One motivation for this post was
seeing this headline for an article (WSJ):
'Smart
Cities' Will Know Everything About You. The other motivation has to do with
talents that get ignored in the modern age which we must discuss and keep in
focus.
First, I must mention my reaction
to the article. After seeing the headline, I thought, oh no, we have not even,
properly, handled issues that relate to "
undecidability"
(note, please, usage beyond that associated with Turing). Then, the next
thought was that this type of thinking is what is behind the growing,
insidiously so, cloud that is falling as a mesh on our future and
freedoms (and that of our progeny).
Finally, while reading the article,
I saw that the ugly crowd called "marketers" kept coming up; yes,
those who buy data in order to manipulate people (in finance, this means the
gaming of the ca-pital-sino). The article does touch upon the issues, such as
privacy, lack of control, and such.
In the end, the writer says that
things would not be Orwellian "if businesses act responsibly" (pigs
fly?).
---
We have grown dependent upon the
engineering/technology viewpoint as it has been known to get things done;
progress requires this type of applied science. But, how many modern advances
have had deleterious results far beyond any benefit that might have ensued (ah,
consider why we need to worry about the enmeshing)? As well, we do have people
who sell. In fact, some feel that the economy is mostly made up by consumer
activity. Too, some of the Beats (below) pushed financial schemes. Too, we have
the artists who support marketing and public relations (respectable, of course
- if they behave - who defines the rules?). Then, we have the big pockets (I
have left out several classes - say, labor, and many more) who pull things
together (some like to coin themselves as capitalists, though they are really
oligarchs).
---
Now, let’s get to the other
motivation. My cognitive framework is so wrapped around truth engineering's
particulars for several reasons. As such, a balanced view is important (we will
establish this part of the requirement); balance looks at all sides, even the
counterculture (below). And, while reading things like the-above article, the "Beats"
come to mind due to the specific time frame of that phenomenon (though, the early
American experience had nonconformists, too; actually, the main intent of the
emigres was to remove themselves from something to which they could not conform).
So, we can use the Beats as the point of origin; post the Beats, we had the
Free Speech activities, Civil Rights workings, Hippies lolling about, ..., and,
of late, the conglomeration named Occupy Wall Street. In other words, that which
has a strong element of iconoclastic-ness and nonconformity has been a
continual presence in a not-small part of the population for 60+ years.
Activism, as well, comes to mind;
in that case, there are as many variations as there are truths that we need to
engineer. Unfortunately, “activism” includes things like hedge funds trying to
force businesses to make decisions that maximize the return for their (the
hedge fund’s) investors (so much to say there).
---
One thing that needs immediate attention:
truth and what it is. People get puzzled about truth, especially about the need
for "truth" engineering. I asked a scientist to define truth, without
mentioning whether I meant the big or little one (as in
"T"
or "t"). He, to my surprise, went to the big side without
blinking an eye.
You see, science is not (supposed
to be) of that ilk (except, is it that Truth and Science are equivalent? -
pun). Science deals with a whole lot of little "t's" (though the
cosmologists like to browbeat everyone into accepting their "itty
bitty" views about the largeness of Creation (intentional big "C"
which is at this point unqualified; people have grappled with these things for
eons - the new factor deals with computers, networks, and insidious stuff like
the cloud - so, we're starting from scratch here - or, taking a constructive
approach, if you would) as that worldview of science is supposed to be
provisional (very hard for humans to do). Yet, engineers have to firm things up
in order to work, so right there is a quandary (engineering as applied science –
which tends toward Scientism in too many cases).
---
Recently, I got reminded of an old
friend, namely
Charles
Sander Peirce. You see, his work (as well as that of many others) gives us
part of our prowess in abductive approaches. We'll get back to that, for sure.
---
But, to continue on about truth: how
many truths are there? Some claim that there are as many as there are people.
But, one can bring in situational truths, to boot. Let's just say this, even
the big "T" side of things is multiple. Why? For one thing, we have
issues of interpretation (which, for the most part, come from free will –
yes, how about the
neuropeptidergic bag?).
---
And, as we know, a lot of truth has
to do with power (all sorts, even that of politicos). That is, overbearing-ness
is a common human trait (oh Lord, deliver us). But, of that power ilk, those
who score highly on tests (yes, the so-called
best-and-brightest) are of
the worst variety (see below).
That is, so what that they can
solve problems with a laser-like focus and do so quickly? Consider: is the sum total
of all of the possible laser foci reality (yes, that is not a misstatement -
look at topology, please)? Well, some seem to think so. Too, are the sum total
of all people's views reality?
Aside1: Humans, please, get over
yourselves (and your selfies) - that which is called "Pluto" was
there long before we became aware of such. The world was here long before your
entrance glorified the realm of existence.
Aside2: Yet, were we not made in
the Image (purposefully left dangling)?
---
Since people are so involved in
truth, and what it is, we can look at categories. For starters, we can take
two. On the one side are those who excel at STEM. Now, mind you, some of these
are the best-and-brightest. But, no, not all of the b-and-b are good at
mathematics. STEMers, for a large part, might do well since they can focus and
filter without expending much energy. Others might be more like the turtle
(however, in some cases, slow and thorough beats quick and dirty). For
instance, some types of dyslexia make it hard to handle things like numbers.
There are other examples. Engineers, by design of the discipline, do STEM.
Now, what is the other side? Before
we look at that, please be aware that some who are of this ilk can do STEM, too
(The blogger – he will quote Von Neumann who said that we do not understand
mathematics, we get used to it. True,
operationally. But, mathematics is more discovered than created). So, what is
it about this non-STEM side that is of essence? Intuition, for the most part
(that which is behind creativity and other great talents).
There is much to discuss, here. But,
poets, painters, and others demonstrate the facility. In this case, we will use
the Beats as the example of a type of truth processing. The reasons for this choice will be apparent when
the discussion continues with a later post.
Remarks: Modified:
07/27/2015
07/19/2015 -- This post was done using a
professional editor implying that a new process will be put into place.
07/27/2015 -- Another
poster boy popped up the other day.
