"Animal machine" can refer to different concepts depending on the context. Here are a couple of interpretations: 1. **Biological Perspective**: In biology, the term might refer to the idea of animals as complex biological machines. This perspective emphasizes how animals have intricate systems for digestion, reproduction, movement, and sensory perception, functioning similarly to machines with many interrelated parts. This view can also be explored in fields like biomimetics, where engineers study animal structures and functions to inspire new technologies.
Certainty is a state of being sure or confident about something. It refers to the clear and unequivocal assurance that a particular belief, statement, or outcome is true or will occur. In various contexts, certainty can relate to knowledge, decision-making, predictions, and outcomes: 1. **In Knowledge:** Certainty can signify a strong conviction about the truth of a fact or piece of information, often supported by evidence or rationale.
A cognitive module refers to a specialized system within the brain or a theoretical model that is responsible for processing specific types of information or conducting particular cognitive tasks. The concept is often associated with cognitive psychology and neuroscience and is used to explain how different mental faculties operate independently and interactively.
The term "Cosmology episode" could refer to a variety of things, depending on the context. It might refer to a specific episode from a show or podcast that focuses on cosmology—the scientific study of the large scale properties of the universe as a whole. For example, in television, there are documentary series like "Cosmos," which explore topics related to the universe, including its origin, evolution, and structure.
Intellect can be defined as the ability to think, reason, and understand complex ideas. It encompasses various cognitive functions, including perception, memory, problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking. Intellect is often associated with intelligence, which can be measured in various ways, including IQ tests and other assessments aimed at evaluating cognitive abilities. Intellect can also refer to a person's knowledge, insight, and wisdom, often shaped by education, experiences, and cultural influences.
Intuition, as developed by the French philosopher Henri Bergson in the early 20th century, is a central concept in his philosophy, particularly in his exploration of time, consciousness, and reality. Bergson distinguishes between two forms of knowing: 1. **Intellectual Knowledge**: This type of knowledge is analytical, abstract, and primarily based on concepts and measurements. It tends to compartmentalize and categorize experiences, leading to a fragmented understanding of reality.
A meme is a concept, behavior, style, or cultural practice that spreads from person to person within a culture. In the context of the internet and social media, memes often take the form of images, videos, text, or other media that are humorous, satirical, or relatable. They typically feature a recognizable format that can be easily modified, allowing users to create variations that reflect their own experiences or sentiments. Internet memes often go viral, spreading rapidly across social media platforms and forums.
A mental event refers to any occurrence or process that takes place within the mind, encompassing thoughts, feelings, perceptions, memories, and cognitive processes. Mental events can include: 1. **Thoughts**: These are the ideas and concepts that arise in one's mind, including reasoning, problem-solving, and daydreaming. 2. **Emotions**: Feelings such as happiness, sadness, anger, and fear that can influence behavior and thoughts.
The Overview Effect is a cognitive shift in awareness that astronauts experience when they see the Earth from space. This phenomenon often occurs during space travel, particularly when viewing the planet from orbit. Astronauts report a profound sense of connection to Earth and an increased awareness of its fragility, interconnectedness, and the need for global cooperation in addressing challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, and conflict.
The term "principle" can refer to several concepts, depending on the context in which it is used. Here are a few common interpretations: 1. **Fundamental Truth or Proposition**: A principle can refer to a basic truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior. For example, ethical principles guide moral conduct.
Reality is a complex and multifaceted concept that has been explored by various disciplines including philosophy, physics, psychology, and even art. At its core, reality can be understood as the state of things as they actually exist, independent of perception or belief. Here are several perspectives on reality: 1. **Philosophical Perspective**: Philosophers debate the nature of reality, questioning what is real versus what is perceived.
The "will to power" is a central concept in the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, an influential 19th-century German philosopher. It refers to a fundamental driving force in humans and all living beings that goes beyond mere survival or reproduction. Nietzsche saw the will to power as an inherent instinct that compels individuals to assert themselves, achieve mastery, and express their creativity. While the will to power is often associated with a desire for dominance or control, Nietzsche's notion is more nuanced.
Compassion is the emotional response of caring and concern for the suffering of others, coupled with the desire to alleviate that suffering. It often involves empathy, which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, along with a motivation to help. Compassion can manifest in various forms, including acts of kindness, support, and a genuine willingness to assist those in distress.
Transcendence in philosophy generally refers to the process or state of going beyond ordinary limits, particularly in the context of human experience, knowledge, or the physical world. It is often used to discuss concepts that surpass typical earthly or empirical understanding, frequently touching on themes related to metaphysics, ethics, religion, and the nature of existence.
The term "user illusion" generally refers to the interface and experience design principles that aim to simplify and enhance user interactions with technology by creating a more intuitive and engaging environment. It can cover a range of concepts, including but not limited to: 1. **Design Aesthetics**: Utilizing visual elements that appeal to users while hiding complex underlying functionalities. This can lead to an experience that feels more seamless and natural.
Propositional attitudes are mental states that involve a relationship between an individual and a proposition. These states express the ways in which a person can relate to a proposition, which is a statement or assertion that can be either true or false. Common examples of propositional attitudes include beliefs, desires, hopes, fears, and intentions. For example, if someone believes that "it is raining," the propositional attitude is "belief," and the proposition is "it is raining.
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, located between northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It extends approximately 1,400 miles (2,300 kilometers) from the Sinai Peninsula in the north to the Bab el Mandeb strait in the south, which connects it to the Gulf of Aden and ultimately the Arabian Sea.
Moral psychology is a field that explores the psychological underpinnings of moral behavior, ethical decision-making, emotions related to morality, and how individuals and groups understand concepts of right and wrong. Books in moral psychology typically examine the cognitive, emotional, social, and cultural factors that influence moral judgment and behavior. Here are some key topics and themes often found in moral psychology books: 1. **Moral Development**: How individuals develop their moral reasoning and ethical beliefs over time.
The term "authoritarian personality" refers to a psychological profile characterized by a strong adherence to conventional values, an inclination toward rigid thinking, and a tendency to submit to and enforce authority. The concept was introduced by social psychologists Theodor W. Adorno and his colleagues in their 1950 book, "The Authoritarian Personality." This work was part of a broader effort to understand the sociopsychological roots of fascism and prejudice.
Condescension refers to an attitude or behavior in which a person looks down on others, treating them as inferior or less important. This often involves speaking or acting in a way that is patronizing or dismissive, suggesting that the person showing condescension considers themselves to be of a higher status, intelligence, or moral superiority. Condescension can manifest in various contexts, such as in communication, social interactions, or professional environments.
Pinned article: ourbigbook/introduction-to-the-ourbigbook-project
Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
Intro to OurBigBook
. Source. We have two killer features:
- topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculusArticles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
- a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
- a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.Figure 1. Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page. View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivativeVideo 2. OurBigBook Web topics demo. Source. - local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
- to OurBigBook.com to get awesome multi-user features like topics and likes
- as HTML files to a static website, which you can host yourself for free on many external providers like GitHub Pages, and remain in full control
Figure 2. You can publish local OurBigBook lightweight markup files to either OurBigBook.com or as a static website.Figure 3. Visual Studio Code extension installation.Figure 5. . You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally. Video 3. Edit locally and publish demo. Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension. - Infinitely deep tables of contents:
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact