UPDATED Mar 05/ 25: The Evolution of Human Thought ….


and the Emergence of AI: A Historical Synthesis Abstract This report traces humanity’s evolving relationship with reality, knowledge, and reason from antiquity to the digital age, culminating in the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Across epochs, societies have grappled with the tension between faith, reason, and technological innovation, each era refining—or contesting—the role of human cognition in shaping understanding. The classical world elevated reason and idealized forms; medieval theology subordinated inquiry to divine revelation; the Renaissance and Enlightenment recentered human agency and empirical observation. Modernity’s scientific revolutions destabilized classical physics and philosophy, revealing reality’s inherent subjectivity. Today, AI challenges the … Continue reading UPDATED Mar 05/ 25: The Evolution of Human Thought ….

The Concept of Freedom: Origins and Evolution


Ancient Foundations The concept of freedom has its roots in ancient civilizations, particularly in classical Greece and Rome. In these early societies, freedom was primarily understood as a political concept closely tied to democratic self-rule and participation in civic life[1][3]. Greek City-States The Greek city-states, especially Athens, developed a notion of freedom that emphasized: Liberation from political bondage Participation in democratic decision-making Self-rule by male citizens This conception of freedom was inherently collective, focusing on the ability of citizens to govern themselves rather than individual rights[1]. Roman Republic The Roman Republic continued and expanded upon the Greek ideal of political … Continue reading The Concept of Freedom: Origins and Evolution

Levels of Thinking: How to Make Better Decisions with Second-Level Thinking


Anne-Laure Le Cunff •   Reading time: 4minutes Skipping meals to save time, but finding yourself exhausted and unproductive by the afternoon. Choosing a cheaper apartment to save money, but the long commute ends up costing you time and energy. You tried to make the most sensible choice, and yet… What went wrong? It’s easy to get carried away when making a decision. We look at the current situation and extrapolate what we consider to be the most likely future outcome. But we often fail to consider the complex ramifications of the decisions we make. For instance, let’s say you’re offered a job … Continue reading Levels of Thinking: How to Make Better Decisions with Second-Level Thinking

things I read yesterday … 06/25/2008


Canada Gazette tags: Canada gazette, deposit taking institution “regulated deposit-taking institution” means an entity that is supervised or regulated by a Canadian or foreign financial services or banking regulator and is authorized to accept deposits from the public. (institution de dépôt réglementée) NYSBD Staff Interpretations 2002 memo in connection with an assertion that Paypal were illegally conducting banking activity. Result was no action taken. tags: nysbd, paypal certain of PayPal’s services constituted illegal banking activity and that those services should not be provided to New York customers Continue reading things I read yesterday … 06/25/2008

things I read yesterday … 06/23/2008


Yahoo’s Ymail: Don’t really get it » mathewingram.com/work | Anyone younger than about 30 doesn’t seem interested in having an email address period, let alone caring whether it’s hermanzweibel@rocketmail.com or whatever. My teenaged daughters and their friends never use email anyway — they text message (in which case all you need is a phone number) or they use Facebook messages as a way of communicating. I send them email and they never get it. Do they have email addresses? Yes, and they are a combination of their names, underscores, numbers and nicknames, and so on — and they couldn’t care … Continue reading things I read yesterday … 06/23/2008

things I read yesterday … 06/20/2008


FT.com / Columnists / Martin Wolf – How imbalances led to credit crunch and inflation tags: inflation, ft.com, big picture Inflation is a sustained rise in the price level: the result of too much money (or purchasing power) chasing too few goods and services. A one-off jump in commodity prices is not inflation. Nor need such a jump cause inflation. But a continuous rise in the relative price of commodities is a symptom of an inflationary process. FT.com / Credit bubble – FBI eyes big business in mortgage fraud probe Federal investigators are homing in on 19 “large corporations” – … Continue reading things I read yesterday … 06/20/2008

things I read yesterday … 06/19/2008


International Banking Systems Journal tags: IBS, CommunityLend CommunityLend: A borrower and a lender be Founded on the noblest principles of democracy, community, individual choice and responsibility, social lending may have the potential to do what Amazon has done to book selling. Lawrence Freeborn talks to Colin Henderson, chief technology officer and co-founder of the latest variant on the concept, CommunityLend. Continue reading things I read yesterday … 06/19/2008

things I read yesterday … 06/17/2008


Commonwealth Bank Group – Personal – Viridian Line of Credit – summary Commonwealth Bank of Australia all in one account tags: viridian, australia mortgage Putting you in control Viridian is a convenient, all-in-one transaction account that combines your home loan, daily spending and savings into one, putting you in control. The ‘Australian Mortgage’ mixes savings and debt payment for hard working money – Parry Sound tags: mortgage, all in one account, australia mortgage In fact, according to the London Free Press, more than 50 per cent of all new mortgages in Australia are opened as a combined chequing, savings and … Continue reading things I read yesterday … 06/17/2008