"The Center of the Cyclone" is a book written by John C. Lilly, a neuroscientist and psychoanalyst, published in 1972. In the book, Lilly explores his experiences with altered states of consciousness, particularly through the use of sensory deprivation tanks, and discusses various aspects of human consciousness, existence, and the nature of reality.
The Kekulé Problem refers to the question of determining the structure and properties of certain organic compounds, particularly those involving aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene. Named after the German chemist August Kekulé, the issue primarily centers around understanding how to represent the bonding and electron delocalization in these molecules, specifically the concept of resonance.
Background independence is a concept primarily used in theoretical physics, particularly in the context of general relativity and quantum gravity. It refers to the idea that the laws of physics should not depend on a fixed background structure, such as spacetime itself. In other words, the theory should be formulated in such a way that the geometry of spacetime is not predetermined or fixed, but rather emerges from the physical processes described by the theory.
The Correspondence Principle is a fundamental concept in physics, primarily associated with the transition from classical mechanics to quantum mechanics. It states that the behavior of quantum mechanical systems must converge to classical physics in the limit of large quantum numbers or when the system is described by macroscopic quantities. In essence, the Correspondence Principle asserts that any new theoretical framework (like quantum mechanics) should reproduce the results of an older, well-established theory (like classical mechanics) in situations where the older theory is applicable.
Critical realism is a philosophical approach that originated in the field of social science but has been applied more broadly, including in the philosophy of perception. It seeks to bridge the divide between the extremes of realism and idealism, maintaining that while the world exists independently of our perception, our understanding of it is always mediated by our perceptions, interpretations, and social contexts.
Subjective idealism is a philosophical doctrine asserting that reality is fundamentally mental and immaterial, primarily existing in the minds of individual perceivers. It posits that the only things we can be sure of are our own perceptions and experiences. Under this view, the external world does not have an independent existence apart from the consciousness that observes it.
"Epistemological Letters" is not a widely recognized term or publication in the field of philosophy or epistemology. It might refer to a specific series of writings, correspondences, or articles dealing with issues in epistemology, which is the study of knowledge—its nature, sources, limitations, and validity.
The philosophy of field theory is a rich and evolving area that intersects the fields of philosophy, physics, and mathematics. Its history can be traced through several key developments in both theoretical frameworks and philosophical inquiries. ### Early Development 1. **Classical Physics**: The concept of a field can find its roots in early discussions about force fields in physics. Notably, Isaac Newton’s work on gravitational forces laid a foundation for understanding interactions at a distance.
Superdeterminism is a concept in theoretical physics and philosophy that suggests all events in the universe, including the outcomes of quantum experiments and the choices made by observers, are predetermined by prior conditions. This idea challenges the conventional interpretation of quantum mechanics, particularly in relation to the phenomenon of entanglement and the apparent independence of measurement choices. In quantum mechanics, experiments often show correlations between entangled particles that seem to suggest a level of randomness in measurement outcomes.
Mentalism in psychology refers to the theoretical perspective that emphasizes the importance of mental processes in understanding behavior. It contrasts with behaviorism, which focuses primarily on observable actions and stimuli. Mentalism suggests that internal mental states—such as thoughts, beliefs, desires, and intentions—play a crucial role in influencing how individuals act and respond to their environment. In this framework, mental events are considered real phenomena that can help explain psychological functions.
The term "philosophers of psychology" refers to individuals who engage in the philosophical examination of psychological concepts, theories, and practices. This field of inquiry often explores the foundational issues related to the nature of the mind, consciousness, behavior, and the methods used in psychology. Key areas of interest include: 1. **Mind-Body Problem**: Philosophers investigate the relationship between mental states (thoughts, feelings, etc.) and physical states (brain activity, body).
"History of Science" is a scholarly journal that focuses on the study of the history of science, technology, and medicine. Established in 1963, it is peer-reviewed and publishes articles, book reviews, and other contributions that examine various aspects of the evolution of scientific thought, practices, and institutions across different cultures and time periods. The journal seeks to provide a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue among historians of science and scholars from related fields.
Robert Nozick was a prominent American philosopher best known for his work in political philosophy and ethics. His most notable book is "Anarchy, State, and Utopia," published in 1974, which critiques contemporary theories of distributive justice and presents a libertarian framework for understanding the state's role and individual rights.
The Tarner Lectures are a series of prestigious public lectures held at Trinity College, Cambridge. Established in 1831, they are designed to explore topics in philosophy, theology, and the sciences, often emphasizing the relationship between these disciplines. The lectures are named after John Tarner, a benefactor who endowed the series. The aim of the Tarner Lectures is to promote intellectual discourse and encourage engagement with complex ideas, making profound philosophical concepts accessible to a wider audience.
"Fact, Fiction, and Forecast" is a philosophical work by the philosopher and statistician Nelson Goodman, first published in 1955. The book addresses issues related to the philosophy of science, particularly the nature of induction, the problem of how we distinguish between what is considered true (fact) and what is considered imaginary or invented (fiction).
"Forces and fields" is a concept in physics that refers to the interactions between objects and the influence that these interactions have on the motion and behavior of those objects. Here’s a brief overview of each component: ### Forces A force is any interaction that, when unopposed, will change the motion of an object. Forces can cause an object to start moving, stop moving, change direction, or change speed.
The Heroic theory of invention and scientific development posits that significant advancements in science and technology are primarily driven by the efforts of extraordinary individuals—often referred to as 'heroes'—who possess exceptional talent, creativity, or determination. This theory emphasizes the role of these individual innovators and their groundbreaking ideas, suggesting that progress in science and technology largely hinges on the contributions of a few remarkable figures rather than collective efforts or prevailing cultural and social contexts.
The term "instant" can refer to various concepts depending on the context in which it is used. Here are a few common interpretations: 1. **Time**: In physics and general use, "instant" refers to a moment in time—specifically, a very brief period. It represents an occurrence or event that happens at a single point in time.
"The Dark Ground of Spirit" is a philosophical and psychological concept that explores the relationship between the conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind, often touching upon themes in existentialism, depth psychology, and spiritual inquiry. It suggests that there exists a foundational or "dark" aspect of human existence that is essential for understanding the human spirit and consciousness.
The philosophy of physics is a branch of philosophy that examines the conceptual and foundational questions arising in physics. It seeks to understand the implications of physical theories and the nature of the physical world. Here are some key topics and questions often explored within this field: 1. **Nature of Space and Time**: Philosophers of physics explore the ontological status of space and time—are they entities or merely relations? This includes discussions on the implications of Einstein's theory of relativity on our understanding of time.
Pinned article: 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 3. Visual Studio Code extension installation.Figure 4. Visual Studio Code extension tree navigation.Figure 5. Web editor. 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.Video 4. OurBigBook Visual Studio Code extension editing and navigation demo. Source. - 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





