Wisdom Builder

Three Tidbit Stories

Topic:

Relativity

Einstein-based spacetime, gravity, and motion.

MODE:

Speed: 1.00

Relativity.

3 random tidbit stories in about 3 minutes.

Idea 1.

A Relativity FAQ.

Why did the prisoner choose the bread over the key?.

This thought experiment, and ones like it, explore human behavior as a metaphor. They suggest a scenario where immediate survival (the bread) is prioritized over long-term freedom (the key). Last week we explored this one from cognitive biases, using the present bias.

These questions permeate philosophy and religion. For example, in the Bible, Genesis 25 tells the story of Esau trading his birthright for a bowl of stew, highlighting the sacrifice of long-term rewards for immediate relief.

These questions delve into our choices, and the factors influencing them, such as desperation, lack of hope, or inability to see the value of freedom in the face of hunger, lust, and desire. They highlight a profound dilemma about human priorities: should we address immediate, tangible needs or consider abstract, long-term benefits?

In 30 Philosophers I explore these themes from both Eastern and Western views. In chapter 6 on Buddhism, this idea is addressed in the impermanence of worldly needs and the importance of seeking enlightenment.

In chapter 11 on Epicureanism, I cover the idea of prioritizing long-term pleasures over short term ones. Epicurus wants you to learn to value the long-term feeling of being full over the short-term excitement of eating another desert. And the long-term pleasure of a committed relationship over the short-term ecstasy of an affair. That sort of thing.

This dilemma resonates with themes explored in Chapter 31 on Existentialism too. In that chapter, the tension between survival instincts and the pursuit of freedom and meaning is central. These questions explore human psychology, themes of survival, freedom, and human motivation.

I wrote that Relativity FAQ,

and posted it to TST 2 years ago.

Idea 2.

A Relativity Vocabulary.

Universal.

In chapter 18 of 30 Philosophers is this definition.

Universals are the properties, actions, and relations, that are shared by, but may transcend, multiple concrete objects and/or abstract entities.

Notice the use of “but may transcend” in the book. I had to include that broader definition because it was part of the introduction to Plato, his Realm of Forms, and a detailed discussion on universals and the Idea of Ideas. In philosophy, that works. In TST, it is not needed so we have a shorter definition:

A universal is a repeatable pattern among concrete objects, abstract entities, or both.

This definition keeps the useful part and lets go of the extra metaphysical weight. Universals help connect concrete objects and abstract entities in this material world. And, universals can appear in either, or both. The mass of a rock is a concrete object example. Fairness, coherence, and loyalty point toward abstract entities. A butterfly can have physical symmetry in its wings. A geometric shape can have abstract symmetry in math. Same universal, different kinds of entities. In all cases, the mind notices a repeatable pattern. The pattern is what makes the universal useful.

The types of universals are properties, actions, and relations. A property describes what something is like: red, heavy, or tall. An action describes what something does or undergoes: walking, choosing, or promising. A relation describes how one thing stands to another: above, equal to, or caused by. These repeatable features let the mind compare things without treating every moment as completely new.

This also clarifies the difference between universals and schemas. A universal is a repeatable pattern among things. A schema is the mind’s idea of a repeatable pattern. The universal names the repeatable pattern. The mind uses and modifies schemas to make sense of patterns.

I wrote that Relativity Vocabulary,

and posted it to TST 3 months ago.

Idea 3.

A Relativity Story.

Land Hearing Emerges: Amphibians.

370 Mya

Land Hearing Emerges; Yet Larger Brains.

Hearing, which initially appeared in early fish, underwent a remarkable transformation as vertebrates transitioned to terrestrial life a bit after 400 million years ago. Early forms of hearing involved simple pressure-sensitive cells that could detect vibrations in water. As amphibians moved onto land, rudimentary hearing evolved into processing airborne sound. This transition further drove the need for enhanced brain capacity to process increasingly complex sensory information.

Acanthostega (circa 365 Mya): Hearing, a critical evolutionary advancement, underwent significant changes as vertebrates transitioned from aquatic to terrestrial environments. While the earliest forms of hearing evolved in water, allowing organisms to detect vibrations through their bodies, the move onto land posed new challenges and opportunities for auditory systems. Acanthostega, an early amphibian, exemplifies this transition. This period marks a crucial phase in the development of auditory systems capable of detecting a broader range of sounds, setting the stage for the complex hearing abilities observed in later terrestrial vertebrates.

Phylum: Chordata > Subphylum: Vertebrata > Class: Sarcopterygii (Lobe-finned fishes)

I wrote that Relativity Story,