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All Ideas: All minus descriptions. From 30 Philosophers: “An idea in everyday conversation is a mental construct that describes something. It is a bit nebulous and overarching, so I use it in that manner. In the Idea of Ideas framework:
“An Idea is a mental construct that stems from impressions, describing concrete objects or abstract entities of the material world or beyond.”
Notice ideas stem from impressions, but do not originate from them. They are not direct live impressions; live impressions of the senses do not directly become ideas. Ideas are a result of recalled impressions involving cognitive processes. When a recalled impression manifests as a memory paired with interpretation or labeling, it qualifies as an idea. For instance, merely revisiting the raw sensation of anger is not an idea. But when you feel that anger and label it as bad, it evolves into an idea. When you are startled, that’s not an idea. The urge to run because you are startled, that’s an idea.”
- Empirical Ideas: Direct observations of the universe.
- Rational: Indirect ideas about empirical ideas.
- Irrational: New ideas, speculation, and the disproven.
- Rediscoveries: Forgotten, then returned to our “current” Grand Rational Framework of common knowledge.
The Ideas Timeline
Big Bang Expansion
NASA/WMAP Science Team, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
13.8 Billion Years Ago
Verified. Empirically supported and rationally deduced.
Free Will
Free Will: two general types. Determinism says everything that happens is set in stone and can't be changed; in contrast, indeterminism says people and animals make choices.
How predetermined are our choices?
Evolution
Darwin identified several key categories, which are often discussed today as natural selection, sexual selection, and artificial selection.
Our true origin story.
Cultural Transmission
What separates humans from animals.
Great Apes: Medicine Emerges
18 Million Years Ago, ± 3 million years
Causal reasoning, Early prefrontal integration
Early Stone Tools
3.3 Million BCE (Hominins)
Prefrontal Cortex Expansion, Internal 3D modeling
Hand Axe
Hand axes: Humans started using them nearly 2 million years ago. These meticulously crafted tools exemplify the advanced technological skills and cognitive capabilities of early humans. Its sophisticated design and precise craftsmanship underscore a deep understanding of material properties and tool use.
1.76 Million BCE
Fire-Altered Stone Tools
"<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=55942692" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">File:Flint tools, Numbers 41-64 (Top left to bottom right) (FindID 132815).jpg</a>" by The Portable Antiquities Scheme, Adam Daubney, 2006-05-17 10:54:28 is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC BY-SA 2.0</a>
790,000 BCE
Genus Homo
Oldest Surviving Spear
350,000 BCE
400,000 to 300,000 BCE
The Invention of Bread
Assortment of baked bread
Before 14,400 BCE
Middle East
Corn
Glass Gem Flint Corn
Before 9000 BCE
Mexico
Plaster Invented
Photo by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/rikwebco-452946/?utm_source=instant-images&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">rikwebco</a> on <a href="https://pixabay.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a>
before 9000 BCE
The Domestication of Rice
Bali Rice Fields
circa 8000 BCE
China
Beer, Ale, Wine
glass of beer, sausages and bread on the table
circa 7000 BCE
9,000 Years Ago
Cheese
Delicious Cheese board. Assortment of cheese, camembert, brie, Gorgonzola, parmesan, olives
Before 5500 BCE
Poland
Man Made Glass
3500 BCE
Knowledge Framework
Knowledge frameworks are the mind’s filing system. They do not just store information—they shape how we sort ideas, test claims, and decide what deserves belief.
A network of ideas.
New Look
Philosophy
The what, why, and how of life.
Chocolate
Cocoa powder and cocoa beans
Before 1900 BCE
Mesoamerica
Dragons: Early Dinosaur Fossils
Mythical Creatures and Fossil Discoveries: The Roots of Ancient Legends. Many various ancient mythical creatures were likely inspired by fossil discoveries including Chinese dragons, Greco-Roman giants, griffins, cyclopes, and other mythical beasts.
By 1600 BCE
Oldest Known Monotheistic Religion: Atenism
In the ninth year of the reign of Akhenaten, he declared the traditional supreme God Aten to be the only God of Egypt with himself as the sole communicator to Aten. About the image: Akhenaton and Nefertiti seated, holding 3 of their daughters.
1344 BCE
circa 1340 to 1320 BCE
Major Religion: Hinduism
Hinduism, one of the world's oldest religions, emerged around 1100 BCE, several centuries after the Indus Valley Civilization collapsed. Hinduism has no known roots in the IVC, but it's a topic to follow as we uncover clues.
1100 BCE (+/- 300 years)
125 Generations Ago
Ontology
Who you are is partly given, but who you become is always unfolding.
The Nature of Being.
We are more than self-aware.
Holism
Nature is the master plan.
The Birth of Logic
624 BCE
Circa 624-546 BCE
Spherical Earth
Realistic Earth Planet against the the star sky
600 BCE
Wu-wei or “non-action”
Go with the flow of nature.
Ziran, Authenticity, or Authentic Self
Let life unfold organically.
Unknowable Dao
The Unknowable Dao reminds us that when we define something too tightly, we risk mistaking our description for the thing itself.
We can only describe nature.
Normalcy, Normal, and Abnormal
Normalcy is a pattern-based idea formed from repeated experience and reinforced by social expectations.
Normal is our current experiences.
New Look
Schemas
The abstractions of life.
Non-Self or Anatman and Self or Atman
Imagined image: The concept of non-self, emphasizing the idea that nothing lasts forever and the notion that the "self" does not exist. It captures the transient nature of existence and the dissolution of the perceived self into the natural world.
Your idea of "self" does not exist.
Nondualism and Dualism
Imagined image: The concepts of nondualism and dualism. The philosophical exploration of the mind, body, and reality, the distinctions and connections between them.
The separation of mind and body is an illusion.
Impermanence and Flux
Change is the only constant.
Worldview
You do not see the world raw. You see it through a worldview. That worldview grows from the frameworks you inherit and adopt, and it continues to change as your experience changes.
Your sub-culture and choices.
Identity
Identity is the personal mosaic that makes you you. It includes what you were born into, what you have chosen, and what has changed along the way. It is not fixed at birth. It is shaped over time through living, learning, belonging, and becoming.
Existence before essence.
Crafting yourself from your given traits.
Anaxagoras (circa 500-428 BCE)
500 BCE
circa 450 BCE
Reflective Inquiry
A constant state of self-assessment.
Ignorance is Bliss
Strategic ignorance.
Syllogisms
Logically connect things.
Rationalism
Prioritize your ideas over reality.
Empiricism
Prioritize reality over your ideas.
Logic
Reality is organized and mathematical.
Logical Fallacies
Flaws in reasoning.
Eudaimonia
Flourish now and into the future.
Skepticism
Question your beliefs and avoid dogmatism.
Social Constructs 101
Social constructs are the human-made concepts shaping our reality.
Shared, not natural agreements.
Epicurean Happiness Toolkit: A 4-Step Structure
Epicurean Agnosticism is the indifference to unknowable mysteries that are likely to lead to unhappiness.
New Look
Agnosticism
The essence of agnosticism is the uncertainty and indifference toward the unknowable.
Don't waste time on the unknowable.
Live in the present.
Dichotomy of Pleasure
Dichotomy of Pleasure: Epicureanism highlights the difference between short-term and long-term pleasures. They assert you can live a better life by focusing on long-term pleasures like exercise and reading over short-term pleasures like overeating and getting drunk.
Prefer long term pleasures over short.
Allegorical Interpretation
Imagined Image: Philo of Alexandria reinterpreting the story of Noah through allegorical interpretation. It captures the essence of his scholarly reinterpretation with symbolic elements.
Stories have complex meanings.
Earliest Known Magnification
crystal lens ball in a woman’s hand, with a refracted view of a misty country lane
65 CE
Cognitive Reframing
Emotions are judgements.
Negative Visualization
Contemplate the future.
Cognitive Distancing
Cognitive Distancing and the Stoic View from Above: Gain clarity and objectivity by mentally elevating yourself to see the broader perspective, reducing the emotional impact of transient thoughts.
Step outside your reality.
Cause and Effect
Cause and effect, the idea that every action has a reaction and ethical implications of personal responsibility and the acceptance of consequences.
Karma
Cognitive Biases
Cognitive bias: the mind’s attempt to simplify complexity can quietly distort perception. Without discipline, shortcuts become traps — shaping decisions, inflating certainty, and steering judgment away from reality.
Maya, Illusion.
Chronoception
Chronoception: remembering past events, experiencing the present, and anticipating the future.
Spacetime
Eternity
Augustine's concept of eternity as 'all time at once,' positioned as a precursor to the modern block universe theory. Time existing simultaneously.
Block Theory of the Universe
New Look
Intellect
The Journey of Intellect: From the potential of a blank canvas, through the exploration of creating, to the mastery of refining a masterpiece. This triptych captures the evolution of human thought and creativity.
Blank slate filled with impressions
Essence and Existence
Existence precedes essence: we are born into biological structure, but identity forms over time. No prewritten metaphysical script — only structured reality, evolving memory, and the eventual fading of each life into history’s shadow.
You exist, then you mold your essence.
The Five Senses of Humans
Olfaction or Sense of Smell Study.
Circa 1020
New Look
Touchstone: Perception
Perception, how the brain interprets sensory information and transforms it into understanding.
Interpretation
Intent
Good Intent vs Good Results
Pattern Recognition
Humans possess a remarkable ability to hierarchically organize the patterns they perceive, known as pattern ranking. From simple shapes and natural forms to complex abstract symbols, our minds categorize and rank these patterns, creating a structured understanding of the world. This image illustrates the cognitive process of organizing and interacting with patterns, highlighting the depth and complexity of human perception.
Patterns in Nature
Hourglass
Hourglass on the Beach
1400
Printing Press Invented
The printing press gave journalism reach, making public scrutiny possible at a larger scale.
1440
Germany
The Five Thieves
The Sikh concept of The Five Thieves: Lust, Anger, Greed, Attachment, and Ego.
5 ethical guideposts
Microscope Invented = Microworld Discovered!
Various bacteria cells in microscope. Streptococcus pneumonia, p
1590 to 1640 CE
Separation of Church and State
1748 with Montesquieu
Evolved from 1640 through 1748
Liberalism
Liberalism emphasizes personal freedom, individual rights, equality before the law, and limited government intervention. It is political freedom and civil liberties.
Everyone is equal.
Modern Cosmology
"<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/11304375@N07/2818891443" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">01 The Solar System PIA10231, mod02</a>" by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/11304375@N07" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Image Editor</a> is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC BY 2.0</a>
1608
Galileo: Observation Corrects the Map
Portrait of Galileo at about 74. He included a copy in his 1638 Two New Sciences book.
1610
The Scientific Method
1629
Modern science started in the 1600s.
Relativity Principle
Jul 1632
Law
Public belief may accuse, praise, or panic. Law slows that down and asks: what can actually be shown?
Law protects.
Modern law emerges after the Middle Ages.
Natural Rights
Life, Liberty, & Property Rights
Due Process
Protection against authority.
Emerged in the 1600s.
Infinitesimal
1638
Mind-Body Dualism
1641 - Two Substances: Body & Soul
Cartesian Dualism
Descartes Thought Experiment
Descartes' thought experiment: Descartes questioned the reliability of his senses, contemplated rational ideas with things like the influence of an evil demon. He eventually came to the realization "I think, therefore I am." This allowed him to emerge from an existential void. His cosmic and interconnected thought journey from doubt to certainty helped establish modern philosophy.
New Look
Monism
Imagined image emphasizing the idea of Monism with a focus on the concept of one substance and no spirit world. It highlights the continuous flow of energy and material substance, illustrating the interconnectedness of all things without any separate realms.
God is nature, nature is everything.
Western monism emerged with Spinoza in the 1600s.
Material-Spiritual Framework
The Material-Spiritual Framework's division of spirituality into agnostic, nontheistic, and theistic.
Spirituality is exploration.
New Look
Protozoa Discovered: Microbiology Founded
About 2 billion years ago, eukaryotic cells are defined by a membrane-bound nucleus and internal organelles. Their emergence created the structural foundation for complex life.
1674
The Invention of Calculus
Photo by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/geralt-9301/?utm_source=instant-images&utm_medium=referral" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">geralt</a> on <a href="https://pixabay.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a>
5 Jul 1687
The Social Contract
Citizens consent to be governed.
Emerged about 1689.
Fourth Estate
The Fourth Estate emphasizes freedom of the press and has a role in challenging authority.
The force of public opinion.
The fourth emerged in the 18th & 19th centuries.
Journalism
Journalism tests public claims by gathering facts, checking sources, and bringing events into the open.
Storytelling for the people.
Modern journalism started in the early 1700s.
Transcendental Idealism
Our Ideas are Not Reality
The Eastern unknowable Dao emerged in the West in the late 1700s.
Categorical Imperative
Live by universal values.
Emerged in late 1700s.
Skeptical Empiricism
Skeptical Empiricism is the idea that all knowledge stems from experiences and challenges the concept of innate knowledge.
Knowledge is experience.
The Problem of Induction
The Problem of Induction illustrates the circular nature of inductive logic and the intellectual puzzle it presents.
Patterns might mislead.
Hume’s Fork
Life is definitions & observations.
New Look
Checks and Balances
Separation of Powers
Matured about 1748.
Black Holes Proposed
From Speculation to Science: From the 18th-century conjectures of John Michell and Pierre-Simon Laplace, who envisioned "dark stars" with gravitational forces so intense that not even light could escape, to the 20th century when Albert Einstein solidified the concept through his General Theory of Relativity. Image juxtaposes the early theoretical diagrams of black holes with Einstein’s detailed mathematical portrayal of spacetime curvature.
Nov 1783
Fossils: From Myth to Science
From Myth to Science: Humanity's Journey to Understanding Fossils. The journey of humanity's acceptance of fossils as extinct animals started with Robert Plot examining a large bone in the 17th century as well as Mary Anning discovering fossils along the coast, and Gideon Mantell studying Iguanodon teeth. Finally, William Buckland describes a Megalosaurus in 1824.
1824
The Birth of Paleontology
Doppler Effect for Sound and Light
1842
Anxiety “Angst”
Imagined image: Soren Kierkegaard at his famous desk feeling profound existential angst.
Use angst to guide your life.
1843: “Fear and Trembling” by Kierkegaard.
Doppler Effect Observed for Stars
In 1848, French physicist Hippolyte Fizeau confirmed Doppler's 1842 theory with light. The doppler effect with sound was confirmed three years earlier.
1848
Discovery: The Sumerian Flood Story
1853
Harm Principle
The Harm Principle: on left, solitary acts; on right, group acts.
Cause no harm.
In "On Liberty," pub. 1859.
Nihilism
Nihilism is the idea that life lacks objective meaning, purpose, and intrinsic value.
1862: Ivan Turgenev novel "Fathers and Sons"
New Look
Electromagnetic Radiation Theory
1864
Übermensch
The Übermensch, or superman, is the ideal person who transcends societal norms and self-imposed limitations.
Live Your Authentic Self
1883, 1885: From "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"
Eternal Recurrence
Live in the now.
1882/3/5: Refined in "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"
Authentic Recipe: Nietzsche’s Five-step Approach
The Nietzsche Five-step Authentic Recipe is the casting of his ideas into five steps. The journey towards an authentic self, the transformation and empowerment of your true self.
New Look
George Orwell
George Orwell wrote about how corruption starts when language is twisted, facts are manipulated, and authority demands loyalty over reality.
1903 to 1950, aged 46.
Orwellian Thought
Radiometric Dating
Iodine 131(I-131)Radioactive isotopes used for hyperthyroidism treatment are stored in Lead boxes
1905 CE
Special Relativity
Jun 1905
Consciousness
Experiencing life through the lens of consciousness.
The experience of living.
New Look
First Analog Radio Transmission
24 Dec 1906
General Relativity
Nov 1915
Heidegger’s Existentialism
Heidegger's existentialism centers on the concept of "being-there" (Dasein), which refers to the unique way humans exist and relate to the world. Heidegger explores the nature of being and emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own existence within the context of time and space. His philosophy delves into the idea of being authentic by confronting the inherent uncertainties and anxieties of life, and seeking a deeper understanding of one's place in the world through introspection and connection to nature.
Confront life head on.
1927: "Being and Time"
Galaxies Discovered! Doppler Effect used to measure distance!!
1929
Electron Microscope = Nanoworld Discovered!
pathogen virus background
1931
Oort Cloud
Rationally predicted, unconfirmed: The Oort Cloud is a theoretical vast sphere of icy objects believed to surround our solar system at distances ranging from about 2,000 to 100,000 astronomical units from the Sun.
1932
Bad Faith
The concept of "bad faith," is the contrast between living a lie and embracing one's true self.
Don't live in bad-faith, be authentic.
1943: "Being and Nothingness" by Sartre.
Sartre’s Existentialism
Sartre's existentialism emphasizes individual freedom, choice, and responsibility. It posits that existence precedes essence, meaning that individuals are not defined by any preexisting essence but instead create their own essence through actions and decisions. Sartre's philosophy focuses on the concept of "bad faith," where people deny their freedom by conforming to societal expectations, and encourages living authentically by embracing one's freedom and making deliberate, conscious choices.
Existence precedes essence.
1943: "Being and Nothingness"
Radiocarbon Dating
We all need a little CAFFEINE
1946 CE
Rediscovery: City of Catalhoyuk, circa 7100 BCE
1958
Hand Axes 1.7 Million Years Ago
Hand axes: Humans started using them nearly 2 million years ago. These meticulously crafted tools exemplify the advanced technological skills and cognitive capabilities of early humans. Its sophisticated design and precise craftsmanship underscore a deep understanding of material properties and tool use.
1960
Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)
20 May 1965
Rediscovery of the Library of Ebla: circa 2350 BCE
"<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57854047" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><div class='fn'> Proto-Cuneiform tablet: administrative account of barley distribution with cylinder seal impression of a male figure, hunting dogs, and boars. Probably from the city of Uruk.</div></a>" by null is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC CC0 1.0</a>
1975
Ancient Spears 350,000 Years Ago
1994
Discovery: Neanderthal Symbolic Thought
Neanderthal art in Spain 64k BCE, before Homo sapien arrived.
2018
Bread Making Pushed Back
Various bread with grain in a bowl on the table.
2018
Black Holes Confirmed
"<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/28634332@N05/52070907639" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sagittarius A*: NASA Telescopes Support Event Horizon Telescope in Studying Milky Way's Black Hole</a>" by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/28634332@N05" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center</a> is licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CC BY-NC 2.0</a>
Apr 2019
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