00.000-04:00Hi Bee, your post seems a little related to Peter'...Hi Bee, your post seems a little related to Peter's post on Hagelin where I posted this a couple days ago:<BR/><BR/>The idea of a place where both physics and esoteric ideas can be studied is not a bad idea though one can certainly do it incorrectly or be too one sided. Discussed in the link below are Plato’s Academy, Gurdjieff’s Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man, Maharishi Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com