The lost virtue of Humanitas: how to deepen our humanity in the present moment. In today’s rapidly changing world, it’s vital to pause and reflect on the fundamental aspects of what it means to be human. Two pivotal concepts—humanitas, the essential characteristics of humanity, and eudaimonia, the pursuit of human flourishing and well-being—have not been adequately examined together. These ancient ideas, deeply rooted in our collective history, deserve a closer exploration as we navigate the complexities of modern life. The Renaissance was a period of cultural, artistic, and intellectual rebirth, which celebrated the human spirit and emphasized the potential of individuals. However, after the Renaissance faded, the world came to be increasingly seen as a mechanical system, reducing humans to mere components. This shift in perception led to a utilitarian view of human life, in which individuals are valued based on their productivity and economic contributions rather than their intrinsic worth. Consequently, the rich tapestry of human existence is continually threatened by the cold, calculating logic of the machine. … (Living Ideas Journal)
The physical toll of your smartphone addiction. The least-used app on my phone is “phone.” The diverse functionality of the smartphone—texting, talking, video streaming, gaming, social networking—has changed the way we work, play, and communicate. I still wonder if Steve Jobs, when he introduced the iPhone at the Macworld San Francisco Keynote Address in 2007, anticipated the influence Apple’s revolutionary creation would have on human behavior. He probably did. Just fifteen years after its release, numerous copycat devices have made the smartphone nearly ubiquitous. According to the Pew Research Center, 85 percent of Americans have one, and nearly 50 percent admit they may be addicted. We’re tethered to our devices. They sit on our desks when we work; we use them when studying and attending lectures, while watching movies and sporting events; and we use them at mealtimes. They even rest on our nightstands, being the last thing we see when we sleep and the first we see when we wake. One-in-six cellphones contains traces of fecal matter, bacteria, and E. coli, because we use smartphones in the bathroom. When it comes to microbial infection, your smartphone is “The Trojan horse of transmission.” … (Skeptical Inquirer)
The times of tyranny. The lead-up to the Second World War was often referred to (in its own time) as the Age of the Great Dictators. The idea being that, even though the fledgling American experiment was going rather well, not all democracies were pulling their weight in the war of ideologies. Emerging dictatorial governments in Spain, Italy, Germany and Russia were getting their respective nations back on track as Europe strived to recover from its self-destructive, turn of the century warmongering. The fact that these were dictators, men of the people, for the people, instead of privileged, hereditary monarchs in charge of the ship of state seemed like a natural and sensible step in the right direction. Though I hear the cry going up from all corners of cyberspace: “Quit stalling. What’s this got to do with the Classics?” Pray beat still, impatient hearts. … (Classical Wisdom)
The essential Philip K. Dick. The K stands for “Kindred.” It was a family name, but if there’s anyone who can forgive a fanciful imputation of significance, it is Philip K. Dick. How lovely that a poet of alienation would come into existence bearing that word. Perhaps you’ve nurtured a suspicion that you have the makings of a Dick fan. The writer’s influence is everywhere, though mainstream acknowledgment of his talents arrived belatedly. (His obituary in this newspaper is under 200 words and lists his age of death incorrectly. He was 53, not 54.) The question is where to start. Dick’s published output — at least 35 novels and countless short stories — ranges from sublime to inscrutable, which is partly a result of volume. His book advances were skimpy and there was a family to support, so he wrote quickly, often fueled by amphetamine tablets. (Dick’s typing speed: 120 words per minute.) If you’re a stickler for prose style and hold a zero-tolerance policy toward the word “boobies,” this is not your fellow. … (The New York Times)
Deep learning opacity in scientific discovery. Artificial intelligence is now (nearly) ubiquitous in the sciences. Though there are many reasons for this, the most straightforward among them is that AI is incredibly useful for achieving scientific aims. Of course, there are many such aims. Some are epistemic and include achievements like accurate prediction. Others are non-epistemic and include pursuits such as health and well-being. While scientists’ enthusiasm for AI is undoubtedly influenced by the prestige conferred upon those working in ‘sexy’ new areas, it would require a rather extreme brand of cynicism to boil this all down to hype. Genuine scientific breakthroughs that leverage AI are plentiful and easy to find. … (New Work in Philosophy)