tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.comments2024-01-12T16:21:08.741-08:00Future and CosmosMark Mahinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17230591038352645520noreply@blogger.comBlogger297125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-83048854026665140362023-12-27T19:55:32.646-08:002023-12-27T19:55:32.646-08:00Thanks for that article. A very succinct explanat...Thanks for that article. A very succinct explanation for the miracle of life. And Happy New Year too you and yours.<br /><br />William Seeley<br />Baltimore, MDwaseeleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01486819496295875624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-57572941811545783912023-05-28T13:27:09.335-07:002023-05-28T13:27:09.335-07:00Pardon my sarcasm, but I am shocked--shocked to fi...Pardon my sarcasm, but I am shocked--shocked to find that there is gambling happening in that casino. Science fraud has been going on for many years. Do you remember when a high school teacher was fired for penalizing her students for cheating and plagiarism? Have you heard people talk about "My truth?" Did you see the news report on live TV in which the reporter, standing in front of burning buildings, described it as a "mostly peaceful demonstration?" Scientists are shaped by their culture. Our culture does not value truth, but only feelings. Deep fake, anyone?Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00425483474072715369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-45451071566937207632023-05-11T09:16:22.827-07:002023-05-11T09:16:22.827-07:00While I cannot knowledgably comment on the various...While I cannot knowledgably comment on the various experiments you mentioned, I can call attention to your mention about chirality. If I recall correctly, most amino acids have Left-handed chirality. Thus, cells cannot use Right-chiral amino acids. To oversimplify, if your food supply contained only Right-chiral amino acids, you would starve to death. I have long wondered if this L-chirality is a property restricted to Earth biochemistry, or if it is universal. If we encounter life forms originating on other planets, will ALL of them be L-chiral? If so, that would indicate something about life and the universe itself. On the other hand, if alien life-forms are found to be randomly chiral, that would be expected from randomness. Finally, the most interesting finding of all would be if ONLY earthly life forms are L-chiral, with all others being R-chiral.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00425483474072715369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-9860544996523418982023-05-09T06:01:06.621-07:002023-05-09T06:01:06.621-07:00Élan vital is a much better hypothesized principle...Élan vital is a much better hypothesized principle than is the speculative ideas of Lloyd Demetirus. IMO, Élan vital is a valid metaphysical hypothesis which was supposedly discredited by physicalism, but which is now re-emerging thanks to various scientists, such as biochemist Michael Behe. It also helps toward explaining why the universe itself is so improbably conducive to life, and more than that, to civilization and technology.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00425483474072715369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-3457904952967376832023-05-05T06:48:58.380-07:002023-05-05T06:48:58.380-07:00There is a saying that disputes in academia are sa...There is a saying that disputes in academia are savage, not because the subject matters are important, but rather, because they are trivial. In that regard, we must ask, how important is the standard model? If it collapses, what else will collapse with it? It seems that nothing will collapse, except perhaps the careers of some scientists, along with their funding. Beyond that, there is one possible big change, which is that the paradigm of physicalism will give way to the paradigm of Intentional Design / Creation of physical reality. That is not trivial. Social policy and cultural values are heavily influenced by the notion that we are just physical phenomena with no spiritual component. How long can we survive as a society when we treat moral principles as if they were malleable, transactional and artificial? When "man is the measure of all things," there is no room for divine authority. As Bishop Fulton J Sheen said, “Moral truth is vindicated by the ruin that follows when it has been repudiated.” Are we witnessing that ruin?Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00425483474072715369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-79887337146250125312023-04-28T11:42:27.204-07:002023-04-28T11:42:27.204-07:00Given the extraordinary volume of shortcomings of ...Given the extraordinary volume of shortcomings of the physicalist paradigm, one might think that the necessity of replacing it would be an irresistible force. It is astonishing that the objection to (at least) disclaiming it remains, so far, an apparently immovable object.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00425483474072715369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-72209467174004686572023-04-26T05:32:49.598-07:002023-04-26T05:32:49.598-07:00If the universe were eternal, having no beginning,...If the universe were eternal, having no beginning, but having existed forever, then the odds of us existing at this particular time (or ANY time) would be infinitely small, one divided by infinity, or zero. Of course all such metaphysics is subject to <br />inconclusive speculation, but interesting anyway.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00425483474072715369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-86299789963571008442023-04-13T08:18:07.430-07:002023-04-13T08:18:07.430-07:00AI is also used in game programs, such as chess. ...AI is also used in game programs, such as chess. Interestingly, the oldest AI of which I am aware was a rudimentary chess-playing computer, using a very restricted board set-up. It was unbeatable. More interestingly yet, the computer had no software. Fantastically (because I ran out of variations on the word, interesting), the machine was made entirely out of electro-magnetic relays. Just as in your examples, no thinking was required by the AI. As soon as the human player pressed the buttons to make its move (from / to) the electric circuitry instantly connected in such a way as to make its responding move. For each from/to push of the buttons, there was only one possible response, because circuits were connected by on/off buttons. There could never be any variation to any combination of from/to. From A1 to B3 always connected to circuit XZ, which moved the computer's chess figures. Some modern chess software uses libraries of game positions such that, if the human makes a "fatal" mistake, the computer instantly identifies the response from the library of positions, and pounces, with no thinking involved.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00425483474072715369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-24855874240576031942023-03-14T17:57:43.261-07:002023-03-14T17:57:43.261-07:00There is a contradiction between on one hand claim...There is a contradiction between on one hand claiming little difference between the minds of apes and men, and on the other hand acting as if such a statement is some sagacious insight (which would not be true if it came from some mind little better than an ape's). There is actually a vast gulf between the minds of apes and humans. Mark Mahinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17230591038352645520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-15890436597691649212023-03-14T09:46:52.836-07:002023-03-14T09:46:52.836-07:00Approved speech: “We're all pretty much just m...Approved speech: “We're all pretty much just monkey minds. Trust this statement, though it comes from little more than a monkey mind.” -- Mark, this is a profound statement!Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00425483474072715369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-67757389757286516702023-02-27T05:07:08.577-08:002023-02-27T05:07:08.577-08:00The final paragraph is uplifting. I would add tha...The final paragraph is uplifting. I would add that both competition and cooperation are essential when balanced. Darwin rushed his book into print when he discovered that another, similar book was about to be introduced, so that, the ground had been prepared for evolution theory, regardless of who published first. The entire recorded history of humanity seems to be dominated by war and empire-building, and only more recently by ethics and morals, although these also had long been recognized as vital in principle. Congratulations on a condensed but thorough treatment of a very complex topic.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00425483474072715369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-38398414308266499982023-02-16T15:14:37.231-08:002023-02-16T15:14:37.231-08:00I have no special technique for photographing orbs...I have no special technique for photographing orbs, and all I recommend is photographing in clean dry air, not pointing at the sun. It may help if you mentally or audibly wish for successful results (but who knows). I used to get wonderful results, but these days my luck is thin. To see some of my best results back from the days of my long, long lucky streak, you can look at the volume below, particularly the beginning: <br />https://archive.org/details/800-mysterious-striped-orbsMark Mahinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17230591038352645520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-89689102221966981462023-02-16T15:02:53.187-08:002023-02-16T15:02:53.187-08:00What I meant was that, whilst children can pick up...What I meant was that, whilst children can pick up languages so quick, it seems to be different or slower for adults. The process seems to be longer or time consuming. It's like any ESP power possibly used for language acquisition has gone dormant or been lost. I'm probably wrong anyway about that one. Reality is pretty strange.<br /><br />I read through the first link you sent, and most of the second link which is really long. I found it really interesting.<br /><br />I'm wondering how do you photograph orbs? I do photography as a hobby and I'm curious if there are ways you may know of to increase chances of capturing something like that on the camera. Or is just a matter of luck? I don't know anything about orbs.LJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256881718327648202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-79351794493514598672023-02-16T14:06:31.994-08:002023-02-16T14:06:31.994-08:00Who says that adults don't retain such an abil...Who says that adults don't retain such an ability? I have had many experiences suggesting ESP can occur between adult family members. Read, for example, the post below describing recent cases:<br />https://orbpro.blogspot.com/2022/09/psychic-bond.html<br />Or read the "Circa 1975" paragraph at the beginning of my post below:<br />https://orbpro.blogspot.com/2020/04/spookiest-observations-deluxe-narrative.html<br />The problem is largely that too few people are testing such things. People have been so brainwashed into thinking certain things are impossible that they don't do tests to check for themselves.Mark Mahinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17230591038352645520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-64005474145365046642023-02-16T14:00:03.360-08:002023-02-16T14:00:03.360-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mark Mahinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17230591038352645520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-70776989505159998882023-02-16T13:45:04.059-08:002023-02-16T13:45:04.059-08:00Thanks for the reply.
What I meant when I tried t...Thanks for the reply.<br /><br />What I meant when I tried to explain how meaning precedes words, is this is an example of something ideal (mental) preceding something physical (in this case the spoken words, or physically written words). <br />I can think of another example of this is when I intend to do something, like moving an arm for example. That's a physical action, but that physical action only came after the mental intention. The idea came first.<br />My point is that greater reality possibly works the same way. That is, the mental comes before the physical. I am just trying to use unorthodox methods of gaining knowledge to see if that yields any useful knowledge.<br /><br />Anyway, what you're saying is interesting. The paradox you explained at the start of that article that you linked (why origin of language is inexplicable with orthodox assumptions) is something I had in mind. <br /><br />Interesting hypothesis about the ESP stimulus allowing children to learn a language. I will have a read of that later because there's a lot to take in. <br />Some people say children do this because of brain plasticity during brain development, but that seems speculative.<br /><br />If the ESP thing in young children is true, then I wonder why do adults not retain this ability? <br />Young children tend to be quite imaginative, and bring their imagination into what they do in the sense-world. For example, 'turning' toys into people with stories and minds of their own. I wonder if children being so in touch with their imagination could have something to do with young children being more receptive to ESP? Being so young means they don't have the orthodox ideas in their minds yet, which could make people less receptive to ESP. I don't know if that makes any sense though.<br /><br />Have you noticed how mothers can sense unspoken words and needs of their children? Do you think there is possibly an ESP thing occurring in this type of experience too?<br /><br /><br />I think it's also interesting that humans are able to use language to convey a shared sense of meaning. I sometimes wonder how that works. How do we retain intuitive knowledge of what the words mean? I wonder if that is possibly a little evidence of language having a spiritual origin. E.g., a spiritual reality where ideas live in the environment, which our minds tap into, or something along those lines. LJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256881718327648202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-35720432523759409002023-02-16T12:55:51.749-08:002023-02-16T12:55:51.749-08:00The origin of language seems inexplicable under pr...The origin of language seems inexplicable under prevailing assumptions, for reasons I discuss below:<br />https://futureandcosmos.blogspot.com/2018/01/why-origin-of-language-is-inexplicable.html<br />A related question is: how are humans able to pick up languages so quickly at such an early age? Chomsky has highlighted this problem by referring to a "poverty of the stimulus": that the examples of language heard by a small child are insufficient to explain the child picking up the language. Bilingualism makes the problem twice as bad. I know two who were fluent in Chinese and English at the age of four -- languages with different rules and very different sounds. One idea that should be tested is the possibility of ESP occurring between family members. I have direct experience strongly suggesting such a thing. Such a possibility should be rigorously tested,by doing more testing of ESP between mother and child. For more on this question, see below, where I suggest an additional speculative idea related to the problem.<br />https://futureandcosmos.blogspot.com/2022/09/dont-claim-to-understand-human-origins.htmlMark Mahinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17230591038352645520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-7941958924539582832023-02-16T12:51:20.624-08:002023-02-16T12:51:20.624-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mark Mahinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17230591038352645520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-54872415643258291022023-02-16T11:46:07.860-08:002023-02-16T11:46:07.860-08:00Do you have any ideas as to where spoken and writt...Do you have any ideas as to where spoken and written human language could have originated? It seems like a mysterious topic.<br /><br />It certainly seems, to me, that language is influenced by the sense-world, our sense-perceptions, and experiences here. But it doesn't seem like the end of the story. Maybe language has a deeper origin in a spiritual reality? <br /><br />We understand words, and the meaning we convey with them, thanks to reason / thought. The meaning precedes the words. One example of this is the fact that people sometimes struggle to find the right words despite the meaning being already there in their mind.LJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256881718327648202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-46744294615624805162023-02-10T13:43:41.453-08:002023-02-10T13:43:41.453-08:00Technology has moved so fast that every government...Technology has moved so fast that every government has decided to move as far and as fast as they can. If a weapon can be manufactured, the nation which gets it first is in the driver's seat from there on. At least that is the paradigm. Hoping that sanity prevails is a fool's dream. Initially, sane people may slow things down, but all it takes is one figurative ice-berg to sink the ship -- or civiization.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00425483474072715369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-62486944452912136022023-02-05T08:17:37.849-08:002023-02-05T08:17:37.849-08:00I came across an interesting lecture/book recently...I came across an interesting lecture/book recently, which you might find interesting (lecture 2 specifically).<br /><br />The idea is that the different positions in metaphysics all have an equal share of truth, or validity. Which means that they can all be justified for their respective domains. For example, materialism is very useful for looking at material phenomenon. Or spiritism is great for a study of spiritual phenomenon. Or dynamism, is valid for looking at forces in the world; or idealism is very useful for looking at how ideas work in the world, and so on.<br /><br />The author thought that people run into difficulties, or can make foolish statements about one area, because they try to apply one position only to the entire world.<br /><br />So he tries to take you through the different worldviews, starting with the material worldviews, through the spiritual ones, and then back to the start. He tries to show the different modes of thinking that underlie these different worldviews (like, what makes one person predisposed to one position over another), if that makes sense.<br /><br />You can find it here for free if you would like to read it:<br /><br />https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA151/English/RSP1961/19140121p01.htmlLJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256881718327648202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-12463375014879056172023-01-28T18:31:24.890-08:002023-01-28T18:31:24.890-08:00It being the case that there was never any evidenc...It being the case that there was never any evidence that dark matter is matter, I have long advocated that it be renamed, my suggestion being, Anomalous Gravity Source. Dr. Sabine Hossenfelder in a video speculates that dark matter may be some combination of some unknown form of matter and MOND, a reformulation of Newtonian gravity. I, having no qualifications in physics, withhold estimation, speculating that something very weird is going on. The saying is, the universe is stranger than we CAN imagine.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00425483474072715369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-35815853654483053132023-01-28T17:26:40.604-08:002023-01-28T17:26:40.604-08:00 Cosmo Sapiens: Human Evolution From the Origin of... Cosmo Sapiens: Human Evolution From the Origin of the Universe by John Hands. The book is discussed in my post here. <br />https://futureandcosmos.blogspot.com/2016/05/you-cant-spoon-feed-this-guy-your-shaky.html <br />Why Us? How Science Rediscovered the Mystery of Ourselves by physician James Le Fanu. The book is discussed in my post here. <br />https://futureandcosmos.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-doctor-carved-up-their-explanatory.html<br />The book by Le Fanu can be read online for free by registered users of www.archive.org. The URL for the book is here:<br />https://archive.org/details/whyushowsciencer0000lefa_z5i7<br /><br />Even without an archive.org login, you can read online my book below, which has many posts related to the subjects of biological origins and biological complexity:<br />https://archive.org/details/biological-and-cosmic-fine-tuning/mode/2up<br />The site below has some interesting contrarian posts regarding evolution:<br />https://evolutionnews.org/Mark Mahinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17230591038352645520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-57895575650848653002023-01-28T08:43:45.317-08:002023-01-28T08:43:45.317-08:00Hi mark, I found the above very interesting and wa...Hi mark, I found the above very interesting and was wondering if you know of any textbooks or websites about evolution?Pursuer of Knowledgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01896502419440029554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5610509909390357755.post-32882437585148486372023-01-19T14:05:36.227-08:002023-01-19T14:05:36.227-08:00This is an excellent expose of the bad habits that...This is an excellent expose of the bad habits that can, sadly, happen in science. Great research, MarkLJMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256881718327648202noreply@blogger.com