First Blog

 More specifically, why are sciences (physics, chemistry, engineering, et al) so well-trusted while other subjects (sociology, economics, politics) tend to be less trusted?   What is asked would require a book chapter or even an entire book. What I’ll give is an answer furnished by the philosophers, but rarely applies to philosophy itself. It is the notion of Justified True Belief ,* or JTB. This means you can justify your assertion (i.e. prove it based on accepted knowledge and logic), you establish it is true (thus not refutable), and you believe it. This is not quite how it is discussed in philosophy discussions. In most, one begins with the belief, then proves it’s true by some justification, which has a broad interpretation. What we have presented is how JTB works in the classroom. There we are presented with the truth (e.g. proposition), followed by its justification (e.g. proof, experiment), and finally, the student believes it. In scientific research, the process often begins

Currently, professional writers and actor guilds are on strike against the Hollywood studios. Among the many issues are those concerning Artificial Intelligence (AI). The writers argue that the Studios should not be permitted to use AI to write or revise scripts. AI can do it in minutes, or less. This pushes writers out of employment. Their creative force is diminished. So, it becomes a contest as to who will use AI, the writers before the fact or the Studios replacing the writers. This is not the chicken and egg paradox. It is which chicken gets to eat the egg.   Another AI problem is that it can now use images of actors in animated/realistic presentations. Another John Wayne movie? Bogie, maybe. The actors want to prevent this, as well they should. On the other hand, AI   could write a new Mozart concerto or a Beethoven symphony. That could be welcome. Let’s see how that works. Of course, many other issues are on the table in this strike.

 I love Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, stuffing, cranberries and all. I love stuffing. But only on holidays? And so much work? And so many dishes? So, we reinvent the wheel, Thanksgiving style, with this recipe.  Thanksgiving Dinner in 20 Minutes 1 box stove top stuffing or any kind. 1 corn on the cob. Slice off the cob. Fresh corn is best. 1 or 2 chicken breasts - cooked and cubed. Or a turkey breast, cooked and cubed. Boil corn for a few minutes and set aside. :Prepare stuffing by directions on the box. Combine all three into a bowl and season to taste.  Alternatively place in a casserole and bake for 10-15 minutes.  (Add in a  cooked and  cubed potato or two - additionally.) Sides include gravy and cranberries, and anything else you want. Total time: < 25 minutes. Makes a lot of food. Inexpensive.

 In this chapter, we take up the character of the problem-solver. Their task is not a simple one. First, we look at 11 traits of the problem-solver, from being analytic to decisive, from being resilient to open-minded, and so on. (Section 2.)  Yet, the story is not as simple as that. There are pitfalls and risks owing to bias and other forms of subjectivity. (Section 4.) Remarkably, some of these are new on the scene in both psychology and philosophy. Even the way the problem is presented can affect the outcome and solution. In between we take up the paradox of incompetence – a massive problem we live with day after day, year after year. Introduction Characteristics of the Problem-Solver The Problem-Solving Paradox What Can Go Wrong? Conclusions. Link. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/g-donald-allen-420b0315_characteristics-and-pitfalls-of-the-problem-solver-activity-7081938526518317056-QzGm?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

 Super Power and Super Forces + Violence Did you know that 99% of all top-grossing American movies use special effects of some kind.  About 14% of all American movies feature super heroes. An extra 5% of American movies feature super powers of some sort. Thus 19% (or 1 in 5) of all American movies exhibit super-something as one of their key components.  About 94% of the top-grossing movies in the United States from 1985 to 2014 featured at least one violent scene. Of those movies, half involved a gun. Just for the record 73% of the top 100 grossing movies in 2017 contained at least one instance of foul language. Of them 43% used the F* word. Other percentages?  sh*t (33%), a**hole (26%), and damn (25%).

Does ChatGPT Have Imagination? We all have imagination, but precisely what it is depends on the definition. Here are a few ideas about the concept in the large scope. Logic, faith, belief, emotion, or any specific basis of thought are optional. Examples include: ·        Intuition – based on knowledge ·        Inspiration – based on knowledge but more spontaneous ·        Innovation – based on knowledge but guided by thought ·        Dream states and daydreaming – seemingly random ·        Thought experiments – highly controlled imagining More basically, imagination is simply associating ideas and concepts together. It doesn’t have to make sense, like a dream or idea. Imagination can be about ideas, objects, situations, or events. Imagination often occurs spontaneously, seemingly random, sometimes about what you’re doing or thinking at the time. Taking this as a definition, we can certainly program imagination. Simply write a program to randomly consider two or more conce

  Dream States. We now  delve into the great known unknown, the mind’s secret weapon, the dream.  Therein lies a power most certainly unknown, and scarcely studied. Let’s begin at the movies. What happens when you watch an intense movie late at night?  Your mind is absorbed in the pictures, dialogue, and sounds of the film.  Your mind still dwells on these, computing, digesting, and ruminating on all of these even into sleep. In your dreams, your subconscious mind recalls all these thoughts but convolutes them as only dreams can. Maybe you wake up with yourself a part of the distortion. Maybe, you make it through the night of restless sleep but you wake troubled. Dreams fade quickly, happily.  Has this happened to you?  To me, many times. As a pre-teen, my dad took me to the movie,  The Man with the Atom Brain .  The imagery and plot of that movie stayed with me for years. I know this was a childhood fantasy, scientifically unrealizable even now, but a remake of the movie titled, The

  Solution Methods of Last Resort G Donald Allen 1. Introduction . You and the team can't solve the complex problem. All the engineers, all the accountants, and all the plant managers can agree on nothing definite. Every tentative solution you’ve offered has been rejected by the higher-ups as flawed. Call this a Humpty Dumpty problem [1] .   When up against impossibility or at least complexity, the problem-solver looks for any clue to help. Just a trace of inspiration may do. When you’re trying to move a mountain, only a morsel of information can help. What is singularly important here is that these notes are not confined to normal propositional logic for consideration or resolution. They work with any problem-solving tool you may prefer, from beliefs to faith to emotions, to all. To this point, we’ve already discussed dozens of solution methods. In this chapter, we add on the final bunch, dominated by dream states and thought experiments. 2. The Usual Suspects. You

 How would WWIII - Information War - be fought? Do you notice similarities with current conditions? Cyberwarfare: This would involve attacks on computer networks and systems, with the goal of disrupting or destroying critical infrastructure, such as power grids, transportation systems, and financial networks. Economic warfare: This would involve using economic sanctions, trade embargoes, and other measures to weaken an adversary's economy. Propaganda: This would involve spreading disinformation and propaganda to sow discord and undermine public trust in an adversary's government and institutions. Psychological warfare: This would involve using psychological techniques, such as fear and intimidation, to demoralize and weaken an adversary's population. What are the consequences?  Massive disruption of critical infrastructure: A successful cyberattack could lead to widespread blackouts, transportation disruptions, and financial chaos. Economic collapse: Economic sanctions and

Impossible is a vague word. Yet, we use it all the time.  It has several meanings, and it’s best to be aware of which you are using next time you evoke the word. ·         Impossible currently? – As in a disease uncurable today but maybe not next year. Rabies, polio, tuberculosis, and measles, once impossible are now cured. ·         Impossible logically? - As in some kind of paradox that has no resolution. The barber paradox is just one example. ·         Impossible problem? – As in some problems unsolvable and no hint to solve. Many in mathematics and physics are so numerous, it would take a book to explain them. ·         Impossible situation? – As in a real-life situation that cannot occur. How about the flying elephant, unicorn, and all manner of Utopias? ·         Impossible project? – As in a wicked problem that may have multiple solutions. Just try to build a beltway around a large city and you’ll see a zillion problems with no clear starting point and multiple solutions. ·    

 What is the main reason to take a vacation? To leave your problems behind. To simply relax from the cursed conflicts back home. To seek internal peace of mind - like for a whole day or two.  If the vacation becomes a problem, it's not a vacation. If you take your problems on vacation, it's not a vacation. If you only see problems on vacation, it's not a vacation.  If family issues become problems on vacation, it's not a vacation.

The Eight Stages of Understanding . Problem-solving is a broad category of intellectual activities. It requires knowledge of multiple sorts as outlined below. It is part of the pyramid of understanding, but a seriously important part. However, most of us can have successful careers having only problem-solving skills. Higher-order understanding is more significant in the world of theories and ideas, the meaning of solutions, and how they fit into the intellectual scheme. The list below is reminiscent of Bloom’s Taxonomy, but refined for our purposes. One of our tools for problem-solving, used by all, is at the very base. One can’t know everything, and we’re never protected from it. Thus ignorance, and how we deal with it, is in everyone’s world. ·         Ignorance:  lacking knowledge or awareness. ·         Awareness: awareness that there is something unknown or not understood. ·         Knowledge: acquisition of factual information and concepts related to the subject. ·         Compre