“We are dwarfs on the shoulders of giants.”

--Bernard of Chartres,
circa 1130 CE

Mike's Takeaway:

This speaks to the power of cultural transmission. While animals teach their young, humans alone possess the transcendental intelligence to record, describe, and write down ideas. This ability allows knowledge to endure across generations, transcending time and space, building on past wisdom to shape our future.

That’s the bottom line.

Now, let’s explore this quote a bit more…

Bernard of Chartres, a 12th-century French philosopher, coined the phrase “We are dwarfs on the shoulders of giants.” Recorded by John of Salisbury in 1159, it emphasizes the importance of building upon the discoveries and knowledge of those who came before us, allowing us to see further and achieve greater understanding.

This adage encapsulates the essence of human progress achieved through transcendental intelligence (TI). TI is our more advanced cultural transmission abilities to describe, record, and share ideas through language and writing. It allows for the accumulation of wisdom, innovation, and progress that transcends the mind. This unique form of human cultural transmission enables us to build upon the knowledge and discoveries of previous generations.

Unlike animals bound to instinctual learning, humans possess transcendental intelligence which allows us to stand on the intellectual shoulders of our predecessors. Through recorded ideas, we transcend the limitations of individual lifespans. This intellectual heritage is the cornerstone of civilization, enabling us to solve complex problems and explore the universe’s mysteries.

The end!

Tidbits make it possible to build slowly and honestly, without losing track of where an idea came from.

This work is meant to serve both readers and future tools—preserving reasoning, sources, and structure for long-term use.