inquiry_from_an_anti_library's reviews
522 reviews
I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life, by Ed Yong
The associations about microbes have changed. Microbes were thought to be a dangerous threat to be removed. Microbes make their presence felt with traumatic human experiences such as ravaging diseases. As more research was done, microbes were found to produce many wanted and beneficial effects. Microbes have become seen as a much needed ally. Many health and ecological problems, are associated with bad microbiomes.
The symbiosis of human and microbes can be managed, but like any symbiosis, there is always an inherent conflict. The symbiosis is a complex partnership. Microbes educate the immune system, or threaten the host when the immune system is compromised. Microbes can be very beneficial within a context and location, but the same microbes can be harmful in other locations. Different host activities and environmental factors develop different microbiomes. Every human has a different microbiome. Rather than there being a core microbiome that a species share, microbe similarities appear in their function. Different microbes can perform the same tasks.
Microbes break down material elements to be used by the flora and fauna. They can decompose the organic bodies which provides nutrition for the soil. Bacteria can even break down pollutants, harmful chemical. Microbes can protect the human from harmful microbes. Some facilitate food digestion, allowing humans to obtain otherwise inaccessible and needed nutrients. They effect human smell. Develop the human body.
Microbes are very genetically diverse. Microbes can exchange DNA with each other with ease. Microbe evolution appears to be quick to the host, but is still a slow and gradual process of change.
The perspective that the presence of microbes is a sign of contaminants is a problematic stereotype, because there are relatively few microbes that cause problems for humans. There are many more that are just passengers, or are integral to the human processes. Many human processes have been delegated to microbes.
Human immune system is not just composed of cells, but also microbes. As microbes allow the immune system to react to threats without overreacting. The immune system is more about managing the relationships between microbes, rather than just defense and destruction.
Microbes are a factor in determining weight. Antibiotics in animals has tended to make the animals heavier, with the antibiotics claimed to be growth promoters. Antibiotics disrupts microbiomes. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics has caused the bacteria to evolve to resist the antibiotics. Making antibiotics obsolete. Antibiotics need to be used judiciously with understanding of the risks and benefits. Probiotics are an antithesis to antibiotics, for probiotics deliberately attempt to add microbiomes rather than remove them.
There are consequences to a world without microbes. For that removes the microbes that are also very beneficial. Microbes matter, but so does their hosts behavior. It is an ecosystem, where all parts influence to each other. Humans can manage the partnerships with microbes. To manipulate the partnerships intentionally.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Is This An Overview?
Human individuals are never alone. Each contains a multitude of microbes. Humans live together with the microbes, in symbiosis. Microbes follow humans throughout life. Sharing food. Upon death, microbes consume humans. Microbes are part of the ecosystem, influencing much of life. Many functions in ecology, and even in the human body, have been delegated to microbes.
The associations about microbes have changed. Microbes were thought to be a dangerous threat to be removed. Microbes make their presence felt with traumatic human experiences such as ravaging diseases. As more research was done, microbes were found to produce many wanted and beneficial effects. Microbes have become seen as a much needed ally. Many health and ecological problems, are associated with bad microbiomes.
The symbiosis of human and microbes can be managed, but like any symbiosis, there is always an inherent conflict. The symbiosis is a complex partnership. Microbes educate the immune system, or threaten the host when the immune system is compromised. Microbes can be very beneficial within a context and location, but the same microbes can be harmful in other locations. Different host activities and environmental factors develop different microbiomes. Every human has a different microbiome. Rather than there being a core microbiome that a species share, microbe similarities appear in their function. Different microbes can perform the same tasks.
What Are Microbes And What Do They Do?
Most microbes are bacteria. Other microbes include fungi, archaea, and viruses. Bacteria can photosynthesis, and produce oxygen. Some microbes can survive even without oxygen, which is claimed to be an essential gas.
Microbes break down material elements to be used by the flora and fauna. They can decompose the organic bodies which provides nutrition for the soil. Bacteria can even break down pollutants, harmful chemical. Microbes can protect the human from harmful microbes. Some facilitate food digestion, allowing humans to obtain otherwise inaccessible and needed nutrients. They effect human smell. Develop the human body.
Microbes are very genetically diverse. Microbes can exchange DNA with each other with ease. Microbe evolution appears to be quick to the host, but is still a slow and gradual process of change.
How To Have A Relationship With Microbes?
Microbes were discovered by Antony van Leeuwenhoek during the 17th century, using handmade lenses to observe a drop of water. After bacterium were proved to cause anthrax, they were perceived to be avatars of death. Various other deadly diseases had after that been seen as caused by microbes. It was not until the late 19th century in which microbes were seen as anything but deadly sources. Martius Beijerinck studies their impact on the soil and atmosphere.
The perspective that the presence of microbes is a sign of contaminants is a problematic stereotype, because there are relatively few microbes that cause problems for humans. There are many more that are just passengers, or are integral to the human processes. Many human processes have been delegated to microbes.
Human immune system is not just composed of cells, but also microbes. As microbes allow the immune system to react to threats without overreacting. The immune system is more about managing the relationships between microbes, rather than just defense and destruction.
Microbes are a factor in determining weight. Antibiotics in animals has tended to make the animals heavier, with the antibiotics claimed to be growth promoters. Antibiotics disrupts microbiomes. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics has caused the bacteria to evolve to resist the antibiotics. Making antibiotics obsolete. Antibiotics need to be used judiciously with understanding of the risks and benefits. Probiotics are an antithesis to antibiotics, for probiotics deliberately attempt to add microbiomes rather than remove them.
There are consequences to a world without microbes. For that removes the microbes that are also very beneficial. Microbes matter, but so does their hosts behavior. It is an ecosystem, where all parts influence to each other. Humans can manage the partnerships with microbes. To manipulate the partnerships intentionally.
Caveats?
There is an inherent complexity to how microbes influence life. Research on microbes is ongoing, with many associations acknowledged to not be consistent. Microbes are part of a dynamic system, in which there are other influencing factors.
Silencing the Past (20th Anniversary Edition): Power and the Production of History, by Michel-Rolph Trouillot
Power shapes the narrative. An integral part and cannot be removed from the narrative. How history happened cannot be separated from who wields power. Power to include or exclude information. Power to share information, or to silence information. What is referenced and the silences of what is not, are determined within the production of history. From the creation of the sources, to the assembly of the information, to the retrieval of information in the process of making a narrative, to finding the retrospective significance. Silences are inherent in the historical record. For some events and experiences leave behind sources, while others do not. Even within sources, the narrator chooses which to use and exclude. The process of historical production is shown using the Haitian Revolution, slavery, and Cristopher Columbus.
There is more to the production of history than the dichotomy between positivism and constructivism. The author rejects claims about people being prisoners of the past, and rejects claims about purely socially constricted history.
Historical narrative needs to take account of the distinction and overlap between process and narrative. To embrace the ambiguity. The production of history occurs within context.
Facts always have meaning, for they only become facts because they mattered, no matter how minimally. Facts are not created equal. Facts are interdependent with other facts. Each fact has meaning in relation to other facts. Facts compete with other facts for room, earning the right to exist among other facts. Some facts will be requalified with new facts. New knowledge must acknowledge and contradict previous understandings.
Silences are born contemporaneously with the found traces. While some events are noted immediately, other are not. Some facts leave behind a physical or psychological impact, other do not. Unequal experiences by the agents of history, leads to uneven historical power to inscribe their traces. Sources build on these traces, which privilege some over others. Sources choose what to include and exclude. Sources imply choices. Some facts make it to history, from others there is only silence. Silences are inherent in history, for historic facts always have missing parts. Some parts are recorded, while others are left out.
Assembling archives is not a passive act. They prepare facts for historical intelligibility. They set the rules for credibility and interdependence. Provide the choices of which stories have relevance, which stories have significance. Classifications and terminologies matter. Depending on the lexicon used, determines the categories an event goes into.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Overview:
There is power in the production of history. History is produced by competing groups and individuals. Competitors with uneven contribution. Competitors who do not have equal access to the production of history. While some competitors leave many traces to be left to be used as sources, others are silent for their lack of traces left behind. A seeming consensus hides a history of conflict. A conflict between past and present narrators. Humans are both agents in history, and history’s narrators. History incorporates what happened and the process about what happened.
Power shapes the narrative. An integral part and cannot be removed from the narrative. How history happened cannot be separated from who wields power. Power to include or exclude information. Power to share information, or to silence information. What is referenced and the silences of what is not, are determined within the production of history. From the creation of the sources, to the assembly of the information, to the retrieval of information in the process of making a narrative, to finding the retrospective significance. Silences are inherent in the historical record. For some events and experiences leave behind sources, while others do not. Even within sources, the narrator chooses which to use and exclude. The process of historical production is shown using the Haitian Revolution, slavery, and Cristopher Columbus.
Positivist or Constructivist?
There are two major schools of thought on history which are the positivist, and constructivists. Those who are influenced by positivism, believe in the separation between historic facts and how those facts are narrated. Those who are influenced by constructivism, do not separate facts and the narration. Constructivist see a historical narrative as a fiction among others. Constructivists do not consider the sociohistorical process.
There is more to the production of history than the dichotomy between positivism and constructivism. The author rejects claims about people being prisoners of the past, and rejects claims about purely socially constricted history.
Historical narrative needs to take account of the distinction and overlap between process and narrative. To embrace the ambiguity. The production of history occurs within context.
How Is Historical Fact Made?
There is a difference between a fake and a fiction. Fabricating sources and evidence produces a fake, as they violate the claims to historical truth. Rules of history that is different in time and place. History is not just fiction, for history leaves behind material evidence that limit the range of narratives, while also setting the boundaries for future historical narratives.
Facts always have meaning, for they only become facts because they mattered, no matter how minimally. Facts are not created equal. Facts are interdependent with other facts. Each fact has meaning in relation to other facts. Facts compete with other facts for room, earning the right to exist among other facts. Some facts will be requalified with new facts. New knowledge must acknowledge and contradict previous understandings.
Silences are born contemporaneously with the found traces. While some events are noted immediately, other are not. Some facts leave behind a physical or psychological impact, other do not. Unequal experiences by the agents of history, leads to uneven historical power to inscribe their traces. Sources build on these traces, which privilege some over others. Sources choose what to include and exclude. Sources imply choices. Some facts make it to history, from others there is only silence. Silences are inherent in history, for historic facts always have missing parts. Some parts are recorded, while others are left out.
Assembling archives is not a passive act. They prepare facts for historical intelligibility. They set the rules for credibility and interdependence. Provide the choices of which stories have relevance, which stories have significance. Classifications and terminologies matter. Depending on the lexicon used, determines the categories an event goes into.
The Unthinkable:
There are events that are unthinkable. Events for which alternatives cannot be conceived. Unthinkable events that defy how the questions are phrased. When the unthinkable events do happen, the event is recast to fit a reality of possibilities.
Caveats?
The examples used showcase the production of history are limited. They were not meant to and do not provide a comprehensive understanding of the events.
The Open Society and Its Enemies, by Karl Popper
Closed societies have people determine what to do, without allowing for criticism. Totalitarian regimes consider any criticism as hostile, as they are a challenge to the authority. This process leads to surprise and contradictions. Wanting to be correct, and therefore ignore contradictory evidence is not limited to totalitarian decision makers. Without criticism, the decision makers can get more influence, even when they are against freedom and reason. Reluctance to criticize bad ideas leads to the destruction of good ideas. Humanitarian claims can be made by their deadliest enemies, as totalitarian regimes often get favored for their humanitarian claims. Under the guise of humanitarian allies, they generate disunion and confusion.
Alternatively, the open society prevents people from hiding their contradictions. Those who desire an open society want to reject absolute authority, and reject the values that are hurting human kind. The open society wants rational criticism. To find values, whether new or old, that raise the standards of freedom. The open society declares an unwillingness to delegate all responsibility for thinking to others in authority.
Popper supported piecemeal social engineering, and was opposed to large scale social engineering. Plato thought large scale social engineering was needed. Utopian engineering tends to try to be large scale, effecting the whole society. Grand scale social engineering is too complicated to be managed practically. Alternatively, piecemeal engineering is much simpler. Small scale engineering can experiment with appropriate ways. To make adjusts to policy designs. To bring in science to politics, and to learn from mistakes. Wrong ways, will not damage everyone. The potential damage will be localized. Small scale engineering is also politically viable for they are less risky, and therefore also more practical.
Normative laws are those that reflect human social structure. Normative laws are legislature, and needs to be enforced by people. Legislature that can be altered. Legislature that provides direction for behavior. Their enforcement subject to human actions and decisions, requiring human sanction. Some decisions are impossible as they contradict natural laws.
Popper did not believe in a separation been ideas and theories. Every observation contains preconceptions. Theories define which facts are selected. History, is no different than science in the selection of facts. There is always a point of view. This does not legitimate purposely falsifying anything. But, that it is difficult to decide on the truth or false value of ideas.
Heraclitus also elevated certain people who had reason that came from a mystical intuitive understanding. That mystical intuition gives those people power, to be able to understand the more appropriate way of behavior.
For Plato, everything that preserves is good, while anything that corrupts is evil. Change leads away from the perfect originator. Copies are rarely perfect replicas. Copies have errors, which are a corruption of the perfect. This is part of the law of increasing decay and corruption, for copies of copies will have even more errors. Although, Plato thinks that change and decay can be defied by someone of a good soul.
The historical tendency towards corruption could be prevented by preventing change. By arresting all political change. Without change, there is no degeneration. Without change, there would be no evil. Central to Plato’s philosophy is are the Forms (or Idea). Perfect and unchanging things. The Platonic Form is the origin of things. Sustainable virtues.
Plato was looking for knowledge that would not change. Knowledge used to understand the changing world and society. To understand the political changes, and the historical laws. To understand how to rule humans. Without some knowledge that would not change, it would make comparisons between the same ideas. Essences that can be discovered with intellectual intuition. Essences are the proper name to related things, a definition.
Plato provided a philosophic defense for those who claim to have an unchallengeable insight into the operations of reality. Plato created a hierarchy of people, with the few enlightened and the rest thoughtless.
Plato favored communally shared resources, and people. Communism directed by a ruling class. For the ruling class to be effective, the family structure must be disassembled. The family must cover the whole warrior class. Communism that is meant to prevent disunion. There are more conditions for the stability of the ruling class. Conditions such as division of the classes, identity of state with the ruling class. The ruling class is meant to be educated and make decisions based on collective interests of the members. Popper identifies additional conditions based on the same logic. Conditions such as a monopoly of military training, while exclusion from economic activity. The aim of the state is autarky. The ideas that the ruling class views have to be the same. Alternatives to economics or ideas would undermine stability. Popper considers this program totalitarian.
Plato recognized that even the best people, still depend on others and cannot be self-sufficient. Society and the individual depend on each other for their existence. Individual lack of self-sufficiency gives rise to the society. Gives rise to the state. Perfection depends on the state. It is the state the protects the perfection of the people. The state provides the social conditions for the perfection of the people. The state takes priority over people, for it is the state that can be self-sufficient.
Contemporary views on what humanitarian means is equal rights for citizens, an impartial justice system, and equal opportunities. Traditional Greek ideas about justice appear close to contemporary usage, but Plato was opposed to this usage. For Plato justice would be what is best for the state. Which would involve arresting change, and maintaining class division and class rule. Plato seems to have wanted those within a class to be treated as equals, but not those across classes. Different classes would get different treatment. Also, Plato disapproved of democracy because it provided equality to everyone.
Those who agree with Plato, still claim that rulers are not always good or wise. Popper would advise to prepare for bad governance and leaders, rather than expect the best. Which does raise the concern of whom should rule, and how can bad leaders be preventing from damaging decisions. Plato wanted rulers to be educated, to be philosophers, to be wise. For succession, a wise ruler would know who the successor should be. This would mean dependency on uncertain situations that risks threatening the state due to personal decisions.
Marx either forbidden or denounced social technology. Marx denounced rational planning as Utopian and illegitimate. This made the successors even less unprepared than the bourgeois economists. Russian successors were unprepared for social engineering. Even Lenin acknowledged not to know how to deal with the various problems, as the economics problems were not practically described in their texts. Lenin’s failure with war-communism, caused Lenin to reintroduced limited and temporary private enterprise. The New Economic Policy was not part of Marx and Engels policy took kit.
Marx’s economic research is subservient to historical prophecy. To Marx, each system contains its own self-destructive forces that will produce the next economic system.
For Marx, history is class struggle. Although there have been historical conflicts between the classes, there have been many conflicts within classes. Conflicts arising from ruling and ruled class is a dangerous simplification. Issues between rich and poor are important, but not all conflicts are between exploiter and exploited. Marxism is usually interpreted as all conflicts are between the exploiter and exploited. Any aggression can be legitimated through the framework of conflicts between those who have and those who do not have.
Mark saw democracy as a kind of class dictatorship. Under capitalism, the state is a dictatorship of the bourgeoisie. Under socialism, the state is a dictatorship of the proletariat. As the proletariat state loses function, and becomes a classless society, there will be no class-dictatorship, in which case the state disappears.
Unlimited freedom defeats itself, for that would accept violence as a legitimate way to distribute resources. The state limits freedom to some extent, to protect everyone’s freedom. None to be at the mercy of others, but also to be protected by the state. But physical intimidation is not the only means to coerce others, as there are economic means as well. Unlimited economic freedom would mean freely accepted servitude to those who have surplus food. The state can create social institutions to prevent inequitable arrangements under duress of economic ruin. For freedom to be guarded, non-intervention cannot be a policy. Which replaced economic freedom with planned economic intervention by the state. This is what happens under Marx, for the economic system ceases to exist.
Marxist organizations have been persuasive on humanitarian grounds, but in their efforts, have been very anti-democratic, and anti-humanitarian. They claim to stand for freedom and against oppression. Marxist appear harmless, and democratic in trying to obtain a majority. The problem is that once in power, they intent to entrench themselves. That they will use the majority vote, to prevent any other from gaining power by regular democratic means. This created a contradiction, for that means that they legitimate the use of majority power to suppress a minority, which includes them when they are a minority. These are ambiguities of violence and power-conquest.
Under capitalism, competitors are forced to accumulate to survive, which leads to higher concentrations of power. In practice, this means investing in higher productivity of the workers. And also, wealth becomes concentrated.
Theory of value is the view that prices are determined by the labor hours needed for production. Which is a problem, because consumers do not know the labor hours used for production. Consumers only see the relative prices of products.
Popper acknowledges various limitations of Popper’s criticism. A recognized limitation is that Popper is a later philosopher with far more historical examples. Popper has more error corrections and historical experiences to lean on than the earlier philosophers.
Popper also recognized that Popper no doubt misjudged those who were described as they are long past. This was recognized because Popper’s contemporaries had misjudged Popper.
Making comparisons between the past and present is difficult. The earlier philosophers had different social contexts, and relied on different sources. But Popper shows how there were philosopher’s during Plato’s time who raised alternative views. Views such as justice, as Popper shows how the general Greek version was similar to contemporary times, but Plato used it to mean something else. This creates a problem with separating what Plato (and others) have changed in the philosophy that was contrary to their culture, and how much of their philosophy was reflecting the values of the time.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.0
Overview:
Closed societies reinforce officially claimed rules, often through repression and totalitarianism. Closed societies resist change, and resist learning from experiences. Within an open society, criticisms are welcome. Open societies are inclusive to different people, interests, and ideas. The open society learns from experiences. Society cannot delegate all their thinking, even to those deemed the best of decision makers. For everyone makes mistakes.
Closed societies have people determine what to do, without allowing for criticism. Totalitarian regimes consider any criticism as hostile, as they are a challenge to the authority. This process leads to surprise and contradictions. Wanting to be correct, and therefore ignore contradictory evidence is not limited to totalitarian decision makers. Without criticism, the decision makers can get more influence, even when they are against freedom and reason. Reluctance to criticize bad ideas leads to the destruction of good ideas. Humanitarian claims can be made by their deadliest enemies, as totalitarian regimes often get favored for their humanitarian claims. Under the guise of humanitarian allies, they generate disunion and confusion.
Alternatively, the open society prevents people from hiding their contradictions. Those who desire an open society want to reject absolute authority, and reject the values that are hurting human kind. The open society wants rational criticism. To find values, whether new or old, that raise the standards of freedom. The open society declares an unwillingness to delegate all responsibility for thinking to others in authority.
Social Engineering:
The open society is intimately tied to Popper’s views on science, which is defined by a need to put conjectures to experimental tests. There is tension in the challenges that open society has for its claims, but there is far more tension in closed society. For Popper, it was democratic inquiry that facilitated finding values that were wanted to be achieved, and the experts who explain how to achieve that.
Popper supported piecemeal social engineering, and was opposed to large scale social engineering. Plato thought large scale social engineering was needed. Utopian engineering tends to try to be large scale, effecting the whole society. Grand scale social engineering is too complicated to be managed practically. Alternatively, piecemeal engineering is much simpler. Small scale engineering can experiment with appropriate ways. To make adjusts to policy designs. To bring in science to politics, and to learn from mistakes. Wrong ways, will not damage everyone. The potential damage will be localized. Small scale engineering is also politically viable for they are less risky, and therefore also more practical.
What Is Historicism?
Historicism is the use of science founded upon laws of history to obtain predictions and prophecies. Historicism is a misunderstanding of the method of science. Under historicism, all historical events are interpreted as leading to an ultimate outcome. Historicist theories depend on group formation, elements of collectivism. A tribe, or larger groups, that the individual cannot exist without.
What the historicist do, is find the origin and historic role of institutions to find their destiny. They interpret history to discover laws of development to obtain historical forecasts. Fascism and Marxian are different version of historical philosophies that see different prophecies, but both are totalitarian. Fascism has a feature for racialism, in which history is interpreted as a struggle between different races for mastery. With in Marx’s views, history is interpreted as a struggle between the different classes for economic supremacy.
Natural vs Normative Laws:
The distinction between natural and normative laws become blurred. Natural laws reflect physical realities. Laws of nature that either are or are not true. No exceptions to natural laws. Uncertainties about them are hypothesis. Humans cannot control natural laws. Humans can use natural laws for technical purposes.
Normative laws are those that reflect human social structure. Normative laws are legislature, and needs to be enforced by people. Legislature that can be altered. Legislature that provides direction for behavior. Their enforcement subject to human actions and decisions, requiring human sanction. Some decisions are impossible as they contradict natural laws.
Does History Have Meaning:
History does not have meaning, but people can give it meaning. As history becomes interpreted, it provides impetus for change in the present. History is based on interpretations, which continually change.
Popper did not believe in a separation been ideas and theories. Every observation contains preconceptions. Theories define which facts are selected. History, is no different than science in the selection of facts. There is always a point of view. This does not legitimate purposely falsifying anything. But, that it is difficult to decide on the truth or false value of ideas.
Heraclitus:
Earliest forms of historicism come from Heraclitus. Heraclitus emphasized change, with an immutable law of destiny. Setting up the contradiction of change, contemporaneously with unchangeable laws. Resisting change, while also demanding it. Change breaks the stability that society needs, while also the need to change to social circumstances.
Heraclitus also elevated certain people who had reason that came from a mystical intuitive understanding. That mystical intuition gives those people power, to be able to understand the more appropriate way of behavior.
Plato:
Plato exhibited Greek culture at the time. A culture situated in a cosmic setting. Plato through that Plato’s era was deprived, due to a historical tendency towards decay. Plato also thought that it was possible to end the process of decay through human effort. Not just human effort, but superhuman effort. A law of decay broken by wise humans, with powerful human reason. A contradiction, for breaking the law of decay is part of the law of historical destiny. Degeneration was part of moral degeneration, which had the consequent of political degeneration. Intertwined with racial degeneration.
For Plato, everything that preserves is good, while anything that corrupts is evil. Change leads away from the perfect originator. Copies are rarely perfect replicas. Copies have errors, which are a corruption of the perfect. This is part of the law of increasing decay and corruption, for copies of copies will have even more errors. Although, Plato thinks that change and decay can be defied by someone of a good soul.
The historical tendency towards corruption could be prevented by preventing change. By arresting all political change. Without change, there is no degeneration. Without change, there would be no evil. Central to Plato’s philosophy is are the Forms (or Idea). Perfect and unchanging things. The Platonic Form is the origin of things. Sustainable virtues.
Plato was looking for knowledge that would not change. Knowledge used to understand the changing world and society. To understand the political changes, and the historical laws. To understand how to rule humans. Without some knowledge that would not change, it would make comparisons between the same ideas. Essences that can be discovered with intellectual intuition. Essences are the proper name to related things, a definition.
Plato provided a philosophic defense for those who claim to have an unchallengeable insight into the operations of reality. Plato created a hierarchy of people, with the few enlightened and the rest thoughtless.
Plato favored communally shared resources, and people. Communism directed by a ruling class. For the ruling class to be effective, the family structure must be disassembled. The family must cover the whole warrior class. Communism that is meant to prevent disunion. There are more conditions for the stability of the ruling class. Conditions such as division of the classes, identity of state with the ruling class. The ruling class is meant to be educated and make decisions based on collective interests of the members. Popper identifies additional conditions based on the same logic. Conditions such as a monopoly of military training, while exclusion from economic activity. The aim of the state is autarky. The ideas that the ruling class views have to be the same. Alternatives to economics or ideas would undermine stability. Popper considers this program totalitarian.
Plato recognized that even the best people, still depend on others and cannot be self-sufficient. Society and the individual depend on each other for their existence. Individual lack of self-sufficiency gives rise to the society. Gives rise to the state. Perfection depends on the state. It is the state the protects the perfection of the people. The state provides the social conditions for the perfection of the people. The state takes priority over people, for it is the state that can be self-sufficient.
Contemporary views on what humanitarian means is equal rights for citizens, an impartial justice system, and equal opportunities. Traditional Greek ideas about justice appear close to contemporary usage, but Plato was opposed to this usage. For Plato justice would be what is best for the state. Which would involve arresting change, and maintaining class division and class rule. Plato seems to have wanted those within a class to be treated as equals, but not those across classes. Different classes would get different treatment. Also, Plato disapproved of democracy because it provided equality to everyone.
Those who agree with Plato, still claim that rulers are not always good or wise. Popper would advise to prepare for bad governance and leaders, rather than expect the best. Which does raise the concern of whom should rule, and how can bad leaders be preventing from damaging decisions. Plato wanted rulers to be educated, to be philosophers, to be wise. For succession, a wise ruler would know who the successor should be. This would mean dependency on uncertain situations that risks threatening the state due to personal decisions.
Aristotle:
Aristotle thought it impossible to demonstrate all knowledge, because each proof needed a preceding premise. Creating an infinite regression continuously going to the preceding premise. To avoid the infinite regression, Aristotle used Plato’s essences. Essences that are basic premises, that need to proof. What that means, is that the basic premise are definitions.
Hegel:
Plato favored the ideas in the mind, as they were the abstract unchangeable things. Plato considered them real, while perishable things as unreal. Kant made a similar reference to ideas of pure reason. Hegel takes both claims of idea=real and ideas=reason, to yield real=reason. That equation gave support to maintaining the status quo. For what is real, must have come about due it being necessary and reasonable.
Karl Marx:
There are those who defend Marx’s views as unassailable no matter if parts of the doctrines were wrong. Popper sees Marxism as a method, and therefore wrong to deflect all attacks. Popper advises to judge Marxism method through scientific methodological standards. Marx would have wanted criticism of Marx’s method. Marx wanted practical politicians, and for science to yield practical results.
Marx either forbidden or denounced social technology. Marx denounced rational planning as Utopian and illegitimate. This made the successors even less unprepared than the bourgeois economists. Russian successors were unprepared for social engineering. Even Lenin acknowledged not to know how to deal with the various problems, as the economics problems were not practically described in their texts. Lenin’s failure with war-communism, caused Lenin to reintroduced limited and temporary private enterprise. The New Economic Policy was not part of Marx and Engels policy took kit.
Marx’s economic research is subservient to historical prophecy. To Marx, each system contains its own self-destructive forces that will produce the next economic system.
For Marx, history is class struggle. Although there have been historical conflicts between the classes, there have been many conflicts within classes. Conflicts arising from ruling and ruled class is a dangerous simplification. Issues between rich and poor are important, but not all conflicts are between exploiter and exploited. Marxism is usually interpreted as all conflicts are between the exploiter and exploited. Any aggression can be legitimated through the framework of conflicts between those who have and those who do not have.
Mark saw democracy as a kind of class dictatorship. Under capitalism, the state is a dictatorship of the bourgeoisie. Under socialism, the state is a dictatorship of the proletariat. As the proletariat state loses function, and becomes a classless society, there will be no class-dictatorship, in which case the state disappears.
Unlimited freedom defeats itself, for that would accept violence as a legitimate way to distribute resources. The state limits freedom to some extent, to protect everyone’s freedom. None to be at the mercy of others, but also to be protected by the state. But physical intimidation is not the only means to coerce others, as there are economic means as well. Unlimited economic freedom would mean freely accepted servitude to those who have surplus food. The state can create social institutions to prevent inequitable arrangements under duress of economic ruin. For freedom to be guarded, non-intervention cannot be a policy. Which replaced economic freedom with planned economic intervention by the state. This is what happens under Marx, for the economic system ceases to exist.
Marxist organizations have been persuasive on humanitarian grounds, but in their efforts, have been very anti-democratic, and anti-humanitarian. They claim to stand for freedom and against oppression. Marxist appear harmless, and democratic in trying to obtain a majority. The problem is that once in power, they intent to entrench themselves. That they will use the majority vote, to prevent any other from gaining power by regular democratic means. This created a contradiction, for that means that they legitimate the use of majority power to suppress a minority, which includes them when they are a minority. These are ambiguities of violence and power-conquest.
Under capitalism, competitors are forced to accumulate to survive, which leads to higher concentrations of power. In practice, this means investing in higher productivity of the workers. And also, wealth becomes concentrated.
Theory of value is the view that prices are determined by the labor hours needed for production. Which is a problem, because consumers do not know the labor hours used for production. Consumers only see the relative prices of products.
Caveats?
The book is generally difficult to read, and is polarizing. The book was written during World War 2, to explain the totalitarian philosophical background. The core of the book is an attack on the various philosophers who were historicists. Historicism is the use of history to make predictions, which includes raising the status of a few to be above everyone else. The two main philosophers presented are Plato and Karl Marx. Their perceived errors are well established, but not their potentially appropriate values. Logic behind the errors is well established, but often, the resolutions are lacking. Sometimes, the errors themselves come from misunderstanding concepts.
Popper acknowledges various limitations of Popper’s criticism. A recognized limitation is that Popper is a later philosopher with far more historical examples. Popper has more error corrections and historical experiences to lean on than the earlier philosophers.
Popper also recognized that Popper no doubt misjudged those who were described as they are long past. This was recognized because Popper’s contemporaries had misjudged Popper.
Making comparisons between the past and present is difficult. The earlier philosophers had different social contexts, and relied on different sources. But Popper shows how there were philosopher’s during Plato’s time who raised alternative views. Views such as justice, as Popper shows how the general Greek version was similar to contemporary times, but Plato used it to mean something else. This creates a problem with separating what Plato (and others) have changed in the philosophy that was contrary to their culture, and how much of their philosophy was reflecting the values of the time.
Mythology, by Edith Hamilton
Although the gods were radiant and immortal, they were not omnipotent. Their behavior was not righteous. Their behavior was unscrupulous. A lack of understanding between right and wrong. They were fickle with their favor, and used their power arbitrarily. Few were generally friends of human kind, for they were generally harmful or undependable. Better for humans to make do without them. Heroes themselves were generally the offspring of the gods, who had more power than normal humans, but also their own more powerful flaws.
The stories are usually told about the interactions between the heroes and the gods. But it was not the gods that created the universe. The first parents were heaven and earth. Their children were the Titans. The gods were the children of the Titans.
The myths provided are shortened versions of the long stories provided. The author put in a lot of effort going through various ancient sources, to construct a more consistent version of the stories.
There is also very little on Norse mythology, which stands in contrast to the Greek mythology. As the author claims, not much has survived of the Norse texts.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
3.0
Overview:
These myths were meant to explain reality, a primordial science. Stories that were meant to provide a lesson on how to behave. To provide warnings against making some choices. The later authors of these myths did not think much of the priests to the gods temples. For it was the poet who had a connection with the gods. With the rise of rationality and reason, the gods were made in the image of the people rather than beings with no resemblance of reality. There were monsters which took on no real shape, as these monsters were meant to provide the challenge for the heroes to overcome.
Although the gods were radiant and immortal, they were not omnipotent. Their behavior was not righteous. Their behavior was unscrupulous. A lack of understanding between right and wrong. They were fickle with their favor, and used their power arbitrarily. Few were generally friends of human kind, for they were generally harmful or undependable. Better for humans to make do without them. Heroes themselves were generally the offspring of the gods, who had more power than normal humans, but also their own more powerful flaws.
The stories are usually told about the interactions between the heroes and the gods. But it was not the gods that created the universe. The first parents were heaven and earth. Their children were the Titans. The gods were the children of the Titans.
The myths provided are shortened versions of the long stories provided. The author put in a lot of effort going through various ancient sources, to construct a more consistent version of the stories.
Caveats?
The myths are primarily Greek. As the author notes, the Roman’s lacked their own, and were influenced by Greek culture. Romans took on the Greek gods into their own pantheon, and changed their names to Roman equivalents. Romans did add some myths, and also favored different gods than the Greeks.
There is also very little on Norse mythology, which stands in contrast to the Greek mythology. As the author claims, not much has survived of the Norse texts.
The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Overview:
Renée is a concierge at the rue de Grenelle. A building for the affluent. Paloma is an occupant. They are from different generations, and different ways of seeing the world. Both see a path for their life, and death. Both are forced to change their minds about how they choose to live. Finding meaning in life. For this book has a philosophical theme. As the characters express their thoughts and critiques on philosophy, and various aspects of life. They see the façades that people put on, and then proceed to describe the people without the façades. While others might have illusions about their lives and avoid reality, Renée and Paloma want to engage with reality. That means many of life’s aspirations will be disillusioned. But they have intellectual aspirations, to enrich their life.
Caveats?
The philosophy can be a bit random. Some of the philosophical thoughts and critiques might be more for those who already know the philosophy described and can add their own understanding to the ideas.
Black Sea, by Neal Ascherson
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
2.0
Overview:
The Black Sea is not just a composition of various cultures, but has a character of its own. Although overfished, the Black Sea was abundant in fish, which provided wealth for the communities that used it. The Black Sea has many rivers draining into it, and with so much fresh water, that the bacterial biochemical process creates a deadly residual gas. The Black Sea witnessed the rise and fall of many peoples, and empires. Witnessed how they would treat each other. How they mistreated each other. These were diverse people, diverse neighbors. Saw each other as different. Saw the differences as inferiorities. Stories passed down claimed their own superiority over the others. But as archaeological evidence is gathered, the information threatens the inferiority claims. For whether the society was deemed civilized or barbarous, settled or nomadic, they were able to develop wealth and military capabilities.
Caveats?
The writing can be a little difficult. The writing quickly moves between different peoples and eras. This is a diverse history, representing many different people. But there is not much on each society. This is an introduction to many peoples, but to get an understanding of their culture would require more research.
October: The Story of the Russian Revolution, by China Miéville
Very quickly, the Provisional Government gained international credibility and support, but did not have as much power as the international community thought. The Soviet held the power, and decided what the Provisional Government was supposed to do. Under Soviet pressure, the Provisional Government provided various social and legal rights to the people. Those who took power, had imperial intentions. Wanting to export the revolution abroad. The Provisional Government dismantled many political agencies and enforces, such as the police department. This led to mob justice, violence, and looting. A general state of social unrest, with different political powers competing for power. Military forces were demoralized, and disorganized. Many were deserting. Some regions sought sovereignty.
From the 1890s, the workers gain a movement and momentum, and are dissatisfied with their treatment. By 1904, Russian leaders believe a war was needed to stem a revolution, but the war they initiated turned into a catastrophe for Russia. The workers demanded changes to their working life, and political freedoms such as freedom of assembly and the press. Protestors gathered, and are met with violence, an even that has become known as Bloody Sunday. An event that accelerated the revolution. A Duma is formed, more rights were granted, but with so many political violations, the people remain unappeased. Even with forthcoming Dumas.
Before and during the revolution, the policies enacted discriminated based on race, sex, and religion. Seeing others as less then. Even when the policies that were trying to be inclusive, in practice, they were not.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
2.0
Overview:
Russia’s Tsarist regime mismanaged economic, political, civilian, and military affairs. Authorities abused their power against peasants, and then workers. Under pressure, rights were given to the lower classes, but where not enough to compensate for their mistreatment. The people rioted and rebelled. Various worker representatives gather and formed a soviet. Soviet means council. Culminating in the abdication of the Tsar in 1917. This is the story of a revolution from the lower classes, during WW1.
Very quickly, the Provisional Government gained international credibility and support, but did not have as much power as the international community thought. The Soviet held the power, and decided what the Provisional Government was supposed to do. Under Soviet pressure, the Provisional Government provided various social and legal rights to the people. Those who took power, had imperial intentions. Wanting to export the revolution abroad. The Provisional Government dismantled many political agencies and enforces, such as the police department. This led to mob justice, violence, and looting. A general state of social unrest, with different political powers competing for power. Military forces were demoralized, and disorganized. Many were deserting. Some regions sought sovereignty.
What Happened Before the Revolution?
From the 1860s, the Tsar gave people rights they did not have, under pressure from peasant actions and exigent circumstances. The state was under armed threat, while peasants were rioting and rebelling in response to authoritative abuses. The rights given were enough to stall a revolutionary tide, but not enough to prevent it.
From the 1890s, the workers gain a movement and momentum, and are dissatisfied with their treatment. By 1904, Russian leaders believe a war was needed to stem a revolution, but the war they initiated turned into a catastrophe for Russia. The workers demanded changes to their working life, and political freedoms such as freedom of assembly and the press. Protestors gathered, and are met with violence, an even that has become known as Bloody Sunday. An event that accelerated the revolution. A Duma is formed, more rights were granted, but with so many political violations, the people remain unappeased. Even with forthcoming Dumas.
Before and during the revolution, the policies enacted discriminated based on race, sex, and religion. Seeing others as less then. Even when the policies that were trying to be inclusive, in practice, they were not.
Caveats?
This book is a narrative of what happened during the revolution, following those competing for power. There is a lack of systematic analysis on the claims made during the revolution. And a lack of background information on the ideas, policies, and groups that were in competition. Various details about revolution are expressed, but to understand what they mean would require more research.
Being Mortal, by Atul Gawande
The problems of age are a recent human phenomenon. Historically, old age was rare, as people did not survive to experience the ravages of age. Medicine made many previously fatal events, not mortally threatening, therefore prolonging life. Medicine has even slowed down many mortal threats. Slowed down their progression, but not cure them. Death is still the final outcome. There are those who do not fear death, but fear what happens before death. The loss of function, and friends. Perspective changes when primed by age. Perspective that reorients priorities away from vanities, power, and achievements, and towards appreciating everyday pleasures, and connecting with others.
As people age, they become more dependent on others, but they do still want to live at home and be independent. Nursing homes tend to relieve family members of the burden of taking care of the elderly, not of making life worth living for those people. There are facilities that enable elders to live as well as they can, by bringing to them things that make life worth living.
For the elderly, choosing freedom does not mean that health is sacrificed. Research showed that those who had more independence, had better physical, cognitive, and mental health. Better outcomes, at lower costs.
There are people, are can be very active in old age. But that is a rarity. Biological luck. Making everyone else feel like a failure. Distracting everyone else from adapting to their situations. For most, the fragile body will continue to weaken.
This book uses many examples to highlight the problems with how the society deals with aging. Sometimes, the author gets lost in the examples, which distracts from the problem that needs correcting.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Overview:
The medical profession is generally trained to resolve problems, to fix problems. But age is a normal function that continuously makes life more difficult. Age cannot be fixed. The medical profession can patch the body, but always temporarily and usually with other consequences. Even if a person does everything right, they will still accumulates problem and end with death. Making more correct health choices over a life time can reduce the chances of many age-related symptoms, but death cannot be overcome. Not thinking about the aging process, prevents individuals from adapting to the differences. Only by accepting the fragility of life, can an individual change to make the aging experience better.
The problems of age are a recent human phenomenon. Historically, old age was rare, as people did not survive to experience the ravages of age. Medicine made many previously fatal events, not mortally threatening, therefore prolonging life. Medicine has even slowed down many mortal threats. Slowed down their progression, but not cure them. Death is still the final outcome. There are those who do not fear death, but fear what happens before death. The loss of function, and friends. Perspective changes when primed by age. Perspective that reorients priorities away from vanities, power, and achievements, and towards appreciating everyday pleasures, and connecting with others.
As people age, they become more dependent on others, but they do still want to live at home and be independent. Nursing homes tend to relieve family members of the burden of taking care of the elderly, not of making life worth living for those people. There are facilities that enable elders to live as well as they can, by bringing to them things that make life worth living.
For the elderly, choosing freedom does not mean that health is sacrificed. Research showed that those who had more independence, had better physical, cognitive, and mental health. Better outcomes, at lower costs.
There are people, are can be very active in old age. But that is a rarity. Biological luck. Making everyone else feel like a failure. Distracting everyone else from adapting to their situations. For most, the fragile body will continue to weaken.
Caveats?
This is a very emotionally jarring book. The reader must come prepared emotionally to handle the topic. Without even much prompting, the book forces the reader to reflect on one’s own life. One’s own mortality. One’s own inevitabilities. This reflection, the acknowledged finite time of one’s life, can make individual’s change the choices that they make.
This book uses many examples to highlight the problems with how the society deals with aging. Sometimes, the author gets lost in the examples, which distracts from the problem that needs correcting.
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power, by Shoshana Zuboff
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.0
Overview:
Within surveillance capitalism, digital users provide their experiences as data to be used to modify their behavior. Data used by digital firms, to change user behavior for financial reward. Data used to be used to enhance user experience, but has become the source of profit. Not just profit, but also political power. As the data can be used to find people that need persuading. Power is held with those who hold the data. The way the data is gathered and used threatens what it means to be human, democracy, and people’s sovereignty.
Data is sold to other businesses, and rendered into behavioral predictions. The way they get user data, is through covert means. Spying on everyday lives without consent. Gathering and modifying personal data. Claimed to be anonymous, but can be used to identify the person. Digital firms claim that privacy is the cost of using the seemingly free products. Privacy violations that are enabled through legal terms of agreement. Without a way to opt out of the privacy violations, especially because society has become dependent on using digital means to communicate and engage with others. Privacy for use of products is not a legitimate choice anyone should make. Especially because the privacy violations are not actually needed to run the applications.
Dependency On The Digital Realm:
Dependency On The Digital Realm:
Digital interactions have become ubiquitous and familiar, but without much reflection on what these interactions mean. The digital realm created a networked world that enabled capabilities and prospects, but came with negative psychological consequences. Life has become dependent on the services that the internet provides, but to use the internet requires destruction of various human values. Cognitive dissonance occurs with the use of the digital realm, for it provides a lot of value, but at a very large personal and social cost. An illegitimate choice that has become normalized.
Applications have purposely found ways to become addictive. As people engage with them in higher frequencies, and for longer durations. Becoming a compulsion. Meant for relief, but generates anxiety. Technology has accelerated various socialization developments, become a necessity for social participation, and are used for the sake of connection. Social pressure generates a tendency to over-share.
Data, Security, And A Choice:
Earlier digital applications acknowledged the data the was being produced, with the data usage being in control of the user. Data initially was used for the user. Emphasizing the sovereignty of the individual, and places of sanctuary within private domains. Data that did not cost the customers anything, while the data enabled better experiences of products and the expansion of available products.
Earlier digital applications acknowledged the data the was being produced, with the data usage being in control of the user. Data initially was used for the user. Emphasizing the sovereignty of the individual, and places of sanctuary within private domains. Data that did not cost the customers anything, while the data enabled better experiences of products and the expansion of available products.
Data has become a tool of oppression. Individuals no longer have privacy or security with their personal information. There is a lack of accountability for data security. Data that is being used and sold for predictive analysis. Refusal to adhere to individual data use, means risking service and product functionality. Risking the safety of the individual.
The products and services provided by surveillance capitalism do not have a value exchange. Their producer-consumer reciprocities are not constructive. Those who use free products are not customers, for there is no economic exchange, nor are the users working for the firm. Unlike workers who are paid for their efforts, users of free digital products are not paid for their efforts. Users are not customers, nor the product, they are raw material used to create surplus. The products and services are created to tempt users, who then become part of the program to extractive user personal experiences for other peoples wants. The products made are meant to predict behavior. People are the source of raw-material supply of the data used to make the predictions.
Privacy violations have become explained as necessary for the free internet services. Privacy is the price for access to information and other products. Explanations that distract from the even further violations within the digital realm. A dispossession developed and refined to better able counter and transform public resistance into protection and expansion of the behavioral surplus operations. The way digital services change behavior is by the cycle of incursion, habituation, adaptation, and redirection.
Privacy is redistributed rather than eroded. Rights over privacy are now concentrated with digital providers. These rights are what enable surveillance capitalism’s success. Using language to hide how they are using the rights over privacy. This means the loss of individual’s sovereignty, for they do not have control over their own data.
Whether or not an individual chooses to engage with digital application, digital firms will engage with them. People will go to other people’s private homes, to engage with the digital application.
Surveillance Capitalism:
Surveillance capitalism claims the right to use human experience as a free raw material, for the purpose of behavioral data and modification. Outcomes of the data use are proprietary behavioral surplus, used to predict what the individual will do.
Surveillance capitalism claims the right to use human experience as a free raw material, for the purpose of behavioral data and modification. Outcomes of the data use are proprietary behavioral surplus, used to predict what the individual will do.
The competitive process with surveillance capitalism pressures the firms to continuously obtain more data, from more sources. Then use that data to modify behavior towards profitable outcomes. A digital framework that knows and shapes behavior at scale. An attempt to automate individuals, and society. What the digital firms want, is to know the individual better than they know themselves.
Surveillance capitalism does not come about due to technological inevitabilities, but because of capitalistic logic. The firms make surveillance appear inevitable, when it is actually just a means for commercial ends that favors the firms.
Surveillance capitalists exploitation of the data they gathered, is explained in terms of emancipation to sway the generated anxieties. But the processes they use to obtain the data, is hidden. They keep power through ignorance. Surveillance capitalism’s power comes through information asymmetry. They know everything about the individual, but their operations are not made know to others. They have gathered information from each individual, to use not for the individual, but for someone else.
Digital firms found ways to legitimize and legalize their incursion into user experiences. They legitimate their claims with obscure and incomprehensible terms-of-service agreements. Even reading the abusive contract would require far longer than people actually read the contract. Without accepting terms of service, would mean loss of updates for functionality and security. Accepting some apps, gives them permission to collect and modify sensitive information. Such as calling private numbers, and accessing the camera for identification purpose. Calls are recorded, and given to third-party firms to review how the voice renders into text. To improve the voice system algorithms. The recordings are claimed to be anonymous, but people are sharing very sensitive information, that can be used to identify them. Apps collude with other apps covertly. Activating an app, triggers a variety of other tracking apps.
Application creates choice architecture to elicit specific behavior. To experiment on behavior modification for profit, and without human awareness. Academic and government experiments need to comply with set rules to prevent abuses. Which includes review boards. While private digital firms go beyond what is acceptable under the rules, and are more likely to have conflicts of interest. Digital firms behavior goes beyond established law and social norms.
Legal Status:
Google has a patent for targeted advertising. That they have the rights over users’ personal information. Rights that were held by users in the original social contract. The patent made Google an active agent in data gathering. Google’s digital targeted advertising led to financial success, but was also transformed into an automated auction.
Google has a patent for targeted advertising. That they have the rights over users’ personal information. Rights that were held by users in the original social contract. The patent made Google an active agent in data gathering. Google’s digital targeted advertising led to financial success, but was also transformed into an automated auction.
The expropriation of experience depends on the laws making sure it is legal. Changing the laws of surveillance, would make the surveillance capitalism model unsustainable. Surveillance firms fight hard prevents laws that threaten their access to free behavioral surplus.
Content distributors and publisher are under different legal systems. While publishers are liable for defamation posts, distributors are not. Applications that do not review content posted, tend to be seen as a distributor. Companies that did set standards for the content and removed posts that violated the standards, were deemed to take responsibility for the content and therefore considered a publisher. This created a no-win situation. The more a company would protect the users from malicious content, the more responsibility for the content the company would have. Either benefiting free speech or scoundrels. Section 230 was meant to resolve that contradiction, by allowing some control over content, without the risk of legal repercussions. This contradiction does not much apply to surveillance capitalism. The content providers data is now being used to render into behavioral data that leads to product sales. Section 230’s protection of intermediaries now protects the surveillance operations from examination.
Technology Leaders, And Politicians:
Politicians have chosen to attach themselves to internet providers leaders to appear as willing to make a change. But that proximity is a threat to every other internet provider. Google’s leadership’s contact with the presidency, threatened Google’s competitors. Providing technical support and taking part in the electoral cycle. With the help of the digital realm, the campaigns knew everyone who they needed to persuade, and along with their personal and private social data.
Politicians have chosen to attach themselves to internet providers leaders to appear as willing to make a change. But that proximity is a threat to every other internet provider. Google’s leadership’s contact with the presidency, threatened Google’s competitors. Providing technical support and taking part in the electoral cycle. With the help of the digital realm, the campaigns knew everyone who they needed to persuade, and along with their personal and private social data.
Tech industry, specifically Google, is a major contributor to political lobbying efforts. They use their efforts to prevent legislation that would impede their extraction of behavioral surplus.
Surveillance capitalism can be used by governments as well. For political purposes, rather than market ones. A forfeiture of freedom, for knowledge that is used by the state.
A technology of behavior has the potential to reject the idea of freedom. Technology that can harmonize human behavior. Giving up freedom for guaranteed outcomes. Freedom requires the individual’s to choose how to develop themselves, not behavioral modification programs.
Caveats?
The book can be difficult to read, especially because of the ideological origins of the ideas. Simplifying and misdirecting some of the ideology unto wrong targets. The author uses language in the same way the author claims the digital firms use language to persuade people to give up their privacy rights.
The book can be difficult to read, especially because of the ideological origins of the ideas. Simplifying and misdirecting some of the ideology unto wrong targets. The author uses language in the same way the author claims the digital firms use language to persuade people to give up their privacy rights.
The focus of the book is about the wrongs of behavioral modification. But behavioral modification is not always against the individual. As the author makes the case, what makes behavioral modification acceptable is a legitimate choice made by the user. While the way behavioral modification occurs is through covert means. What is limited in this book, are practical ways to identify the covert means that firms use. Practical ways to identify the inappropriate behavioral modification.
A Little History of the World, by E. H. Gombrich
Having an understanding of history means knowing alternative ways of being and thinking. To know what has been tried, and avoid the mishaps. History provides a direction for future actions. History is full of peoples who have had an impact on forthcoming generations. Knowing history gives meaning to choices currently being made, for they have the power to shape how future generations live.
The book provides an introduction to various critical topics and junctures in history. Tempting the reader into searching for more information about the topics. To understand each topic, would require more research.
The author acknowledged the potential for making discoveries that provide more information on the details of the topics. As such, there have been historical discoveries. Changing how those historical topics are interpreted, and falsifying some details.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
Overview:
This is a history of humanity. A diverse and global history of humanity. Even though the book was directed for an audience of children, this book does not shy away from the complexity of history. Acknowledging the limits to history, the lack of information, and explaining how information survived. The controversies and the political power struggles. The rise, fall, diffusion, and assimilations of various peoples, and empires. The way states gained and lost their sovereignty. How individuals gained sovereignty. The way philosophies and religions shaped power. How technological changes shaped society.
Having an understanding of history means knowing alternative ways of being and thinking. To know what has been tried, and avoid the mishaps. History provides a direction for future actions. History is full of peoples who have had an impact on forthcoming generations. Knowing history gives meaning to choices currently being made, for they have the power to shape how future generations live.
Caveats?
The audience for this book was children. To introduce children to history. For parents to read to their children. Even though the book does not avoid the complexities of the topics, the way in which the book was written might not be appropriate for mature readers.
The book provides an introduction to various critical topics and junctures in history. Tempting the reader into searching for more information about the topics. To understand each topic, would require more research.
The author acknowledged the potential for making discoveries that provide more information on the details of the topics. As such, there have been historical discoveries. Changing how those historical topics are interpreted, and falsifying some details.