#Human Knowledge

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

"It’s telling that the gods get more metaphorical with every advance in human knowledge, not less."

If your god was real, wouldn't human discoveries advance closer and closer to it? So why are we further away from it than we've ever been, and why is it more vague, imperceptible and allegorical than it's ever been?

[omegaphilosophia]

The Philosophy of Infinity

The concept of infinity has fascinated philosophers, mathematicians, and theologians for centuries. In philosophy, infinity refers to something that is unbounded or limitless. It challenges our understanding of the world, pushing the boundaries of human cognition and logical reasoning. Here's an exploration of the philosophy of infinity:

1. Mathematical Infinity

In mathematics, infinity is used in various contexts, such as the idea of an endless sequence of numbers, the concept of limits, and the notion of infinite sets. The work of Georg Cantor in the 19th century revolutionized the understanding of infinity by showing that there are different sizes of infinity, known as cardinalities. For instance, the set of all natural numbers is countably infinite, while the set of all real numbers is uncountably infinite, meaning there are more real numbers than natural numbers.

2. Metaphysical Infinity

Metaphysically, infinity often refers to the nature of the universe, God, or other ultimate realities. Philosophers like Aristotle and Aquinas discussed infinity in relation to the nature of the divine. Aristotle distinguished between potential infinity (a process that could continue indefinitely) and actual infinity (a completed state of infinity). Thomas Aquinas later used the concept of infinity to argue for the existence of an infinite being, God.

3. Epistemological Considerations

Infinity also raises epistemological questions about the limits of human knowledge. Can we truly comprehend infinity, or is it beyond the grasp of finite minds? Some philosophers argue that infinity is a useful theoretical construct but cannot be fully understood or visualized. Others suggest that our understanding of infinity is shaped by our cognitive and perceptual limitations.

4. Ethical Implications

The concept of infinity has ethical implications, particularly in the context of moral philosophy. For instance, the idea of infinite value or worth can influence discussions about human dignity and the sanctity of life. If each human life is considered to have infinite value, it could have profound implications for ethical decision-making and the prioritization of resources.

5. Infinity in Cosmology

In cosmology, infinity pertains to the nature of the universe. Is the universe finite or infinite in extent and duration? The concept of the infinite universe has been a topic of debate among philosophers and scientists alike. Some theories in modern physics, such as the multiverse hypothesis, suggest that there could be an infinite number of universes.

6. Infinity in Literature and Art

Infinity also appears in literature and art, often symbolizing the sublime, the eternal, or the boundless. Artists and writers use infinity to evoke a sense of wonder and to explore themes of eternity, the divine, and the limits of human experience.

The philosophy of infinity is a rich and complex field that intersects with many areas of human thought, from mathematics and metaphysics to ethics and cosmology. Infinity challenges us to think beyond the finite and to grapple with concepts that stretch the limits of our understanding. Whether in the precise language of mathematics or the profound reflections of metaphysics, infinity continues to inspire and perplex, pushing us to explore the boundaries of knowledge and existence.

[victusinveritas]

Glad somebody else mentioned Pluto, the little planet that could, and then couldn't, and then could again, and then couldn't.

All of this is correct. No notes.

[postersbykeith]

[lckyones]

[ains-art]

She's an excellent subject for texturing fun if you ask me 😌 Also she doesn't really have golden nails but it felt fitting for the vibe...

[digitalmyyth]

Oh I’m sure

[soup-mother]

I'm still fucking thinking about people advocating neo-Confucian ~extended family~ as a better alternative to western nuclear family. like girl i know there's that assumption that everyone is a white yankee but have you literally never talked to anyone who grew up in a family like that?

our barbarous system where children are the property of their parents vs their glorious system where children are the property of their parents (mystical oriental)

it's like that broader thing where people try and thin down a criticism like "you mean organised religion", "white western nuclear family", "this is such a white people thing" etc to try and weasel their way out of association with an issue.

Misogyny is not a western invention lol, the way it manifests in a lot of societies is a product of certain cultural manifestations of misogyny being exported elsewhere, but the control and ownership of women is not a "white people thing" or a western thing.

the issues of the family are not limited to the anglo saxon protestant yankee middle class nuclear family, misogyny is not unique to one group of people, racism is not unique to one group of people, homophobia is not unique to one group of people, terfs are not all middle class white women, etc etc etc etc

it's just so frustrating and kills any fucking attempt to actually talk about issues because they get drowned out with people appending on specific identities as if that issue is unique to one fucking group of people and the rest of the world is sunshine and rainbows.

[crabussy]

hi gang. reminder that we are some of the best sweaters in the animal kingdom (second only to equines) allowing us to stay cool and keep moving in hot weather. we have 10 times the density of sweat glands compared to other great apes.

we are ALSO insanely good at smelling rain (specifically geosmin, found in the soil and activated by rain) with the ability to smell 10 parts per trillion. this is speculated to have helped our ancestors survive!

we ALSO have absolutely batshit diets compared to most other animals. caffeine and chocolate are completely toxic to most animals but we can eat it without even feeling sick. even avocados are severely toxic to many animals to the point where it can be fatal to eat, but humans love it!!!

we are ALSO the best endurance runners ON EARTH out of ANY other species. we beat horses in endurance running. you know, the animals that gradually evolved away most of their toes in order to be the best runners?? yeahhh.

and to top it all off. our lifespan is unusually long for our species' weight/mass. typically, the bigger a species is, the longer its average lifespan (e.g. weasels live for 1-2 years, whales can live over 200) but we're very small for how long our average lifespan is. big cats like tigers live around 14-15 years, brown bears 25 years, yet here we are expected to live around 75-85 years. that is NUTS.

humans as a species are so extremely cool. it's not just our intellect that makes us amazing. we may not be the fastest or the strongest in the animal kingdom but we're super cool in many other ways. next time you sweat you can go wow!!! humans are so cool I'm able to keep moving because of my absolutely insane number of sweat glands! thank you evolution!

[drafty-castle]

Damnit, went to the link and read the notes. Turns out it’s a “humor” page, whatever that means. I genuinely think this should be an actual and actionable plan in case of not only disaster but also corporate intent to destroy reedy access to information. Just because the “task force” doesn’t actually exist doesn’t mean hundreds or thousands of people archiving Wikipedia for future generations isn’t a good idea. I’m just thirty years, a dozen forms of digital data storage have become entirely inaccessible to the average person and even specialists without specialized technology because it’s gotten too old. Whereas there are books hundreds of years old and scrolls thousands of years old. Physical libraries and non-digital archives are a good fall back plan in case of disaster.

[heph]

A lot has happened in 30 years

[iridescentalchemyst]

How Do We Know What We Know?

This document contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Iridescent Alchemyst is making this information available in our efforts to advance the understanding of the human experience. We believe this constitutes a “fair use” of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. Please refer to our Disclaimers…

[notbecauseofvictories]

"I am going to get a good grade in ___________, a thing that is both normal to want and possible to achieve" drifts through my brain with positively alarming regularity.

[reality-detective]

“We’re all involved in spiritual warfare” RFK Jr

This generation’s failure to keep the children safe will be remembered well into the future. We have a chance now to redeem ourselves and do something to protect their mental and physical health.

Bobbie is right, we need to stop focusing on what divides us and “that’s only going to happen when we start loving our children more than we hate each other.”

I AM remaining hopeful 🙏 that "We The People" as a whole unified revolution will do the right thing 🤔

[majunju]

"girlfriend" (more ab rielle here)