Sunday 15 June 2008

The Week’s Most ITLADic Scientific News (Top 5)

There have been five scientific articles and papers published over the last day or so which I hope many of you will find interesting in light of the continued development of ITLAD/CTF and recent blog discussions into animal consciousness, holographic representations of reality and also the element within my theory, and Tony and I’s ‘Uber Theory’, on the quantum entanglement of consciousness.

I have placed links to a summary of each article below:

1. Memory In Honeybees: What The Right And Left Antenna Tell The Right And Left Brain

2. Physicists Produce Quantum-Entangled Images

3. Pigeons Show Superior Self-Recognition Abilities To Three Year Old Humans

4. Using Brainwaves To Chat And Stroll Through Second Life: World's First

5. How The Brain Separates Audio Signals From Noise

I have been asked by a few bloggers now, and in conversations with Tony, if I can produce a weekly update of the latest scientific research within ITLADic philosophy.

I was wondering if this would be useful to everyone in the continued, collective education and development of ITLAD.

Let me know what you think: Thank you.

[Addendum: It seems the general consensus is that this would be a good idea as a regular weekly update, so thank you to everyone that commented and emailed me today. I intend therefore to compile a 'Top 5 ITLADic Scientific NewsRound' each week, which I aim to post between 12:00 and 1:00pm UK Time, every Sunday]

A Dark Philosopher
Karl L Le Marcs

84 comments:

Karl Le Marcs said...

Also, whilst not fully available online yet, there was a superb piece in New Scientist entitled “Grand Theory of the Brain” where an existing theory of brain functioning known as “Bayesian Brain” after Bayesian Mathematics, has been extended into new territory that fits very well with ITLAD and the Uber Theory.

Please let me know if you have any comments or questions on the five articles I reference here, and also if you feel a weekly update of the Science News relating to ITLAD would be of use.

Thanks again.

SM Kovalinsky said...

Thank you for posting this. I would like to take time with these articles. The weekly update is a superb idea: I know also that my son would be intensely interested in following such a weekly series. Thank you very much.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Susan Marie: Thank You. Let me know your thoughts once you have had a look at the articles and I would love to hear from Andrew as well.

Andrew Giancarlo said...

Thank you very much sir, and I need to take time with these links. Thanks to my mother I have the essentialist philosophy all straight with CTF but I am hungry for information that a scientist like you has. I would follow a weekly series for sure and be thankful for it though not sure if I would be able to add meaningful remarks. That said, thank you again!

Karl Le Marcs said...

Andrew: Oh thank you!
(whispers to Andrew: Don't call me "sir"; I'm just Karl *smile*)

The articles I would choose for a weekly series would be those which I feel everyone would find something ITLADic within.

Once you have read through the five from this week I know (given your studious and inquisitive mind) that you will have your own questions, so that is what this post and this blog is for.

Andrew Giancarlo said...

Thank you and I will have questions, I know that. It may take a little time as my family has some chaos now, . Where I come from we do call mentors sir! thank you. AK

Karl Le Marcs said...

Andrew: I hope your family chaos subsides soon. My thoughts are with you and your Mother.

You are a very respectful young man, and that is a rare virtue these days Andrew. Thank You.

And your questions via the comments section are welcomed anytime.

Andrew Giancarlo said...

Thank you for that kind remark about my family. If my questions can be emailed to you for clearance it would prevent blog blunders! My parents believed in classical virtue and my Dad told me it is bad form not to address men of accomplishment with sir so you and Tony and HurlyBurly are sir to me. thank you.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Andrew: Yes, of course, if you would rather put your questions on email that is fine with me.

And I have always asked everyone in every aspect of my life just to call me Karl, as 'sir' implies some reverance and we are all friends and equals here.

But thank you for being so respectful.

Anonymous said...

This is such a great idea and will lead to lots more reading! Thank you Karl for your thoughtfulness.

Andrew: Don't worry about "blog blunders". Everybody on this blog has a unique personality and viewpoint and it seems you are very welcome to ask whatever you want. I'm new too and that's one of the things that makes me feel really at home. Nobody seems to think so highly of themselves that they forget that these are difficult concepts at times, with a language that takes a while to get to grips with. I'm genuinely touched by the generosity of Karl, Hurly Burly and Tony who willingly share their knowledge and enthusiasm of all things ITLAD.

And they make me laugh sometimes too!

Karl Le Marcs said...

Woodsprite: Yeah, sorry to add to your reading list Di.
*smile*

And Andrew hasn't blundered he was showing his respect in the way he was brought up to do. I've just always felt uncomfortable whenever anyone addressed me as 'sir' as I am just good old Karl who cares way too much about people!!

Thank you for your comments, and I enjoy the occasional giggle with you too.

*guffaw*

johar said...

Karl,

That's an excellent idea. Having someone do the legwork for me and present interesting articles each week would be brilliant! I'm sure others on the blog would agree.

You have an exceptionally generous spirit.

Andrew, don't worry about anything you say here. Your views and opinions will be respected as too will you as the unique individual you are.

I have made blunders on many occasions and missed the point entirely on others!

We're a team and we get there eventually!

Andrew Giancarlo said...

Thank you Woodsprite, that does help me feel a bit more confident!

Karl Le Marcs said...

Johar: Firstly, Thank You JoJo, you are very kind. And I'm glad that my intention behind doing such as this post is being shown to bear fruit.

And as I said to Woodsprite, dear Andrew has made NO blunder, it is simply my ludicrously small ego that has the problem. We are all equal and I don't want anyone to think they can't say something or ask me anything.

SM Kovalinsky said...

We are not all equal, and if we were, what a horrible loss for the human race. Decency, kindness, honor, justice, mercy, good faith: all of these virtues do not preclude in any way difference of rank: it is nature's own esoteric way. I think to the British, "equality" means something far different than to American academics. We are trying to UNDO equality which has divested us of much : We have overdone it; you have not, so this is purely semantic, and your kindness is of the noblest sort.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Susan Marie: We ARE all equal here.

Karl Le Marcs said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SM Kovalinsky said...

My blindspot and my flaw to grapple with. You are in the right, quite in the right, Alan Bloom notwithstanding.

Karl Le Marcs said...

In response to a couple of emails I have received in relation to articles numbered 1 and 3 in my list today I would like to refer bloggers to the previous post and few comments linked below:

Animals [by Rod]

Anonymous said...

Susan Marie: I agree with Karl. We are all equal in the sense of being of equal worth.

Possibly because Britain has been built on a history of class difference and because there continues to be a difference in the level of power people have, many British people feel uncomfortable with being referred to as "sir" and such terms. It carries with it a sense of deference and can be a reminder of colonial times when we held power over other cultures.

I think I understand about your point that there has been a tendency over recent years to try to redress this inbalance in clumsy ways which ignore the fact that people are not all the same.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Woodsprite: Thank You.

Now may I kindly ask that we move away from this subject as it is rather detracting from my reasons for posting this!!!

*smile*

Any comments or questions on the articles would be of interest and use in the development of ITLAD.

johar said...

Here are some of my thoughts on the Bee Article:

A set of bees from a hive or area all start with the same encoded information. You can call it quantum entanglement or evolutionary memories. They all 'know' certain flowers, odours etc..

Landing on the flower, they initially use both antennae. If the left antennae recognizes a new odour it will follow the neural pathway and store it in the short term memory. Eventually there will be a lateral shift and the new odour will be encoded in the long term memory.

If it is a recognized odour the right neural pathway will be activated and the odour identified.

Any new information that the bee collects will then be passed on (via quantum entanglement) to the other bees. They have collective consciousness?

This, from and evolutionary perspective allows bees from specific areas and hives to know their environment. I would conjecture that old information that is no longer used would eventually be deleted. I would also suggest that it aids the bees in the recognition of other things such as danger and navigation?

Karl Le Marcs said...

Johar: Excellent! Yes!

In my theory and in the collaboration with Tony, I borrow from David Bohm the term "in-formation".

Like 'in-forms' like from the objective consciousness field, from where we are all collapsed particles of consciousness.

This helps explain convergent evolution and much animal behaviour as detailed in these two articles on animal congnition.

Fabulous assessment JoJo!

Anonymous said...

Johar: The bees will actually communicate directly with each other by the "waggle dance" which seems to relate to where to find nectar. Thus the hive will indeed devlop collective consciousness about its environment.

What I found fascinating about this extract is that it suggests that the apparently basic bee brain has clearly defined functional asymmetry.

All the examples reminded me that the trick to properly understanding animal behaviour is to think out how to look at it. It takes imagination to work out how to devise such clear experiments.

Who says science is not as creative as art?

Karl Le Marcs said...

Woodsprite: "Who says science is not as creative as art?"

Certainly not I !!!

*smile*

I'm glad you found the articles interesting and I'm sure you will do so when Tony and I start to publish elements of our Uber Theory.

johar said...

Woodsprite - The waggle dance you describe certainly lends itself to the quantum entanglement suggestion.

Has anyone ever studied a bee brain structure? Whilst the bees are observed to use different antenna for different purposes, has it been investigated how information is stored in the brain?

Karl Le Marcs said...

Johar: Oh yes, much animal brain research is done and much is 'known'.

The honeybee for example only has around 850,000 neurons and would need a very small EEG machine!

*giggle*

Karl Le Marcs said...

I'd just like to add, again in response to email questions received, that the main interesting point regarding the article numbered 2 in my list is that this is the first time images of quantum entanglement have been recorded.

The effects of quantum entanglement have been researched and experimented since Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen came up with their famous EPR Paradox, ironically to show how absurd it was!

But whilst the effects have been known and proven time and time again, this is remarkable that they have now observed the interconnections between particles, and this sits perfectly with my CtCw theory of consciousness.

Thanks to everyone so far who has commented on here or has emailed me.

Looks like this may become a regular Sunday thing then eh???

johar said...

Thank you for that explanation Karl. I found the article fascinating, if somewhat heavy going.

Anonymous said...

Karl: Along with a proper breakfast, Sunday papers and walking the dogs along the beach. A new tradition is born!

*hurrah*

Karl Le Marcs said...

Johar: Thanks JoJo.

That's what I'm here for and why I hoped this idea would be useful to ITLADists everywhere.

I can plow through the heavy stuff and present each week a nice top 5 of articles for everyone to enjoy.

If you think the summary of the Quantum Entanglement was hard going, try reading the full paper entitled "Entangled Images From Four-Wave Mixing".

*smile*

Karl Le Marcs said...

Woodsprite: *hee hee*

Oh dear! What have I done!

"Every day is like Sunday,
Every day is silent and grey
"

Until ITLADic Newsround day was born!

*shakes head at self*

Karl Le Marcs said...

My article numbered 4 on the list is of particular interest given these previous posts:

Proposed Second Life Meeting [by Tony]

Second Life Meeting [by Tony]

Flanagan's Apple Meeting Friday 23rd May 2008 [by Tony]

A Virtual Home For Us? [by Robin]

And then taking into consideration David Bohm's Implicate Order of Quantum Mechanics and Tony's Bohmian IMAX it becomes deeply ITLADic that Second Life has now been operated by mere brainwaves, as within a Bohmian IMAX recurrence of your life, YOU would be manipulating yourself through a Second Life holographic representation via your own brainwaves.

If you're not now scratching your head then you've not truly understood the mind bending concept there!

johar said...

I've got brain ache! Karl, that description you just gave immediately brought to mind the cover of ITLAD

I've only read as far as the pigeon article. The only reason I can come up with that these birds have such amazing abilities to differentiate individual people from each other is so that they know whose head to poo on!

Karl Le Marcs said...

And lastly for these little addendums, the article numbered 5 on my list is of interest owing to what Tony terms "The Cocktail Party Effect" during his lectures whereby we seem to be cognisant of our names being mentioned or a topic on which we have involvement being discussed even in a crowded room.

Aloha Gary said...

Aloha Karl & Tony & everyone!

well I'm going to be deeply controversial here and post before I've read all the comments that say what a great idea this is and how Karl you are really such a super smart guy and I'm just going to come right out and say YES PLEASE!

great idea and when are you going to have babies so there can be even more super smart and ITLADian folks out in the world changing it for the better!?

...and thats yet another subversive way to get ITLAD into schools!!

*Scratches beard wondering if I've gone too far there?*

PHEW!! Can I go to the pub now please?

(I know you think I've already been but I'm honestly stone cold sober - which probably caused the outbreak of compliments sorry ;-)

Aloha
Gary

Karl Le Marcs said...

Johar: *giggles*
Don't even get me started on the stuff I've been writing about mirrors following Jesamyn's great post on The PsychoManteum (linked below)

"I Said: Birds can fly so high, or they can sh*t on your head.
They can almost fly into your eye and make you feel so scared.
But when you look at them, and you see that they're beautiful.
That's how I feel about you.....

And she said....."WHAT?????
"

- Kate Nash "Birds" *ha!*

The pigeon article is fascinating to me as I have written previously that I think it is only at the age of around 3 that we develop a sense of self (which is why most people have little or no memories before that age).

And I have also tried the mirror experiment with my cats, and the gay one is self-aware, while the cute hetero one is not. Something analogous to life there I think!

*smile*

The PsychoManteum [by Jesamyn]

Karl Le Marcs said...

Aloha Gary: Ah Gary dear fellow, mine is a frothing pint of ale please. I believe my pewter tankard is behind the bar somewhere!

Thank you for your words, doubly kind coming as they allegedly do in sobriety!
*smile*

And babies??? Good heavens no!! Way too loud and bothersome for me I'm afraid. I need my peace to read all this stuff!

Looks like we've created a new Sunday pastime as Woodsprite said! I'll aim to post the review between 12 and 1 UK time each Sunday then.

johar said...

Karl, You're very self aware! Something you want to share!! *grin*

Anonymous said...

In the words of somebody or other - Fabo!

Karl Le Marcs said...

Johar: *giggles*

What you offering?
*blush*

Karl Le Marcs said...

Woodsprite: Yeah, who would say something such as FABO!

I'm glad that everyone has been happy with the idea so far.

Thank you all again, you make all the time I spend on this subject worthwhile.

johar said...

*splutters*

Anywaaaay regarding the article:

How The Brain Separates Audio Signals From Noise

It has been shown that we become aware of the words of interest to us in a crowded room before the sounds have actually been processed by the cortical region. This suggests to me daemonic awareness in action, scanning for information and cues.

And within Karl's theory: The Daemon is part of your subjective consciousness. Subjective Consciousness is part of Objective Consciousness.

Therefore we are operating within a free flowing stream of consciousness both subjective and objective.

Hence the awareness to pick up our names or topics of interest within a noisy environment.

Karl Le Marcs said...

*applauds*

Couldn't agree with you more JoJo.

See, I don't just casually throw all this stuff together! There is very often a significant reason why I post something.

Excellent comment Jo.

Jesamyn said...

HI ALLE!!! As it is 3 am here and I face a dreaded week of work I admit I have not SCRUTINISED all the no-doubt FASCINATING Posts by our esteemed Karl l Le Marcs...I nearly fell asleep today in the company of my son who is a great person albeit a new-found Atheist... and who regaled me for 2 hours as to his theories which WERE fascinating(he aint stupid!!!)he really hates the Scientology thang which seems to be sweeping the Earth, and he spoke of a documentary he had seen where Octopuses (which apparently find their niches under the sea) will actually come to the aid of their fellow Octopus that is threatened... in a sort of *I will help you and you may help me in a Reciprical Way*sorry.. this may not be in keeping with Post!!! but we also watched *The Golden Compass* last night, and it was so odd to see he(son) and all others in the room discussing *daemons*!!! when it fell on deaf ears before!!!! Thanks Karl...... sorry for waffling... I will re -scrutinise your Pearls of Wisdom on the Morrowe....
Jesamyn.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Jesamyn: What are you still doing up!! Bless you for commenting, thanks.

I'm sure you'll find the articles of interest knowing you as I do, and any questions, you know where to come.

I shall send the armoured polar bear to watch over you on the Astral again Jez
*wink*

Jesamyn said...

Was he not Adorable??? Thank you. He woulde indeede be my Friende....
as are You and all on Blogge...
Jesamyn.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Jesamyn: Yes JezB.......
*smile*

He was adorable and I thought you'd like him.

Thank you again.

johar said...

The article on using brainwaves to manipulate an avatar in second life has amazing implications.

Could this technology eventually lead to electrodes being implanted directly into the brain of motion impaired people and even those with sensory impairments?

Using brain wave activity alone those with impairments would be able to function fully in the world in whole new way. Those with sensory impairments could communicate telepathically with others maybe.

By applying the theory of universal consciousness this scientific development suggests to me a way of somehow bringing subjective and objective consciousness closer together, heightening the awareness of those who would benefit from the technology to a whole new level.

I envisage seeing this technology proving empirically that we are all objectively connected.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Johar: It does have amazing implications doesn't it? And not just in 'reality' but also Philosophically and ITLADian.

I think yes it will certainly be used in the way you describe as the next stage of development.

I tend not to fully agree with it bringing subjective and objective consciousness closer together but I get your point.

Great observation again JoJo, you must have a FABO teacher!
*silly faced overly elaborate grin*

Karl Le Marcs said...

I'm hoping that our resident Second Life expert Izthera Pulse will manifest herself in the shape of her First Life persona known as Robin on this subject soon.

Jesamyn said...

OK... I am up and about now.. 7 am on a dreaded Monday Morn and I am going to *chuck a sickie* as we say in Oz!!!So I am going to read all relevant Posts, Karl...and may well have questions re same...
But for now ...Remember the old joke as Benny Hill did so wonderfully re:
*A pigeon flying overhead
let fly upon my brow
Do I want a tissue??
NO.... he's miles away by now!!*
eeeeekkk sorry dont reach for Moderator's Hatte.. I will be serious later when I studiously read Alle!!!
Jesamyn

Karl Le Marcs said...

Jesamyn: *giggles and does Benny Hill style salute*

Andrew Giancarlo said...

Karl,
I read articles #2 and 4 and took a long time with them. So many details are hard to organize in my memory but I understood the overarching idea and the way it relates to eidolon/daemon and binary theory of mind. I guess I will never have your sort of brilliance with science but i am glad to be allowed to explore the ideas. Thank you very much.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Andrew: Thank you for your kind words.

Yes, article #2 especially is not an easy read but the fact that they are now imaging quantum entanglement is a massive leap forward in, not just science but also, ITLADic Philosophy. (including my own theories)

You have summed up perfectly my wishes in compiling this weekly Scientific update when you said:
"I guess I will never have your sort of brilliance with science but I am glad to be allowed to explore the ideas"

Thank you for that. It is for the ITLADists like you Andrew, those that want to learn more and those who have inquisitive minds, that I hoped this post would be useful.

And thank you all for your comments and questions on the articles.

I hope there are more to come from you and the other regular bloggers.

Jesamyn said...

Thank you again, Karl for most fascinating posts which I avidly read. I always believed animals and even insects have much to teach us and we are still in the Dark Ages re understanding these things, people always scoff at ones such as myself who feel so much empathy for the suffering we have inflicted on these fellow-creatures, but hey!! was it not always thus?? People have always scoffed at new ideas and thinkers... I would LOVE to read a Sunday compilation of interesting facts such as the ones you gave here..
Thanks again,
Jesamyn.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Jesamyn: Thank you Jez, it is for comments such as yours that I hoped such an idea would be appreciated.

And yes to your animal consciousness remarks. I think consciousness has many different levels within itself (as evidence to the evolution of consciousness can testify to) and I think humanity is merely operating at alternate levels of evolved consciousness than our animal friends. Indeed our own consciousness has much further evolving to do.

"Like in-forms like"

I have added a small addendum to the original post regarding my compiling a weekly Sunday post to bring the most ITLADic of the Scientific news to everyone's attention.

Karl Le Marcs said...

I've been thinking some more on the Philosophical and ITLADian implications within the article #4 on my list.

I was thinking specifically of the Idealists' Philosophy in relation to 'Second Life' and the holographic reality of Plato’s forms!

If in our 'reality' we can now exist in 'second life' via brainwaves alone, then surely this makes Tony's idea that what we term 'reality' may simply also be a holographic representation controlled via the brainwaves of our original self, even stronger.

It's taking it deep into Philosophy I know, but if anyone has any thoughts I'd be interested to hear them.

SM Kovalinsky said...

I had indeed had similar thoughts, as philosophy is my strong suit and I am to my regret weak with regard to scientific theory. I think a very strong case can be made for the holographic theory being a bulwark of Idealism and Essentialism in philosophy, beginning with the reality of the Platonic realm of forms and pure ideas, and extending into a discussion of essentialist notions. This was always my first thought when in the beginning stages of encountering Tony's eidolon/daemon dyad, which makes his theory of binary mind very much superior philosophically to Novak's. I had hoped at some point to be able to put together a proper paper on this theme. Aristolte in his Nichomacean ethics has passages which correlate as well, and the medeival synthesis of Aquinas comes to mind; together with an idea of a daemonic teleology, but as yet these are fragments. Thank you for having noticed this aspect to article 4 as it was the only one which my own mind could be drawn to with confidence.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Susan Marie: WOW! Thank you!

Little did I expect such a wonderful thought process as this from my last comment.

I fully agree with regards to Plato, Aristotle and Aquinas. We could even include Berkeley, Kant, Liebniz and our dear friend GWF Hegel in all this (to name but a few), but we can now direct Idealism away from Solipsism because of the egregore and throught-processes of this blog.

Fantastic stuff Susan Marie!
And if, throughout this experiment, I can help bring some scientific theory to your extensively philosophical mind then I will be delighted.

SM Kovalinsky said...

Yes, Hegel was also very much in my mind with regard to article 4 yesterday. I think a separate thread on the philosophical underpinnings of the CTF thesis might also be started. I intend to do so on my own blog site, and I have in mind the American philosopher Steinhart - who has dovetailed quantum philosophy and ethics within a framework of a new conservatism with essentialist ideology as its upholder - to participate in an open forum, and Barack Obama is very much involved in this new American ethics as well. all very related to the Hegelian dialectic of history. In my first email exchanges with Tony in 2007, I was delighted to see how much philosophy he had retained from his University studies, and told him so. "Cheating the Ferryman" is also cheating the eidolon on the most profound level. What you yourself have been able to add in the way of philosophy is beautiful and exciting. Of course I will have a lot of organizing to do to make this any sort of workable reality in the near future. Thank you kindly for having remembered philosophy in this purview.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Susan Marie: You and I have discussed much Philosophy regarding ITLAD on blog, and maybe that can be the basis of a new ITLAD Glossary to go along with the following:

ITLAD Glossary

ITLADian Film Glossary [by Hurlyburly]

An ITLADic Literature Glossary would be just way too immense to even begin, but I think I could pull together all the Philosophical posts into one, what do you think to that idea?

SM Kovalinsky said...

I think it is a very fine idea; I of course would aid you wherever I could. Thank you.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Susan Marie: Thank You!
(why am I making even more ITLADic work for myself!!!)
*smile*

johar said...

Susan Marie: I simply want to express my deep admiration for your profound philosophical knowledge and your ability to weave it so beautifully into ITLADic theory.

SM Kovalinsky said...

Johar: You are so kind, and that was a very nice gesture on your part, and I am very touched by it. Thank you so very much. If I may use it in the service of Tony and Le Marcs, so much the better!

Karl Le Marcs said...

Well, A Dark Philosopher thanks you also!
*organ music*

johar said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SM Kovalinsky said...

And I thank him: He inspires, and lends transcendent scope, breadth, height to philosophy. So I am the more grateful to A Dark Philosopher, and glad & honored to my soul, to be in the service of Plato's philosopher-king.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Johar: Cheeky!

Karl Le Marcs said...

Susan Marie: BLIMEY!
Thank You. You are certainly my Philosopher Queen then.
(I'll avoid the "Platonic" gag)

Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Heidegger and our dear friends Ouspensky and Gurdjieff would be proud!

*leaves to Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D minor"*

Karl Le Marcs said...

*re-enters to Benny Hill music*

Ha!

Andrew Giancarlo said...

Thanks to my mother and father I knew most of the Socratic dialogues when I was seven. And Alciabiades and Socrates in the symposium are like eidolon and daemon and I agree with my mother that philosophy runs strong throughout CTF. And Karl is from The Meno I think which is my favorite Socratic tale written out by Plato. and makes me feel I am being treated as Meno. And that is meant as a compliment to him too.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Andrew: Thank you dear fellow, that is indeed a compliment.

MENO: "Can you tell me, Socrates, whether virtue is acquired by teaching or by practice; or if neither by teaching nor by practice, then whether it comes to man by nature, or in what other way?"

Andrew Giancarlo said...

Karl,
I meant I am treated as Meno's slave which is the compliment to you! I assume you know the tale well

Andrew Giancarlo said...

My Mom says there is no ancient text in english or Latin that you can not quote and she is right and it is awesome.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Andrew: ......and Russian, plus some Hebrew and Aramatheic!
*bashful smile*
Your Mom is often right (just don't tell her I said that - shhh!!)

I'm really glad you are interested in ITLADic philosophy and also the scientific elements which I brought to this post.

Andrew Giancarlo said...

I am interested and just about as grateful as my mother to you and Tony. And do you know that fluency in language and quoting from memory is the sign of the highest intelligence? And I do believe my Mom in most things. My maternal grandfather was like you also. He was a scientist and a poet both and liked Latin and Plato. Thank you.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Andrew: I hope you enjoy the next Scientific Newsround as much as this one.

It will be on-blog on Sunday.

SM Kovalinsky said...

I have shooed him off the computer as I had the feeling he might go on and on. I have to use it in any case, and I know for a fact that Andrew will look for your post on Sunday, have no doubt of that . He is very happy to be able to read such things, to learn from them, and to interact with such a fine blog mentor.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Susan Marie: *smiles*
And you also I hope. I would love to get those amazingly philosophical neurons of yours charged with a scientific input.

SM Kovalinsky said...

Well, I honor and respect the science, wholly, and am aware that it is the strength of ITLAD and CTF. I do tend strongly toward the literary and the philosophical, and do fall very short with science. But I most certainly am willing to learn where I can, although in mid-life that is not too easily done. Long overuse has made me lean heavily toward abstraction and metaphor, but I do try to use that in service on this blog when I am able to.

Karl Le Marcs said...

Susan Marie: ....and you do so very well, dear lady.
And hush and tush! "mid-life" indeed! You are as sprightly in mind as you ever were (moreso in fact I believe).
Thank you. If by doing this weekly update I can help bring some of the world's science closer to the ITLADic group then my task is done.

SM Kovalinsky said...

Well, your task is noble and I am certain that it will fulfill its purpose. And thank you for always being so kind; it is truly appreciated .