3 ms·

I think a lot of comments here missed Bret's point entirely. Here's what I think his point is: The most powerful thing we know of is the human intellect. Theref

I think a lot of comments here missed Bret's point entirely. Here's what I think his point is: The most powerful thing we know of is the human intellect. Therefore, the most effective thing we can do is to figure out how to augment and amplify that intellect, to help us think the unthinkable as naturally, and intuitively as possible. And since it was a "personal note", Victor is saying, "Feel free to focus on whatever problems you want ... this is the problem I want to focus on."

sas 13y ago
+1
lukifer 13y ago
I've long been moved by the analogy that a human on foot has a terrible speed-to-energy ratio, but that a human on a bicycle has the best in all of nature. We've barely begun to scratch the surface of expanding the capacity of natural human intellect.
nsomaru 13y ago
This is a key idea behind the "ladder of fall" (of man) presented in the Bhagavad Gita Ch2, verses 62 & 63, which I will quote here for your convenience: 62. A man musing on objects develops attachment for them, from attachment arises desire, from desire arises anger.[1] 63. From anger arises delusion, from delusion confusion of memory, from confusion of memory loss of intellect, from loss of intellect he perishes.[1] There is a simple but powerful metaphysical system underlying these verses and I apologise to the uninitiated reader, but would be happy to briefly outline this system should anyone wish it so. While I will avoid vague (undefined between myself and the reader) terms such as 'natural' or 'intuitive' thinking, readers who accept that the intellect is that which conceives solutions will also be able to entertain the possibility that by improving/strengthening the intellect we improve our ability to solve the problems that face us. This improving of the intellect is the meta-solution to all problems, and (caution: opinion) it should be a requirement for all human beings that they develop this faculty (as the only known living beings with access to higher reasoning faculties). Failing such, you are not living up to the name 'human'. Perhaps this is a hardline stance. Education (formal) fails us here. We are provided with material to think with and about, but scarcely are we conducted through the arenas of thought by those who have made it further than we. Instead, education seems to be a way to simply 'make a living' by learning a skill and applying it in exchange for money.[2] A noteworthy read on this is the Cardinal JH Newman's thoughts on how British universities in the early 1900's were moving away from pure 'intellectual' development and became more utilitarian. A brilliant intellect allowing us access to his thoughts.[3] Suffice to say, things have worsened much since then. [1] From "The Bhagavad Gita" by A Parthasarathy. As an aside, I cannot recommend his book "The Fall of the Human Intellect" enough. [2] I'm making a generalisation here. If you happened to have someone teach you who opened up your mind, you're one of the lucky few in the world. [3] http://www.newmanreader.org/works/idea/ http://www.newmanreader.org/works/idea/
- halftimegravy 13y ago
  "There is a simple but powerful metaphysical system underlying these verses and I apologise to the uninitiated reader, but would be happy to briefly outline this system should anyone wish it so." I would be interested to hear more about this.

sas 13y ago

lukifer 13y ago

I've long been moved by the analogy that a human on foot has a terrible speed-to-energy ratio, but that a human on a bicycle has the best in all of nature. We've barely begun to scratch the surface of expanding the capacity of natural human intellect.

nsomaru 13y ago

This is a key idea behind the "ladder of fall" (of man) presented in the Bhagavad Gita Ch2, verses 62 & 63, which I will quote here for your convenience: 62. A man musing on objects develops attachment for them, from attachment arises desire, from desire arises anger.[1] 63. From anger arises delusion, from delusion confusion of memory, from confusion of memory loss of intellect, from loss of intellect he perishes.[1] There is a simple but powerful metaphysical system underlying these verses and I apologise to the uninitiated reader, but would be happy to briefly outline this system should anyone wish it so. While I will avoid vague (undefined between myself and the reader) terms such as 'natural' or 'intuitive' thinking, readers who accept that the intellect is that which conceives solutions will also be able to entertain the possibility that by improving/strengthening the intellect we improve our ability to solve the problems that face us. This improving of the intellect is the meta-solution to all problems, and (caution: opinion) it should be a requirement for all human beings that they develop this faculty (as the only known living beings with access to higher reasoning faculties). Failing such, you are not living up to the name 'human'. Perhaps this is a hardline stance. Education (formal) fails us here. We are provided with material to think with and about, but scarcely are we conducted through the arenas of thought by those who have made it further than we. Instead, education seems to be a way to simply 'make a living' by learning a skill and applying it in exchange for money.[2] A noteworthy read on this is the Cardinal JH Newman's thoughts on how British universities in the early 1900's were moving away from pure 'intellectual' development and became more utilitarian. A brilliant intellect allowing us access to his thoughts.[3] Suffice to say, things have worsened much since then. [1] From "The Bhagavad Gita" by A Parthasarathy. As an aside, I cannot recommend his book "The Fall of the Human Intellect" enough. [2] I'm making a generalisation here. If you happened to have someone teach you who opened up your mind, you're one of the lucky few in the world. [3] http://www.newmanreader.org/works/idea/ http://www.newmanreader.org/works/idea/

halftimegravy 13y ago
"There is a simple but powerful metaphysical system underlying these verses and I apologise to the uninitiated reader, but would be happy to briefly outline this system should anyone wish it so." I would be interested to hear more about this.