708: A changed perspective....

What makes the 20th century differ from previous centuries is in the fist place, 

    

that until well over a hundred years ago, science consisted of highly disparate disciplines and did not deal with elementary issues. 

    

Fundamental research developed since 1900 in many fields of science 

    

and more important there grew cohesion and unity in the scientific narrative about nature.

   

As we shall see, this narrative tells both about the evolution of the universe and the earth itself with its continents and oceans, 

  

about the evolution of life and about the distribution of the human species over the planet, about the different races with their various civilizations. 

   

The starting point and at the same time the framework of this story is the evolution process. 

   

Still in 1996, the American philosopher Daniel Dennett called Darwin's theory of evolution "the best idea ever". 

  

It was not until 1900, that the  Dutch botanist Hugo de Vries (1848 - 1935) developed ideas about heredity and introduced the concept of pangenes, which later was shortened to the term "genes"

He and some other scientists both repeated and rediscovered the experiments and results of the Augustinian monk Gregor Mendel with the cultivation of peas

   

and how Darwin's idea could work on the individual's level. This opened up a huge new field for scientific research.

   

An interesting historical detail is that Mendel presented his paper, "Versuche über Pflanzenhybriden" ("Experiments on Plant Hybridization"), 

  

at two meetings of the Natural History Society of Brno in Moravia on 8 February and 8 March 1865. 

  

It generated a few favorable reports in local newspapers, but was ignored by the scientific community.

    

When published again in 1866 it again had little impact, and was only cited about three times over the next thirty-five years.  

   

Notably, Charles Darwin was unaware of Mendel's paper, and it is envisaged that if he had, genetics as we know it now might have taken hold much earlier.

   

Evolution, genetics, DNA, it is all common knowledge to us and we experience it as pretty obvious. 

   

Yet it had a tremendous impact on our view of WHAT we are as well on the WAY we think about and see ourselves.

    

Maybe in contrast with the previous centuries, there is one science which had the greatest impact: psychology.

   

For us it is obvious to see ourselves as individuals with an individual character and personality, individual needs and rights.

   

But this remarkable change of perspective was initiated by Sigmund Freud (1856 - 1939) and his psycho-analysis. Man began to look inward individually.

    

How should we look at the 20th century? Primarily as a period of big and fast changes.

   

Certainly some historical changes are created by individual people. Take Stalin or Hitler for instance.

   

But at least as important are financial and economical causes and globalisation.

   

However, probably science and technology have had the greatest impact on our live in the 20th century with its computer, smartphone, birth control, internet, medicines, airplanes and so on...

    

Thank you for your attention again... ^_^

Main Sources:

MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

http://www.iep.utm.edu/

 http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.htm
Peter Watson: A Terrible Beauty (2000)

The Discussion

[13:16] Ciska Riverstone: thank you herman

[13:16] herman Bergson: So science and technology may be the biggest game changers

[13:16] CB Axel nods

[13:17] CB Axel: Changes in our ability to communicate over long distances instantly would get my vote as the biggest game changer.

[13:17] Ciska Riverstone: Metacommunication for the masses would be mine ;)

[13:17] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well thats an important thin indeed

[13:17] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like we do now

[13:17] herman Bergson: Neurobiology, I'd say

[13:17] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): telephone, internet

[13:17] Marianne Thurston (magdalena1.kira) is online.

[13:18] herman Bergson: internet in relation to privacy and ethics

[13:19] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): science is still young, they will doscover a whole lot more, things we even can';t imagine now

[13:19] herman Bergson: We claim to deal with facts and nowadays we have to deal with fake news too

[13:19] herman Bergson: True Beertje

[13:20] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i hope i live long enought to see it:)

[13:20] herman Bergson: Welll....you already have seen a lot Beertje....

[13:20] herman Bergson: radio,  TV, computer, space travel...name it

[13:20] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): not enough, i always want more:)

[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:20] herman Bergson: ok :-)

[13:21] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): men recently discoverd a new organ in human beings, we even don't know everything of our own bodies

[13:21] CB Axel: I was watching an old TV show from the '60's last night and couldn't help noticing that part of the problem the characters were having wouldn't  happen now because now we have cell phones and Skype, etc.

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes i read that as well

[13:21] herman Bergson: To understand our poistion of today is by studying on whose shoulders we stand.....that is....the 20th century

[13:22] CB Axel: It's fun to watch those old shows and compare life then to life today.

[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:22] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes CB

[13:22] herman Bergson: yes.....telephones with wires :-)

[13:23] CB Axel: Beertje, I've heard about that, too. It has the potential to change medical care completely!

[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes true CB

[13:23] herman Bergson: A lot more people are killed in traffic these days, for instance, due to the cellphones

[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): no, due not paying attention on the road

[13:24] CB Axel: Yes, but when someone gets hit by a distracted driver they can call for an ambulance a lot quicker now. °͜°

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): chasing pokemins and not looking up from the screen

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): SPLAT!

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i have seen lot of people walking into all sort of stuff while they do things like this

[13:24] herman Bergson: Good plan CB :-)

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): just looks at the screen and not anything around them, like they think they have a radar

[13:25] herman Bergson: Yes really weird behavior Bejiita ^_^

[13:25] herman Bergson: But you see it everywhere these days

[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm sure i can get focused on this pokemon game but i also realize i still have to look around now and then to see where i am

[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): kind of logical

[13:26] herman Bergson: But it shapes our world today

[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and obvious

[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): used the right way its really useful indeed

[13:27] herman Bergson: You still chase pokemions Bejiita?

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes

[13:27] herman Bergson: My impression is that this hype is over in the Netherlands

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and tomrrow its TURF beer, another gps game i play, every mnth we meet and eat and have a beer at different places while discussing the last months play

[13:28] CB Axel: I thought about getting into Pokeman, but never did.

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): www.turfgame.com

[13:28] CB Axel: It sounds kind of fun.

[13:28] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): beer in Sweden?

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Ghostbusters get a version of Pokemon now

[13:28] herman Bergson: I tried the app once

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): same concept

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ghostbusters world i think it is called

[13:29] CB Axel: I may have to look for that.

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0EkNfPbu4c

[13:29] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): virtual reality will be a great part of our lives i presume

[13:29] herman Bergson: Guess we are changing into a group of gamers now :-)

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Ghostbusters World, is an all-new state-of-the-art augmented reality game currently in development. The game features the latest in AR and other mobile technologies and differentiates itself with skill-based gameplay and numerous other exciting features yet to be announced. Gameplay will enable players to battle and capture hundreds of ghosts from all dimensions of the franchise, including the films, TV shows, comic books, theme parks, and video games. The game will also feature new and unique ghosts to the franchise. The Ghostbusters World Game is currently in development as part of a collaboration between Sony Pictures Entertainment Consumer Products, Ghost Corps and publisher FourThirtyThree Inc.(4:33).

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well its also technologu

[13:30] herman Bergson: Here you see how technology affects us so much :-)

[13:30] CB Axel: There's your next topic: The Philosopy of Gaming. °͜°

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): AR is indeed hot nowadays

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the latest thing

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and contunues to evolve

[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): will there anybody who will enjoy silence in the future?

[13:31] CB Axel: I can't tolerate complete silence for long now. :(

[13:32] Ewa Aska is online.

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well same here, right now i have my speakers blasting me with some mighty music from the stream here

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): gets me in mood for this

[13:32] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i love silence

[13:32] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): complete silence

[13:32] herman Bergson: YEs...me too :-)

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): complete silence i really onlywant while asleep

[13:33] CB Axel: I don't even sleep to silence. I listen to audiobooks.

[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok

[13:33] CB Axel: It's like being read a bedtime story. °͜°

[13:33] herman Bergson: Well....if these were the final remarks and questions we now can enjoy silence again ^_^

[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah, yes i have tried some before also

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): dont remember the name of ot though,

[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): sometimes i wish they hadn't invented the radio

[13:34] herman Bergson: I listen to audiobooks every day :-)

[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): must be a very nice century in 1800:)

[13:34] CB Axel: Well, I still think the speed of global communication is the most important change in the last century. °͜°

[13:34] herman Bergson: I sometimes think of the times Bach lived.....

[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes

[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): kamermuziek...

[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :)

[13:35] herman Bergson: Must have been a silent time...except in church or at a palace

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed, like how we can sit here and communicate like we are in the same room

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): even we are all over the world

[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): not every invention is a nice invention

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and we take it for granted

[13:36] herman Bergson: It must have been magical to hear the huge organ in a cathedral play

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well indeed

[13:36] CB Axel: Nature isn't silent. Even outside of a church or palace there is sound.

[13:37] herman Bergson: Yes of course, but not the organized sound called music :-)

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): not eve sure my rig can really reproduce the full of it, well logically it cant even it have both lot of bass and good highs

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but everything from classical to psy trance sound good on these

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): just have to think a bot on the neighbours

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lol

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): bit

[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): are you afraid of silence Bijiita?

[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): some folks are

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): not afraid, i get tired in a while though

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): plus if im working on some project i often select something getting me in the mood, for ex steampunk style music for when working with a such game ect

[13:38] CB Axel: Every Sunday I meet in SL with friends to listen to the radio programme The Naked Scientists. Last week they were focusing on the sense of hearing. Fascinating show.

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and classical for events like these

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): it gets you more immersed in the setting

[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): plus all these cool hip hop tunes i use to rl dance to

[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): depends on wht im doing basically

[13:39] herman Bergson: Has our hearing changed due to all the technological changes orund us?

[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i think so

[13:40] CB Axel: Yes. It's a much noisier world and can damage our hearing.

[13:40] CB Axel: But we're learning new ways to restore it.

[13:40] herman Bergson: HAve we psychologically changed due to easy acccess to music?

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well at least from using loud machines like chain saws and angle grinders without hearing protection

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that will quiclky change it to the worse

[13:40] CB Axel: Yes, Bejiita. And headsets like the one I'm wearing now.

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but from ordinary music at moderate volume

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): not sure

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): if you mean how good our hearing is

[13:41] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): some have ..mysofonie?...is that the word

[13:41] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): they get sick from loud noise

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): to loud noise is unpleasant, plus since i know i have good hearing and is a bit of an audiphile i dont want to damage it

[13:42] CB Axel: misophonia?

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): not heard that term however

[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): that is the development of the science too

[13:43] CB Axel: Misophonia

Synonyms    Select sound sensitivity syndrome, sound-rage[1][2]

Person-woman-music-pink.jpg

People who are sensitive to certain sounds sometimes cope by blocking them out.

Misophonia, literally "hatred of sound", was proposed in 2000 as a condition in which negative emotions, thoughts, and physical reactions are triggered by specific sounds.

[13:43] herman Bergson: Guess me may turn of our sound now too till the next lecture :-)

[13:43] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): the inventions are not allpleasnat

[13:43] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): pleasant

[13:43] herman Bergson: Unless you still have a vitala question.....

[13:43] Guestboook van tipjar stand: CB Axel donated L$100. Thank you very much, it is much appreciated!

[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like my mom cringes when im scratching cutlery into a plate

[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lol

[13:44] herman Bergson: Let me thank you again for your particiaption today....

[13:44] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman

[13:44] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :)))

[13:44] herman Bergson: Class dismissed...:-))

[13:44] CB Axel: I get nauseated at the sound of Trump's voice or even the mention of his name.

[13:44] Ciska Riverstone: thank you herman

[13:44] CB Axel: OK. Thank you, Herman.

[13:44] CB Axel: See you all on Thursday.

[13:44] bergfrau Apfelbaum: thank you Herman and Class:-)

[13:44] Ciska Riverstone: thanx everyone ㋡

[13:44] herman Bergson: There again you see the impact of technology....

[13:45] herman Bergson: that man is on TV and youtube!

[13:45] CB Axel: °͜°

[13:45] CB Axel: So long, everyone.

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): next time

[13:45] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): have a quit night:)

[13:46] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): quiet?

[13:46] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): im gonna see if i find some event, program a little more then sleep

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and find some good music to go with that

[13:46] herman Bergson: Enjoy BEjiita :-)

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok cu arund

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

707: A first visit to the 20th Century......

In 1630 Puritan colonists from England founded Boston. I take this city as an example, because I have been there once and loved its historical character at fist sight.

   

In 1876 Boston started building its first Sewer System. State legislators approved the construction of the Boston Main Drainage System. 

  

The new system, built between 1877 and 1884, diverted sewage from 18 cities and town to Moon Island in Boston Harbor. 

   

Great progress, of course, but look how fast this progress took place. The Romans already built sewer systems, nevertheless 

   

it took Boston 246 years to move from open sewer to a more bearable civilized town. Have you ever wondered about the stench in Boston during those 246 years?

   

As a contrast, in less than 40 years all households in the Netherlands were connected by cable, which gave access to TV and Internet.

   

A funny cynic might say...right.... the other sewer system, but my point here is the interaction between man and environment., the speed with which changes take place and its consequences.

   

And that is what brought us into the 21st century: a 20th century in which changes of innumerable aspects of our daily life has made the world, what it is today.

   

When you study general history books about the 20th century, nine out of ten concentrate mainly on the same political and military events: 

  

the two world wars, the Russian Revolution, the depression of the 1930s,  Stalin's Russia, Hitler's Germany, the colonization, the Cold War. It is a laundry list of horrors.

   

But you can approach the history of the 20th century also from another perspective. There has happened more than wars and genocides and disasters.

   

And when we move all these events into the background, we see another picture. We see, that science and scientific thinking become established.

   

Science has offered us such a plethora of new methods and products that is has changed everybody's life.

  

But apart from WHAT we think about, it also changed the WAY we think about things.

   

Indeed it is true, that science is already around for a 350 years and that in the 20th century we saw only 

   

the maturation of a process that had actually started earlier, with Copernicus and Francis Bacon. 

  

To a certain extent this is correct. Yet the 20th century differed in some crucial respects from previous centuries. 

In the first place, until well over a hundred years ago, science consisted of highly disparate disciplines and did not deal with elementary issues. 

  

Thus John Dalton (1766 - 1844) concluded at the beginning of the 19th century ( in fact in 1808) that the atom had to exist, but nobody had even come close to the evidence or had an idea how to deliver it. 

  

The remarkable thing about the 20th century is not only that the stream of discoveries became a deluge, 

   

but also that so many fundamental discoveries have been made in many fields

  

like physics, cosmology, chemistry, geology, biology, paleontology, archeology and psychology. 

  

It also belongs to the striking historical coincidences that most of them, like the electron, the gene, the quantum and the subconscious, were done in or around 1900.

  

It looks like, that we learned more in one century than in alle preceding centuries together and the pivot of it all is science. Worth digging into.......

    

Thank you for your attention again...^_^

The Discussion

[13:20] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i wonder what lies ahead of us

[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed

[13:20] herman Bergson: Yes Beertje....

[13:20] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): must be very interesting

[13:20] herman Bergson: if developments even increase speed.....who knows

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:21] herman Bergson: But the most important thing is....homo sapiens with his 1400cc brain mass has to cope with it :-)

[13:21] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): will our brains change?

[13:22] herman Bergson: and an interesting observation is that we did rather well sofar...in my opinion

[13:22] herman Bergson: Well Beertje.....

[13:22] CB Axel: I don't think our brains will change much. It will just be augmented by AI.

[13:22] herman Bergson: not in volume I guess, but yet by implants of chips

[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes

[13:23] herman Bergson: But here the thing is....

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cyborgs

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:23] Lente (lentelies.anatine) is offline.

[13:23] herman Bergson: digital implants are probably just rational augemntations....what will it do to our emotional part

[13:24] Piovefiore: I am reminded of the warnings of Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk about AI they both seem to believe it can very easily get out of control

[13:24] herman Bergson: Not the AI, but men believing in it....that is the danger

[13:24] herman Bergson: You already see it today....

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): everyone have just watched to many terminator movies

[13:25] herman Bergson: all kinds of organizations use computer models to predict whatever...

[13:25] CB Axel: That's a nice distinction, Herman. Love of AI is the root of all evil.

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): can a machine really program itself to o agains us and be impossible to shut down?

[13:25] herman Bergson: It can be indeed CB......a new religion.....

[13:26] CB Axel: Oh, the old religion of worshiping money is still going strong.

[13:26] Piovefiore: We'll have to implement Asimov's laws of robotics

[13:26] herman Bergson: `Guess so indeed Piovrefiore :-)

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:27] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): there will be a Homo Roboticus

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lol

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and I will be its programmer!

[13:27] herman Bergson: Bu tthe ten commandments didnt work on man....so what about those laws for robots? :-)

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): MUAHAHAH! CONCIDER YOURSELF DOMINATED!

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lol

[13:27] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Be !

[13:28] herman Bergson: Resistance is futile, Bejiita :-)

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed

[13:28] Piovefiore: 1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aa that one is familiar

[13:29] herman Bergson: Amazing stuff indeed Piovrefiore :-)

[13:29] herman Bergson: Laws by Asimov

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes

[13:29] roos Gartner is online.

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): I have another one

[13:29] Piovefiore: Indeed, we have developed intellectually, technically, but have we really developed as ethical beings?

[13:29] CB Axel: What would the robot do if a human was harming another human.

[13:29] herman Bergson: Simple answer...NO

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): THE BOSS RULES. 1 The boss always have it right. 2: should the boss have it wrong rule nr 1 is automatically applied

[13:30] herman Bergson: and that is so interesting....

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lol

[13:30] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol Bejiita

[13:30] Piovefiore: The catalogue of horrors you mentioned certainly suggest that

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:30] Piovefiore: LOl

[13:31] herman Bergson: But Bejiita....you know what rules inn class are here....:-)

[13:31] Piovefiore: CB, Asimov has several wonderful books of short stories where he examines all the "what ifs..." of the laws of robotics

[13:31] CB Axel: Does he? I'll have to look for that. Thank you.

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok

[13:32] herman Bergson: Yes he has CB...I.  robot is one of them

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sounds interesting

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): I robot i thought was a will smith film

[13:32] Piovefiore: In a sense it seems timelier now than when he wrote them :)

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): a good one indeed

[13:32] Piovefiore: It is based on Asimov's Book :)

[13:32] herman Bergson: He was ahead of his time, it seems

[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa ok, well its hammer on the nail about the problems with AI for sure

[13:34] Piovefiore: There is a youtube video of an interview with an AI robot, where the robot talks about "human zoos"

[13:34] herman Bergson: I guess we all feel jhow the wind blows these days

[13:35] herman Bergson: It was the 20th century that served us with all this developments....

[13:36] herman Bergson: So I d suggest we dig on next week :-)

[13:36] Piovefiore: :)

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :)

[13:36] herman Bergson: unless you still have a remark left

[13:37] herman Bergson: Thank you all again ofr  your participation :-))

[13:37] CB Axel: Thank you, Herman.

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): nice again

[13:37] Ciska Riverstone: thank you herman

[13:37] herman Bergson: Class dismissed...

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu next time

[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:37] Piovefiore: Thanks a lot

706: THE 20th CENTURY REVISITED...

Welcome at our new project about the 20th century. Also welcome to my reshaped place. The first real change after at least a 10 years.

   

You may wonder, why a period of 100 years should be so special compared with all the other centuries.

   

And is 1900 as starting point not just an arbitrary  number on a manmade timeline? I don't think so and hope to show you.

   

You may not see what is happening on a broader scale when you are part of the proces yourself and in the midst of it.

   

Let me draw you a wider perspective to get the feeling of what I mean and what we are part of in 2018.

    

First primate like creatures appeared a 4.5 million years ago on earth. It took the evolving creature about a 2 million years to learn to use tools.

    

Then another million years to learn the use of fire. And just a 600.000 years ago we meet the Homo erectus and the homo heidelbergensis.

  

Topnotch technology in those days was the stone tipped spear. It took another 400.000 years to bring this smart ass, homo sapiens, on the scene.

    

As you see, developments are speeding up, from millions of years  to hundreds of thousand of years to get to the next level.

  

Next stages of evolution take steps of ten thousands of years. The Cro-Magnons were the first early anatomically modern humans that lived in the European Upper Paleolithic (50.000 - 10.000 years ago).

   

To approach reality and life with philosophical questions took another 38.000 years...... 

  

India was earlier, but when we focus on Europe, Thales of Milete lived a 2600 years ago. He is regarded to be the first Ancient Greek philosopher.

   

It took homo sapiens another 2300 years to change his philosophical, religious interpretation of reality into a scientific interpretation.

   

That means, man came up with explanations about his world, which could be checked and tested and from which predictions could be deduced. 

    

First steps were taken during the Renaissance and around 1700 the microcosmos and macrocosmos were subjects of physical science.

   

As you see, fundamental changes to our existence took place at an increasing speed. Ok, we are still talking about steps of centuries, but yet....

  

From 1700 on the steps taken in understanding our existence can be measured in centuries or even less.

   

The amazing thing here to observe is, with what speed homo sapiens interacted with his environment with respect to his survival.

   

In the period of 1700 to 1900 science began to claim its place. Religious dogmas were smashed to pieces and laws of nature became the rule.

   

What is so special about the period 1900 to 2000, the lifetime we are part of? Maybe you already got the answer.....SPEED.

   

The way we interact with our environment as homo sapiens is changing at a greater speed than ever in history.

   

We started with changes per millions of years, then thousands of years.Got really fast when we saw changes within centuries,

   

but what we hardly perceive is that we are in a rollercoaster of changes in our days, all happening in the 20th century and on, of course.

   

Let me give you one example. It took centuries to create democracy and universal suffrage and equality for men and women in that respect.

   

Cambridge Analytics started its project in 2014, if I am not mistaken and within 4 years it succeeded in destroying freedom of choice

   

by gathering data on 50 million Americans . If these  Americans discussed matters with friends and neighbors....say 100 million Americans.

  

CA implemented sneaky influencing  individual voters on demand of a political party. 

    

THAT is the result of the 20th century.....so worth to look into and that is what we are going to do.

   

Thank you for your attention again....^_^

If you have questions or remarks...the floor is yours...:-)

The Discussion

[13:28] CB Axel: This seems like it will be a fun topic. °͜°

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes

[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): why i joined and left facebook in about 20 mins some years back!!

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:29] herman Bergson: I hope so CB :-)

[13:29] Piovefiore: It is very interesting!

[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): saw them grab my mail list and that was that!!

[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it will be

[13:29] Ciska Riverstone: thanx herman hi everyone

[13:29] CB Axel: Except for the people I'm friends with on FB, I don't think I'm being influenced politically by it.

[13:29] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): hi Ciska

[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): gld you go  here Ciska

[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): got in ciska

[13:30] CB Axel: Hi, Ciska.

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm if FB hacks your mail list to bomb you with spam it is not a good thing

[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or something even worse

[13:30] CB Axel: I don't read spam.

[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it may not influence you cb but grabbing all the data from your friends slist you dont know what they do with it

[13:30] CB Axel: I rarely open anything I don't recognize as something I'd want to read.

[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): this latest thing we know

[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but it is what we dont know yet that is more interesting

[13:31] herman Bergson: My strategy too CB

[13:31] CB Axel: Yes, they can send spam to my contacts, but they can control what they do with it.

[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): once you are there you have to worry about protecting everyone

[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so far there have not been any harm to me at least

[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): phooey

[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): how do you know bej

[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): you dont!!

[13:31] CB Axel: Not really. They have to worry about protecting themselves.

[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ok gives up

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well what can they have interest in harming me

[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): what is harm tho

[13:32] Piovefiore: I think FB has narrowed all of our views in some ways, in my case, I very rarely see dissenting or alternative voices in my feed because of the algorythms they use, you end up continuall preaching to the choir so to speak

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but i mostly just use it to check events coming up and arranging meetings with friends

[13:32] herman Bergson: What you are discussing now is the result of only half of one century!!!

[13:32] CB Axel: Don't give up. Explain to me why I'm responsible for what my friends do?

[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!

[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...

[13:33] CB Axel: I honestly want to know.

[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): if we go back to early century there were suddeny laws prohibiting alcohol in usa

[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): big crime arrived

[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): moonshine

[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): if new laws affect facebook we will see

[13:34] CB Axel: So they send me ads targeted at my interests. I have AdBlock on my browser. I don't see them and wouldn't click on them if I did see them.

[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): there are those who call grandmothers and say i am your grandson i got kidnapped

[13:34] herman Bergson: Let's get back to the larger picture....plz

[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): se nd money

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): one thing however is now you often cant access a web page if you have adblock because they claim they loose all their income

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so they block you if you block their advertizing

[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): where did they get the info that billy was your grandson

[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I'm Sorry!

[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I sorry..

[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): back to the big picture

[13:35] herman Bergson: wikipedia would never do that and that is at least an interesting place togo :-)

[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): very

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but indeed, one thing that surely have changed in a fast pace is the way we communicate, with mobiles and omputers

[13:35] Piovefiore: Agreed

[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and so far no ads

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:36] herman Bergson: well Bejiita...if you compare that to the development of script and book printing and its speed of development ;-)

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes

[13:36] Piovefiore: Yes

[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hate to say it Herman but you were the one that mentioned cambridge

[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i never would have thought about that

[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): :-)

[13:37] herman Bergson: we still have, like our ancestors only 1400 cc of brainvolume.....it never grew....

[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that is 21st century

[13:37] herman Bergson: in fact, compared with the Cro-Magnon who had 1600 cc it even shrinked :-)))

[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that is amazing how much is learned and retained

[13:38] herman Bergson: and yet ....can we cope with this speed of developments ? !

[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i think we have to

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): it seems indeed we have to

[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): we have no choice

[13:38] herman Bergson: At least that Beertje...it is about survival :-)

[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): for example if you don't have a smartphone today sometimes you cant even take the bus because you need an app to pay the ticket

[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): there is much more to come

[13:39] CB Axel: The brains that develop things at that speed aren't any bigger than ours. We should be able to keep up with them.

[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): this is only the beginning

[13:40] herman Bergson: At least you may conclude that in the period 1900 to 2000 more changes toolk place than in the forgoing thousands of years together

[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): thinking back over all the 20th century that has affected all this

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): for me its no problem a i use computers all time but they are expensive and many esp elderly who did not grow up with computers are left out

[13:41] CB Axel: My 96 year old father's only problem with his computer is that his eyesight has deteriorated to the point that he can't see it. :(

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aw

[13:42] herman Bergson: Well...I guess we are all ready for this new investigation into the 20th century then ?

[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): good for him

[13:42] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ys

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): technology s useful but we need to not be too dependent on it

[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): good for him Gemma?

[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): why?

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and also if power fails, what do we do then

[13:42] herman Bergson: We then take a walk Bejiita :-))

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i guess

[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): at 96 being so involved to love computer

[13:43] herman Bergson: Finally free from the screen  for a while...fresh air and so on :-)

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:43] Piovefiore: Gardening is also an option

[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the problem is everything else also stops, you cant buy anything anywhere because everything is now cash free and paid digitally

[13:44] herman Bergson: Very good Piove fiore :-))

[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i think we will need a huge wiki to keep track of everything we cant remember

[13:44] herman Bergson: does that mean "poor flower" ?

[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe

[13:44] Piovefiore: I live in a third world country, some of the things you mention sound a bit like a chapter of Black Mirror to me

[13:44] herman Bergson: Piovefiore  ?

[13:44] Piovefiore: Hehe Rainflower

[13:45] herman Bergson: Piove...la plui....!

[13:45] herman Bergson: ok!

[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): lovely

[13:45] Piovefiore smiles

[13:45] Ciska Riverstone: heheh

[13:45] herman Bergson: nice  indeed

[13:45] CB Axel: Beautiful name, Piovefiore. °͜°

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well at least as long everything works the tech we have today in general is just a good thing

[13:45] Piovefiore: Thank you! :)

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): if used orrectly that is

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): correctly

[13:46] herman Bergson: what do you mean by Black Mirror Piovefiore???

[13:46] Piovefiore: Here we still use cash for everything and a majority of people don't have computers, and very many don't have smartphones either

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok

[13:47] herman Bergson: what do you mean by Black Mirror Piovefiore???

[13:47] Piovefiore: I was reading the other day how somewhere in China they are implementing a system of achieving social merits depending on your standing in social media

[13:47] Piovefiore: but even simpler things

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i think she means not being able to see into the morror of what things like using a smart phone for the bus

[13:47] Piovefiore: like not being able to board a bus if you don't have a smartphone

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): exactly

[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!

[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...

[13:48] Piovefiore: I am thinking about the TV series called Black Mirror

[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes, hen it comes to that point we have became TOO dependent on technology

[13:48] Piovefiore: a series of dystopian vignettes set in a not too distant future

[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa seen some episode on that one before

[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): seemed like a good show

[13:48] Piovefiore: all revolving around the use of technology

[13:48] Marcy (123marceline) is offline.

[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): never saw it

[13:49] herman Bergson: I'll check it out Piovefiore :-)

[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but many old science fiction movies have actually come true in some ways so.....

[13:49] Piovefiore: I think it is very good, some chapters better than others, but till very much worth seeing

[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes

[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed

[13:49] Piovefiore: years before Trump they had a chapter in which a cartoon character was elected for office lol

[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): where is it shown??

[13:50] Piovefiore: I believe it is in Netflix now

[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes

[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): a

[13:50] Piovefiore: the first two series were BBC

[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ahha

[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ok

[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): netflix have everything nowadays almost

[13:50] herman Bergson: KODI has too :-))

[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): not heard of that one

[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but not big in sweden i guess

[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): here its either netflix or HBO

[13:51] Piovefiore: I haven't heard of it either

[13:51] herman Bergson: Well...guess we covered everything so far :-)

[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): the name sounded vaguely familiar

[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:51] herman Bergson: Seems you are ready for the project :-)

[13:51] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i need to go..sorry....

[13:52] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): bye

[13:52] CB Axel: Bye, Beertje.

[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah beetje

[13:52] Ciska Riverstone: welterusten beertje

[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): se you thursday maybe

[13:52] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont) is offline.

[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu Beetje

[13:52] herman Bergson: So...thank you all for your participation again....

[13:52] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥

[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): this i think will be really good

[13:52] herman Bergson: Class dismissed ....