Relaxing and the illusion of Control... / Χαλαρώνοντας και η ψευδαίσθηση του Ελέγχου...

Photo by Spiros Kakos @ Pexels

Relax.

Nothing is under control...


Χαλάρωσε.

Τίποτα δεν είναι υπό έλεγχο...


[written on 7/2014]

Philosophy Wire: Computers. Control. Death.

We are fascinated by machines that can control cars, compose symphonies, or defeat people at chess, Go, or Jeopardy! While more progress is being made all the time in Artificial Intelligence (AI), some scientists and philosophers warn of the dangers of an uncontrollable superintelligent AI. Using theoretical calculations, an international team of researchers shows that it would likely not be possible to control a superintelligent AI. [1] But we cannot control anything. Why control anything anyway? Look at those computers. They may kill us. Yet, they may not. And it is this possibility that makes them more human than we could have ever thought. No, God does not know if it will rain to-morrow at all. All it matters is that you will still be here even after you fall. Working. Thinking. Trying to stop the cosmos from raining while you walk. Look again. You are already smiling. You are already wet. (Have you forgot of that computer now that you are dead?)

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Controlling yourself…

Scientists have discovered that mindful meditation can help subjects learn and improve the ability to mind-control brain computer interfaces (BCIs). [1] Concentrate. Let go. And you will be able to control mindless things. And you will play video games. And you will fill in Excel sheets. And you will fly to space. And you will meet your Self. Always there. Always here. Ever present. (Can you feel yourself?) Don't you see? He could never be (control) you. If all he was thinking was about himself...

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Feeling confident…

Feeling prepared and confident about a job interview you have tomorrow is great. But a new study suggests that you may bring that sense of confidence into other parts of your life for which you might not be nearly so prepared. [1] No one can be prepared for everything. No one can control everything. Only the illusion of control keeps us sane. Because the moment we understand we cannot control anything we will lose our mind. And we will see that we never needed to control nothing. And we will know that we needed no mind at all. We are the mind of the cosmos. We are the ones controlling everything. And the universe is just trying to get away from us…

Listen.

There is nothing to listen…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Hungry!

A study sheds light on the mechanisms governing feeding behavior in fruit flies and how skeletal muscle communicates energy needs to the brain. [1] The mind controls everything. But it is the brain which provides feedback on how this is done. The brain controls everything. But it is the muscles which give input on what to do and decide. Humans control the Earth. But it is the little worm which defines how Earth will be governed…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Calm kids. A dark forest. A universe born…

A research team has identified a brain-wave marker associated with aggression in young children. The finding could lead to earlier identification of toddlers with aggressive tendencies before the behavior becomes more ingrained in adolescence. [1] We try to control rage. We try to tame the wild horses. Because we are afraid of explosions. We are afraid of destruction and death. Because we love creation. Because we adore life. But Midas has forgotten the long-told secret. Wander again in the forest and you will be reminded again. That we were born in anguish. That the cosmos was created in absolute silence. Watch out for the quiet people. They love this cosmos. They will soon bring it down to ashes…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Sahara. Let it dry.

Wind and solar farms are known to have local effects on heat, humidity and other factors that may be beneficial - or detrimental - to the regions in which they are situated. A new climate-modeling study finds that a massive wind and solar installation in the Sahara Desert and neighboring Sahel would increase local temperature, precipitation and vegetation. Overall, the researchers report, the effects would likely benefit the region. [1] People trying to control things. Because they are more afraid to control the most difficult thing: Themselves. People trying to “do something”. Because they are too afraid to do the most important thing: Accept things. Men walking through the desert. It used to be a green valley, but not anymore. They do not care. They smell the hot air. They love their life. And they feel cool under the blistering sun…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Learning the future? There is no need. It has already happened.

Researchers have developed a robotic learning technology that enables robots to imagine the future of their actions, so they can figure out how to manipulate objects they have never encountered before. In the future, this technology could help self-driving cars anticipate future events on the road and produce more intelligent robotic assistants in homes, but the initial prototype focuses on learning simple manual skills entirely from autonomous play. [1] We try to anticipate the future in order to control it. But the future is just the result of our current actions. What will come in the next minute is linked to what has already came at the previous minute. Every time we try to predict we actually remember. What we did yesterday. That rainy day of graduation. During that sunny day in the funeral. At that nursing house. Eating your first chocolate. It is your future. Try to remember. You are alive. And you have already seen yourself die…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Creating rigid crops… Fearing death… Bringing him closer…

Scientists have identified a common set of genes that enable different drought-resistant plants to survive in semi-arid conditions, which could play a significant role in bioengineering and creating energy crops that are tolerant to water deficits. [1] We want to get rid of death. We want to control the cosmos. And yet the cosmos used to be eternal. But not as we think it was. It was not eternal because there was no death. But because death was an integral part of it. The moment we create a cosmos without death, that will be the moment everything would have died. Because death is what makes everything eternal – non-existence is what makes existence important. Imagine a world where nothing dies. This world would be void of meaning. Now look closer at the cosmos where everything does die. See that butterfly which tries to find a mate in that one day it has available. Watch it after it stopped flying. Dead in the forest. And yet, that butterfly is still there. Making the world beautiful. Even for that one moment… It is still there… Flying…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Science generating monsters. Smiling and accepting.

Researchers have developed transgenic mosquitoes that stably express the Cas9 enzyme in their germline. The addition of Cas9 will enable the use of the CRISPR gene editing tool to make efficient, targeted changes to the mosquitoes' DNA. As proof of concept, the researchers used the system to disrupt cuticle, wing, and eye development, producing completely yellow, three-eyed and wingless mosquitoes. Their long-term goal is to develop new pest control strategies. [1] Knowledge does not liberate. Knowledge creates monsters. And modern science is all about knowledge. Always searching for more in the name of progress and research. And yet, more and more knowledge increases our longing for more knowledge. And that makes us feel more and more empty. And frustrated. The moment we realize we will never know everything, we try to make things on our own. To control the cosmos, to manipulate it in order to fit our understanding. And the cosmos will bend under our will. And we will feel more empty. Because we would not have understood anything, we would have just made the cosmos look like us inside: Hollow and void. Seek nothingness. Crave to be empty. Let go. It is only then that you will fully understand everything. It is only then that the beauty inside you will come out. Without any strings attached or knowledge razors to cut through it and distort it. You are not only editing your genes. You are changing the cosmos itself. Making it ugly. Accept yourself. Just smile. You are beautiful.

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Tomatoes with flavor…

A genetic fix will put the taste back in tomatoes. [1] We wanted to control the world. To analyze it and understand it. And in the context of that analysis and control, we lost its taste. Now we want to bring it back. But how good can a tomato taste, when we are the ones deciding its taste? The world is now ours. The world is now gone…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Science as a tool to control the cosmos and why we keep missing the point…

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2017-03-17]: Engineers have happened upon a way to stop the movement of the colorful eddies on the surface of soap bubbles. The results are works of art that could lead to stable engineered foams for medical treatments, personal products and food. [1] We need science to control things. We need science to stop the world from moving. And yet we forget that only when you change, do you stay the same. Only when you move you can stand still. Only when you live and die, do you really exist…

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Immaterial news that matter...

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2014-07-28]: Every news pages actually guides the reader to the "important" news. Guided news. [1] The only news. Seek the immaterial to find what matters.

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: The primitive. The "evolved". Weather control.

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2014-05-30]: The adage "Everyone complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it" may one day be obsolete if researchers further develop a new technique to aim a high-energy laser beam into clouds to make it rain or trigger lightning.  [1] We are control freaks. We are evolved. We can control the weather. A primitive man would just adapt to the weather. A primitive man would just live in harmony with the rain. A primitive man would just play with the snow. A primitive man would just be happy under the sun. But what does he know....

PS. See the article about the Mississippi delta and the "do something" mania of modern people...

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Not "good science"!

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2014-03-19]: No no no! This is not "good science"! [1] For eons some people like to define what is "correct". Different names - "holy", "divine", "scientific" - always implying the same vanity and lust for control...

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Life, telescopes, phones and the mania of "control"...

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2014-02-16]: A smart-phone controlled telescope. [1] We love controlling things. But life is about letting go...

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Philosophy Wire: Brothels, progressiveness, politics...

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-12-19]: Progressive, feminist, left-leaning movements led to the total ban of prostitution punishing even for the ones paying for it (Sweden), or to the total legalization of prostitution along with health care and pension (Germany). [1] Weird how the winners always keep for themselves the title of "progressive"... We think we must constantly change. We love control. For us the "winner" MUST be change. For us the proper thing MUST be controlling everything. What we have forgotten is that usually the first thought is the most correct one. What we have forgotten is that leaving some things uncontrolled could be the solution...

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…

Geo-engineering.

Scientists agree that geo-engineering is legal. [source]

Weather modification (including cloud seeding) was discussed from the 40’s [see declassified meeting notes of US Senate hearing at 1974 and here].

Patents for cloud seeding have been filed from this time. [Powder contrail generation]

Geo-engineering and weather modification today is part of the university research, part of private research, part of scientific research in general, part of state sponsored research, part of politics in the US, target of "philanthropy" (!) or part of military planning (see "Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025" or here).

Taking all that into account, why should we even care if the chemtrails “conspiracy” theory is correct? [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

After all, there is a specific US bill which prohibits such non-existent things… [source]

We want to control everything. Even the things which cannot be controlled. The chaos inside our mind has this crazy idea that it can impose order in the chaos outside of it. We cannot lash the sea.

The storm is right here. All we have to do is accept it and get wet.

Oh, how much we like to see the other way. How much do we really like to keep looking at a cloud taking “shapes”, while the storm keeps coming towards us from behind…

PS. Or could it be that everything have to do with money and weather derivatives? [8, 9]

Philosophy Wire: Controlling brains...

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-09-12]:

University of Washington researchers have performed what they believe is the first noninvasive human-to-human brain interface, with one researcher able to send a brain signal via the Internet to control the hand motions of a fellow researcher. (1)

No, this does not mean we understand how the brain works. We are just dumb-copying. It does mean however that we are control-maniacs.

Why would we want such a control? Why don't we let go? What are we afraid of?

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective.

Philosophy Wire: Stay starved!

Help translate the Harmonia Philosophica book in 6 new languages and get valuable perks in return! Support the Indiegogo project now!

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-07-11]: Hunger affects decision making and changes our perception of risk. [1] That is why dealing with hungry people is difficult. That is why we must all be fed well... Eat your burger... Obey!

(c) Philosophy WIRES - Commenting world news from philosophy's perspective…