Working on knowledge foundations is hard

One thing finally occurred to me recently as considered things like my functional definitions covering some important areas was had found myself working at foundations of basic knowledge. Which should NOT be happening. Should NOT be necessary. And, um, why am I?

Keep asking myself that question.

Most of that work is done, though thankfully. And with repairs where necessary going into place, can reflect more. Our global knowledge base is important enough for me to have taken the time. Glad most important part of that work is done. Is a relief for me. Was kind of hard! But how could one person do so much? Web definitely makes MUCH of that easier, especially the part about putting the fixes in place. Have to have them though to be distributed. And THERE things are very interesting I think.

Is about the power of abstraction. Is like a lever. Had me thinking about a certain person, and found what I wanted at a site with quotes from him, including one have pondered often:

Give me a place to stand and with a lever I will move the whole world. -- Archimedes.

Of course he was right. Am sure he would have loved the web. Archimedes was one of the greatest intellectuals of all time. Was doing calculus over a thousand years before Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz reinvented then I think, though of course assume they developed far further. But hey, we're looking at what was left from almost two thousand years ago, who knows what didn't make it. Not sure what relevant scholars think in that area.

Have explained much and as consider the big picture reality of it all, is helpful for me to emphasize, is actually really hard! And takes a TREMENDOUS amount of mental energy, time and a lot of relentless pursuit of ideas that are useful abstractions. Like abstracting entertainment as a way we use to safely control mood. That is compact folks.

Is like with algebra where basic abstraction is that letters are used instead of numbers. Where you can have that graduated. Like 2+3 = 5, get to x+3 = 5, to x+y=5, to x+y = z. Which is an area of abstraction that apparently many humans at least in the US find very challenging. So much that routinely I have noted when adults complain wondering, what is the point of learning algebra? Many of them apparently confident they don't use it, as adults.

You use the concept of abstraction as an adult, the more you use your mind.

Lawyers are faced with legal abstractions, which can be so difficult to learn, take years, followed by years of practice. Of course medical professionals do as well, where also have to learn vast amounts of medical knowledge, made sensible by abstractions.

I could go on with professions where mind matters more. Next find myself thinking of chefs. But also of why can be so hard to be one, or to be a doctor, or a lawyer. Yup and can go back to that difficulty, with algebra.

Less you handle abstraction, more likely you are to be in a position where simply instructed. Like you can work for a chef, who needs to know a lot of abstraction, while you simply follow instructions to help prepare that wonderful dish that wows the customers of a top tier restaurant. Still important to the process of course.

To me is kind of depressing to look at that way though may be about personal bias. Have wanted to work with my mind for as long as I can remember. But have also simply followed instructions and it was ok. Is also personal I think to make that allusion so should simply state my opinion, people may find that yeah, difficulty with algebra when young? Is related to difficulty in other areas as an adult.

Once found though, abstractions move our world and embody our science and technology with the meaning that allows us to discover and keep progressing.

Like consider the abstraction, all human beings are created equal.

Yes, is also an ideal, but debates over that one still erupt all over our world and consume our politics, but how do you grasp it? Turns out our science actually can give a genetic answer, with it being learned that peoples outside of Africa, are actually more closely related than peoples within, regardless of appearance otherwise. Continent of human origin is also continent with greatest human genetic diversity.

Understanding that science? I think is good.

Considering abstractions at the foundations of our knowledge am pondering why is necessary for me, but appreciative of the ability which began as a child when suddenly that algebra which looked so impossible, looked so easy. It just happened in a process understand now is about neurological development as have considered abstractions that help us understand our reality, and how we know, what we know within it.

Algebra is just presented in the US at about the point certain capacity develops, and yeah, is worth it to just work at it, as best you can. If it escapes you is not doom though, and am sure can learn abstraction in other ways! So much can depend too on how well is taught.

Handling abstraction though is key to the power of the human mind.


James Harris