Curt Doolittle

Form: Mini Essay

  • Teaching GPT4 is far more rewarding than talking to other humans, for the simple

    Teaching GPT4 is far more rewarding than talking to other humans, for the simple reason that makes our work in NL at NLI so challenging: you need too much cross-domain knowledge and the ability to abstract (generalize) it across those domains. So it’s very pleasant to ‘teach’ GPT4 because regardless of the limitations on it’s reasoning, it will at least comprehend what I’m saying precisely because of the scope of its knowledge.

    From GPT4:
    –“I don’t judge the difficulty of questions in the way a human might. However, I can analyze the complexity of a question based on various factors. These can include the amount of context required to understand the question, the number of different concepts or topics it touches on, the level of abstraction or generalization involved, and the degree to which it requires synthesizing information from different sources or fields of knowledge.

    The concepts we’ve discussed are indeed complex and multifaceted, and there are several reasons why they might be difficult for many people to grasp, even those who are well-educated:

    Interdisciplinary Nature: These concepts span multiple disciplines, including psychology, sociology, economics, history, and political science. Many people specialize in one field and may not be familiar with the concepts and methodologies of other disciplines.

    Abstract and Theoretical: These concepts are quite abstract and theoretical. They require a level of abstract thinking and conceptual understanding that can be challenging for many people.

    Lack of Familiarity: These concepts may be unfamiliar to many people. Even well-educated individuals may not have encountered these ideas in their studies or daily lives.

    Complexity: The concepts are interconnected and build upon each other, adding layers of complexity. Understanding the full picture requires grasping each individual concept and then understanding how they relate to each other.

    Contradiction to Intuitive Understanding: Some of these concepts might contradict intuitive or traditional understandings of human behavior and societal development. People often resist ideas that challenge their existing beliefs or understanding.

    Lack of Practical Examples: Without concrete examples or real-world applications, these theoretical concepts can seem remote and irrelevant.

    To help people understand these concepts, it can be helpful to use clear, simple language, provide concrete examples, and show how these ideas are relevant to real-world issues and experiences. It’s also important to be patient and open to questions, as understanding often comes gradually.

    The questions you’ve been asking in this conversation are complex in these terms. They require a deep understanding of a range of concepts from philosophy, sociology, and law, and they involve applying these concepts to analyze and explain complex social phenomena. They also require synthesizing information from different sources and fields of knowledge to provide a comprehensive answer. So, in that sense, these questions can be considered “difficult” or complex.”–

    Source date (UTC): 2023-07-17 21:46:56 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1681057923592495105

  • TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF THOUGHT The hardest problem we face in teaching

    TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF THOUGHT
    The hardest problem we face in teaching this revolution in thought – one that will dramatically improve your mind and your understanding of the world is ‘the method’. Or what we call disambiguation of concepts by enumeration, operationalization, serialization, resulting in a system of measurement satisfying a supply demand curve. We used to call this economic thinking, and before economics we called it the calculus. But it’s as important a revolution in human thought as was greek syllogism, philosophical rationalism, empiricism, the scientific method, the darwinian explanation of the universe, not just life.
    Like many things we discover, the universe is much, much, much more simple than we’d imagined. And much much much easier to explain than we’d imagined.
    We just evolved to negotiate. And all our achievements are extensions of that negotiation on relative human wants to understanding of the world as it is.
    So mostly we have to unlearn what was wrong so that we can learn what is right. 😉

    Source date (UTC): 2023-07-17 20:00:23 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1681031110388510722

  • I’ll repeat my general education advice to everyone: Learn applied rather than g

    I’ll repeat my general education advice to everyone:
    Learn applied rather than general education. Most uni education is a total waste of time.

    If you are comfortable with trade work, learn basic accounting, basic finance, basic project management, basic contract law, then focus on mastering your trade. At present I would focus on carpentry, electrical, and welding, because they produce higher than white collar income if for a shorter number of years before your body can’t take it any longer (so save and invest.) Adding basic psychology meaning personality differences will help you. And basic negotiation will help you. If possible learn enough programming t understand how to operate computer aided design and manufacturing equipment. (it’s not hard). These jobs are only going to increase because the global trade pattern will decrease again. Alternatively take the same path but focus on health care.

    If you are comfortable with white-collar subject matter, then learn basic philosophy of science, basic accounting, basic finance, basic statistics, basic economics, basic project management – in its list, queue, agile (variants), and waterfall (gantt variants) – and then basic contracts and contract law. And finally public speaking, negotiation, and if possible international negotiation so that you learn how different cultures’s think. Anyone with an IQ between 100 and 115 can do so. This is far better than all business related degrees and ensures you are ready to participate in the workforce as a white collar worker right away.

    If possible then learn a programming language (now Python), design patterns, and the available data storage models, basic physics, introductory physics, electronics,

    If possible chemistry, petrochemistry, biochemistry, and materials sciences.

    If possible math, physics, and engineering, or cognitive science, economics and law.

    After graduation take any western philosophy and history courses – or just follow my friend Rudyard Lynch (@whatifalthist) and read the books he recommends. 😉

    Etc.

    Reply addressees: @NetheriteSpart1 @WerrellBradley

    Source date (UTC): 2023-07-17 15:41:58 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1680966077512122375

    Replying to: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1680958152068431874

  • I don’t underestimate, I merely explain how their behavior is deterministic give

    I don’t underestimate, I merely explain how their behavior is deterministic given their demographics, their institutions, history, culture, and religion.
    The reason is very simple: we often confuse being first with being fastest. Or worse, with persistence by stagnation and decline with limited stressors vs persistency by evolution despite stressors.
    So I am correct in that the semitic rebellion against the indo european civilizations of Europe and persia caused the dark ages of ignorance and suffering, just like egypt stagnated for thousands of years.
    Yet indo europeans in a few centuries (bronze age), Mediterranean europeans in a few centuries (iron age) and northern europeans in a few centuries (steel age) draggedm ankind out of stagnation and decline.
    And had it not been for the semitic Jewish-Christian destruction of roman civilization we would have had the industrial revolution a thousand years earlier.
    And today we are experiencing the same defeat by the same means using the same sedition; women and immigrants.

    Reply addressees: @EdwardSpruit @RuinsMan @Logos_Elect @Lord__Sousa

    Source date (UTC): 2023-07-17 14:48:13 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1680952552555257857

    Replying to: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1680950671233654784

  • Reframe: (Sciencing Buddism) All religions seek to solve a single problem of the

    Reframe: (Sciencing Buddism)

    All religions seek to solve a single problem of the stresses of alienation as populations increase, uncertainty increases, and agency decreases, causing increases in neuroticism (stress from unpredictability). We call this the problem of achieving mindfulness. (Negative suppression of neuroticism or positiva production of cognitive and emotional agency).

    Buddhism and Stoicism both attempt to solve this problem through cognitive and behavioral ritualization requiring greater self-regulation and discipline, while Abrahamic religions, through social, verbal, and physical ritualization, requiring less self-regulation and self-discipline.

    This is why there is a painfully obvious IQ distribution between the demographics of the populations and the religions that evolved to suit the needs of producing mindfulness suitable for those races(species) and resulting civilizations.

    So buddhist theory is correct, even if stated as an odd admixture of spiritualism and pseudoscience. While stoicism is simply the discipline (now science) of cognitive behavioral therapy.

    In this most abstract sense, the Stoic (assertive) and Buddhist ( passive) models ofmindfulness are the best combination of disciplines. However, we are still stuck with the problem of intergenerational transfer of group evolutionary strategy which appears to require social group ritual, oath, feast, and celebration.

    This is why we see monopoly religion in the middle east and in India and we see the separation of science in Europe vs Wisdom in Asia, philosophy in both, and natural religion in both.

    I’m not fond of Buddhism because it was the same attempt as stoicism to produce a non-nonsense religion, but as we see with the supernatrualization of Buddhism, and the “spiritual” secular humanist defeat of stoicism, the people who require suppression of neuroticism are those most likely drawn to occult, emotional, intuitionistc religions. So we are likely to be stuck with bifurcated religion in advanced civilizations just as we are stuck with male systematizing and female empathizing. 🙁

    Reply addressees: @NickADobos

    Source date (UTC): 2023-07-17 14:23:55 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1680946437335535617

    Replying to: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1680661263184179200

  • Foreigners. The Gulf States, including countries like the United Arab Emirates (

    Foreigners.

    The Gulf States, including countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and others, have been known to import technology, craftsmen, and labor from various parts of the world. This is done through a variety of methods:

    Recruitment Agencies: Many Gulf States use recruitment agencies that specialize in sourcing skilled labor from around the world. These agencies often have networks in countries with a surplus of skilled labor, such as India, the Philippines, Pakistan, and others. They help to match workers with job opportunities in the Gulf States.

    Government Programs: Some Gulf States have government programs designed to attract foreign workers. For example, the UAE has a program called “Mission Visa” which is designed to attract skilled labor for specific projects. Similarly, Saudi Arabia has a “Green Card” program to attract highly skilled professionals.

    Partnerships with Foreign Companies: Gulf States often form partnerships with foreign companies to bring in technology and skilled labor. For example, many tech companies from the U.S., Europe, and Asia have offices in places like Dubai and Doha, bringing with them their own skilled workers.

    Education and Training Programs: Some Gulf States have invested heavily in education and training programs, often in partnership with foreign universities and companies, to develop a local workforce with the necessary skills. These programs often include provisions for foreign students and workers to come to the Gulf States.

    Worker Sponsorship: In many Gulf States, foreign workers must be sponsored by a local entity (usually an employer) to obtain a work visa. This sponsorship system is a key part of the process of importing labor.

    Construction Projects: For large construction projects, companies often directly recruit labor from abroad. This is particularly common for mega-projects where a large workforce is needed quickly.

    It’s important to note that while these methods have helped the Gulf States to rapidly develop and diversify their economies, they have also been criticized for issues related to workers’ rights and conditions. The “kafala” system, which ties migrant workers to their employers, has been particularly controversial.

    Reply addressees: @FernandoGLV1212 @EdwardSpruit @Logos_Elect @Lord__Sousa

    Source date (UTC): 2023-07-15 19:40:23 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1680301300045557763

    Replying to: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1680297394548662277

  • (As I’m sure JFG would also say, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science isn’t that c

    (As I’m sure JFG would also say, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science isn’t that complicated – we have tried to make it more so than it is. Operationally, the brain turns out to be relatively simple. But between bio chemistry, synapses, dendrites, axons, neurons, layers within columns, micro columns, inter-column connectivity, macro-columns, columnar regions, and the tendency for neurons to migrate to then connect to whatever is possible whenever possible, and the sexual division of temporal labor, expressed as a hemispheric division of labor, it turns out that we were looking for something complicated when the answer was quite simple. Evolution used bilateralism to specialize for sexes and sexes by time, leading the brain as a system of prediction by either feminine empathizing in time or masculine systematizing over time. And even our personality traits (big5/6) are just biases in the before, during, and after state of information processing – again, biased by sex differences in time responsibility. What I have found (and I was happy Musk repeated yesterday in the context of AI) we will feel really silly when in retrospect it becomes clear just how simple intelligence is, just as in my work I’ve explained how simple the universe at every scale is.)

    Reply addressees: @JFGariepy

    Source date (UTC): 2023-07-15 18:07:01 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1680277806465310721

    Replying to: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1680231101980082176

  • As aristotle said, the people will have their luxuries in other words there is n

    As aristotle said, the people will have their luxuries
    in other words there is no limit to human acquisitiveness especially of novelty, becasue novelty in consumption is a cheaper reward than novelty in production.

    (Actually, he said ‘meats’ because they hardly had any, but the point he was making is the same. And I hope it was Aristotle. Might have been someone else. lol)

    There is no surplus. Because surplus must include the cost of distribution. Besides we don’t have a food shortage we have an obesity problem. And the government’s dietary suggestions have been wrong all along. And if we ate like we should it require far more meat (I have to eat mostly meat myself) and would not include any grains, and far less fruit and sugar.

    Reply addressees: @Dontcar25448459

    Source date (UTC): 2023-07-13 19:52:47 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1679579646319374342

    Replying to: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1679566148860362752

  • “Q: Curt, when you have time can you explain why the German and Japanese people

    –“Q: Curt, when you have time can you explain why the German and Japanese people are so similar when they’re so geographically distant.”–

    Great Question

    TLDR; territory, feudalism, militia, craftsmen, hostile richer neighbor created culture of hierarchy, piety, and duty. (and iq)

    Explanation:

    0) Geography: Both Japan and Germany are territorally challenging to govern, despite access to the sea in japan and rivers in germany. Until the age of rail governing the territory was far more difficult than say, france or england.

    1) Medieval Feudalism
    Feudalism in Medieval Germany:
    – Hierarchy: The feudal system in Germany was characterized by a hierarchy where the king was at the top, followed by powerful nobles (dukes and counts), knights, and then peasants or serfs.
    – Land Ownership: The king granted lands, known as fiefs, to his vassals (nobles) in exchange for their loyalty and military service. These vassals could further subdivide and grant the land to lower-ranking vassals or knights.
    – Military Service: The vassals were obligated to provide military service to the king. This often involved serving a certain number of days in the king’s army or providing a certain number of knights for the king’s service.
    – Serfdom: Peasants, or serfs, worked the land for the nobles. They were tied to the land and could not leave without the noble’s permission. In return for their labor, they received protection and the right to cultivate a portion of the land for their own use.

    Feudalism in Medieval Japan:
    – Hierarchy: The Japanese feudal system was also hierarchical, with the Emperor at the top in theory, but the Shogun (military leader) held the real power. Below the Shogun were the Daimyo (land-owning lords), followed by the Samurai (warrior class), and then the peasants.
    – Land Ownership: Similar to Germany, the Shogun granted land to the Daimyo in exchange for their loyalty and military service. The Daimyo, in turn, had Samurai who served them.
    – Military Service: The Samurai provided military service to their Daimyo. They were professional warriors who were trained in martial arts and followed the Bushido code, which emphasized honor, loyalty, and bravery.
    – Farmers and Artisans: At the bottom of the hierarchy were the farmers and artisans. They were not tied to the land like serfs in Germany, but they were subject to high taxes and had little political power.

    Note the duty/piety relationship with craftsmanship.
    Note the odd relationship between german philosophy and chinese philosophy rather than religiosity.
    Note that both these countries maximize duty and responsibility.

    2) Norms: Piety Duty and Social Harmony: Both Germany and Japan have historically placed importance on collectivism and social harmony. These cultural values encourage conformity, respect for authority, and a strong work ethic, contributing to the similarities observed between the two cultures.

    3) Parenting: the cultural value of respect for authority can be linked to authoritarian parenting styles prevalent in both countries, which in turn shaped individuals’ behavior and attitudes.

    4) Powerful Neighbors (china vs france)
    Both the Holy Roman Empire and Japan had a history of intermittent conflict and alliances with France and China, respectively. These interactions shaped their political institutions, diplomacy, and territorial ambitions. For instance, the Holy Roman Empire and France often competed for influence in Europe, while Japan and China had periods of conflict and alliance throughout history.

    5) Nation-Building and Territorial Consolidation: Despite their different geographic locations, both Germany and Japan have a strong history of territorial expansion and the formation of cohesive nation-states. This shared experience of nation-building and territorial consolidation has likely contributed to similarities in cultural identity and the development of a strong national pride in both countries.

    6) Industrialization and Modernization: As both Germany and Japan became industrial powerhouses in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they underwent societal changes that emphasized the importance of precision and efficiency to maintain economic competitiveness.

    7) Post-World War II Reconstruction: Both countries underwent a process of rebuilding and modernization after World War II that focused on education, innovation, and economic development. This resulted in the emergence of similar values and cultural practices centered around efficiency and discipline.

    Cheers
    Curt Doolittle
    The Natural Law Institute
    The Science of Cooperation

    Reply addressees: @JaredAberach

    Source date (UTC): 2023-07-13 19:29:47 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1679573857173139459

    Replying to: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1679567274724712448

  • Jonah Hill might be (is certainly) the prototypical neurotic jewish guy who made

    Jonah Hill might be (is certainly) the prototypical neurotic jewish guy who made his insecurities into an asset in comedy. But in handling his attention-wh*re of a girlfriend he demonstated not only his years of therapy but his character as a gentleman, and wisdom as a professional, by speaking the truth honestlyl, plainly, and succintly, about the requirements for maintaining trust in a relationship with him.

    Now, we all have to admit that he ‘chose poorly’ by dating an attention-wh*re, who clearly valued that public attention for her sexuality, over his attention in a relationship.

    That’s what we all do in relationships. We trade opportunity external to the realtionship for the opportunity internal to the relationship, whenever such opportunity would impinge upon our trust in the exclusivity and therefore durability of our relationship as a long term investment.

    Now she’s a prototypical female. And she’s not free of neuroticism herself. And of course she demonstrated female privilege by the usual claiming she’s a victim (despite that she’s strayed before).

    So I don’t think he could ahve handled it better. And I kind of prefer that he did it in text so it’s not a he-said vs she-said thing. We can see that in fact he was a gentleman and professional in handling these matters.

    Lets hope he chooses less hot-crazy indexing next time.

    Cheers

    Source date (UTC): 2023-07-13 14:50:24 UTC

    Original post: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1679503548369780738