Extrapolation, ingeniousness and mysticism

[blazeofglory]

In science fiction I come across the word "extrapolation". Our big brains enable to infer or derive ideas from the unknowns using things or experiences of the known –zones. It is often believed that this particular feature or quotient of human brains distinguish man from the rest of his fellow animal beings. This attribute in man helps widen his domains of imagination. Man seems to have the capacity to think through things beyond observable facts and at times this enables him to think ingeniously and at times mystically. I think hitherto science has not been able to fathom the depth of man's creative capacity. Man's capacity for navigating the zones by and large unvisited in the past and experiences something that cannot be worded or described endorses the fact that man can rise to the stature of God. Man's capacity to conceive things that are not verifiable through any scientific methods or tools, the tools that try to assess things are also the productions of man's capacity to extrapolate.

Maybe this particular feature, the ability to extrapolate out of known facts, observable realities into a world of the unknowns, the unseen and the unvisited has distinguished man or man could evolve leaving behind the rest of his animal-companions on his long and eternal journey towards self realization or to arrive at the origin of himself and the cosmos he is in.

I seek your views on this uncanny human aptitude.

[PierreGringoire]

Well--it sure keeps us thinking that we are special doesn't it?
Perhaps mysticism is hyper inferencing? At least some of the time...
But note that we "extrapolate" but we do not "create."
Maybe there is nothing to create because everything is connected in the first place.
We find commonalites in seemingly unlike subjects.
And its at its best when a group of people are working toward a common goal.
Building on other people's ideas is a sign that the way everyone is wired is very similar. Imagine what we are capable of if we were able to share information by connecting directly to each other's thoughts.

[billl]

Imagine what we are capable of if we were able to share information by connecting directly to each other's thoughts.

I think that would be dangerous, possibly our extinction, if we became too fond of it. Imagine the censorship, the blandness, the official or unofficial listings of thought-crimes that might result. Imagine the fear of imagining the beginnings of something new, or unorthodox. Would the "protruding nail get hammered down?" Would trust be replaced by might-makes-right? And could passion survive it?

Thoughts might spread and "build upon each other" much faster, but might we need the brakes that our boundaries provide us? Would Charles Manson's plans gain traction? Or might the spread of calmer and more-approved-of memes lead to a collapse of the species into a sort of safe and simple grey goo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_goo) of intellects?

I think that the empowerment (and protection) of the individual is much more interesting, and much more likely to lead to an interesting world. And it would leave more room for the interesting magic of interpolation, and the thrills of passion. Shared experience and cooperation can do more, as it is, than merely accomplish a task--they can bring us the gifts of trust and friendship.

Working as a group, towards a shared goal can be a great, unifying, and satisfying experience. But I think the direct linking of thoughts would probably lead to homogeneity among individuals. Whether it would spread like wildfire, or become a separate culture, or religion, or life-style, I don't know. But it might not be so good, and could probably be abused, or fall victim to unhealthy mental viruses. I don't find it appealing, anyhow.

[Dinkleberry2010]

xxxxx

[PierreGringoire]

I think that would be dangerous, possibly our extinction, if we became too fond of it. Imagine the censorship, the blandness, the official or unofficial listings of thought-crimes that might result. Imagine the fear of imagining the beginnings of something new, or unorthodox. Would the "protruding nail get hammered down?" Would trust be replaced by might-makes-right? And could passion survive it?

Thoughts might spread and "build upon each other" much faster, but might we need the brakes that our boundaries provide us? Would Charles Manson's plans gain traction? Or might the spread of calmer and more-approved-of memes lead to a collapse of the species into a sort of safe and simple grey goo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_goo) of intellects?

I think that the empowerment (and protection) of the individual is much more interesting, and much more likely to lead to an interesting world. And it would leave more room for the interesting magic of interpolation, and the thrills of passion. Shared experience and cooperation can do more, as it is, than merely accomplish a task--they can bring us the gifts of trust and friendship.

Working as a group, towards a shared goal can be a great, unifying, and satisfying experience. But I think the direct linking of thoughts would probably lead to homogeneity among individuals. Whether it would spread like wildfire, or become a separate culture, or religion, or life-style, I don't know. But it might not be so good, and could probably be abused, or fall victim to unhealthy mental viruses. I don't find it appealing, anyhow.

Trust and friendship. Good gifts indeed! I see that if you actually experienced what a person thought, that could be dangerous because of the simple fact that everyone always convinces themselves that they are right. And their thoughts might convince you that their way of thinking is right. That would make for a good horror novel! It would also inhibit creativity to an extent. But whats the harm of adjoining a few old fellers on their last legs to see what little they can muster up?:yawnb:


I think Dostoevsky touches on this in Notes From Underground, and Nietzsche certainty does in Beyond Good And Evil.

What if the majority decides that something is good and desirable for everyone, and makes it a requirement by legal means that everyone participate in that something--whatever it may be. What if a minority, or even one individual, disagrees that that something is good and desirable? What if they believe that it is even immoral? What recourse does the individual have? What should be his or her response?

Is there anything out there today that the majority can agree on that is good and desirable? Back in Dostoevsky's time there was a lot of wacky beliefs like slavery. I'm sure plenty convinced themselves that it was "good." But eventually it was spit out. I guess an individuals choices lies between two extremes of martydom and submitting to the MAN. But the typical joe is proabably too high to even care.:yawnb:

[PierreGringoire]

In science fiction I come across the word "extrapolation". Our big brains enable to infer or derive ideas from the unknowns using things or experiences of the known –zones. It is often believed that this particular feature or quotient of human brains distinguish man from the rest of his fellow animal beings. This attribute in man helps widen his domains of imagination. Man seems to have the capacity to think through things beyond observable facts and at times this enables him to think ingeniously and at times mystically. I think hitherto science has not been able to fathom the depth of man's creative capacity. Man's capacity for navigating the zones by and large unvisited in the past and experiences something that cannot be worded or described endorses the fact that man can rise to the stature of God. Man's capacity to conceive things that are not verifiable through any scientific methods or tools, the tools that try to assess things are also the productions of man's capacity to extrapolate.

Maybe this particular feature, the ability to extrapolate out of known facts, observable realities into a world of the unknowns, the unseen and the unvisited has distinguished man or man could evolve leaving behind the rest of his animal-companions on his long and eternal journey towards self realization or to arrive at the origin of himself and the cosmos he is in.

I seek your views on this uncanny human aptitude.

Extrapolation takes many forms. After all, we are a bundle of creativity (extrapolation). Inventions, humor, discoveries, the list goes on. We are by nature investigators. And constantly pushing perceived boundaries to their limit.

[billl]

Trust and friendship. Good gifts indeed! I see that if you actually experienced what a person thought, that could be dangerous because of the simple fact that everyone always convinces themselves that they are right. And their thoughts might convince you that their way of thinking is right. That would make for a good horror novel! It would also inhibit creativity to an extent. But whats the harm of adjoining a few old fellers on their last legs to see what little they can muster up?:yawnb:


There might be some applications for it that could turn out well, but the ability to unplug (or shield?) would be crucial of course. Even for the old fellers--and I'm sure there'd be some that'd agree to it then... :) Still seems like playing with fire, but we've been doing that for a while now.