As soon as you mentioned the Wii theme my mind immediately began playing it.
To add to your writer/thinking board: I'm about to dive into C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces which I am told is unlike anything he ever wrote. It's a retelling of the Latin/Greek myth from Metamorphoses where Cupid and Psyche confront each other. Feel like it'd be right up your alley and I'll relay more when I finish it.
On going wide vs going deep: Prepare for both. Watching Messi play for Miami over the past few weeks reminded me that the greats can play both positions. The greats read the game and adapt to whatever it takes to win.
I was just talking to some WoP people about cyclical history. Work becoming peoples religion is totally cyclical. It's the story of Exodus. We see it again later during the Exiles of the Old Testament. And when Jesus goes to call his disciples they aren't in the temple praying, they are at their posts laboring away. But then some parts of history are not cyclical. Read a good book on this recently by Tom Holland called Dominion. My guess is what looks cyclical is actually a wheel going somewhere. To observe at the axel is to see a continuous cycle. To see it from the front seat is another thing.
When I think of TikTok today I in the context of history I think about penny dreadfuls and dime novels from hundreds of years ago. Or how even in the remains of Pompeii, archeologists are uncovering phallic symbols carved into stone with the equivalent of a YouTube comment today. One of my ComSci mentors once told me computers are dumb fast things. In many ways computers have only accelerated senseless stuff. At the end of the day there was always a crier in the market places of cities spewing something. Instead of strolling by now we're scrolling by. In many ways there isn't much new under the sun.
It's definitely both wide & deep at the same time. My sense is that it helps to be systematic and orderly in how you go wide, but chaotic and impulse driven when you go deep. As in, you don't choose what you go deep on. You just get sucked into it.
Say more about work becoming people's religion in the past. Any references in early America or medieval times?
Totally agree that there's an undeniable forward motion. "Cycle" actually isn't the right word, because it implies uniformity (a wave, the moon, the seasons). I see it more like something spiraling outward from a center. It's always venturing into the unknown, yet it's orbiting around a center, passing familiar territory, but growing each time.
Great TikTok analogies. I like "scrolling by instead of strolling by." TikTok Live is basically virtual busking.
the systematic and orderly wide + chaotic and impulse driven deep I think maps onto that soccer analogy well. If you send the ball wide you need to have precision. If you're going to dribble the ball deep you have to dribble through defenders or play tiki-taka style football. Good YouTube search some of that stuff.
On work becoming peoples religions in the past the first thing that came to mind was the Pullman company towns and subsequent strikes at the end of the 1800s. In the medieval era think more of religion becoming peoples work in the form of the crusades. I could recommend a few volumes on that topic if you're interested.
The spiraling outward from center is actually a Greek idea! You probably already know this but Phi applied as the ratio for the expansion of space time is a theory that has roots in the near east and early Greek astronomy. We should riff on that idea sometime! Hope you're well man!
This made me lol: "There’s probably a science to this. I’ve been exposed to the Wii theme song² at least 17 times at a spaced interval, and now it’s looping in my head all day as if I’m in some cartoon lounge. My subconscious is poisoned."
Aug 9, 2023·edited Aug 10, 2023Liked by Michael Dean
Have you seen Van Neistat’s video on the Fourth Turning? I haven’t read the book, but his synopsis is compelling.
Also, I see you predicting the future in that Miro board: “The Singularity.” What marked the previous phase-change? How do you think our current phase will resolve into the next one?
Ray Kurzweil has said the Singularity is coming 2045, which is kind of close to the start of the 2nd turning within next saeculum. That's the "awakening era," (think late 50s to mid 70s), the "consciousness revolution," or whatever you want to call it. It's a kind of spiritual upheaval, and transcendence of the dominant order before it. People define the Singularity in different ways.
I think we might be faced with existential questions on what it means to be human. You can see this dilemma playing out in science fiction. If the 2nd turning is about consciousness, then this era might be about technology profoundly changing the paradigms of consciousness that have been constant.
I agree that the prevalence and influence of technology in our lives will prompt serious existential questions. One trend I see is that we're floating further away from our physical surroundings and our bodies — into our screens and into our heads. We're increasingly disconnected from reality, which is being supplanted by pixels. In a secular society where all our physical needs are easily met the work we do happens in a digital space, from where will we derive meaning?
While not directly about 4th Turning, Timcast mentions it a lot on the show and this music video and the imagery reminds me of the cyclical nature of things https://youtu.be/B-iNIwAFzPw?t=232
They don't. For this project, I thought the fluidity of visualization was more important than having actual hyperlinks. It's pretty lo-fi for now. VisualizingSEP looks awesome.
Actually, not yet. I'm generally starting from the present and working back 200-300 years. Then I have another book where I'm starting from ancient times and working forward. So Montaigne is in that dark zone for me right now. Seems obvious that I should dive into the origin of the essay. Any other angles I should check out?
As soon as you mentioned the Wii theme my mind immediately began playing it.
To add to your writer/thinking board: I'm about to dive into C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces which I am told is unlike anything he ever wrote. It's a retelling of the Latin/Greek myth from Metamorphoses where Cupid and Psyche confront each other. Feel like it'd be right up your alley and I'll relay more when I finish it.
On going wide vs going deep: Prepare for both. Watching Messi play for Miami over the past few weeks reminded me that the greats can play both positions. The greats read the game and adapt to whatever it takes to win.
I was just talking to some WoP people about cyclical history. Work becoming peoples religion is totally cyclical. It's the story of Exodus. We see it again later during the Exiles of the Old Testament. And when Jesus goes to call his disciples they aren't in the temple praying, they are at their posts laboring away. But then some parts of history are not cyclical. Read a good book on this recently by Tom Holland called Dominion. My guess is what looks cyclical is actually a wheel going somewhere. To observe at the axel is to see a continuous cycle. To see it from the front seat is another thing.
When I think of TikTok today I in the context of history I think about penny dreadfuls and dime novels from hundreds of years ago. Or how even in the remains of Pompeii, archeologists are uncovering phallic symbols carved into stone with the equivalent of a YouTube comment today. One of my ComSci mentors once told me computers are dumb fast things. In many ways computers have only accelerated senseless stuff. At the end of the day there was always a crier in the market places of cities spewing something. Instead of strolling by now we're scrolling by. In many ways there isn't much new under the sun.
It's definitely both wide & deep at the same time. My sense is that it helps to be systematic and orderly in how you go wide, but chaotic and impulse driven when you go deep. As in, you don't choose what you go deep on. You just get sucked into it.
Say more about work becoming people's religion in the past. Any references in early America or medieval times?
Totally agree that there's an undeniable forward motion. "Cycle" actually isn't the right word, because it implies uniformity (a wave, the moon, the seasons). I see it more like something spiraling outward from a center. It's always venturing into the unknown, yet it's orbiting around a center, passing familiar territory, but growing each time.
Great TikTok analogies. I like "scrolling by instead of strolling by." TikTok Live is basically virtual busking.
the systematic and orderly wide + chaotic and impulse driven deep I think maps onto that soccer analogy well. If you send the ball wide you need to have precision. If you're going to dribble the ball deep you have to dribble through defenders or play tiki-taka style football. Good YouTube search some of that stuff.
On work becoming peoples religions in the past the first thing that came to mind was the Pullman company towns and subsequent strikes at the end of the 1800s. In the medieval era think more of religion becoming peoples work in the form of the crusades. I could recommend a few volumes on that topic if you're interested.
The spiraling outward from center is actually a Greek idea! You probably already know this but Phi applied as the ratio for the expansion of space time is a theory that has roots in the near east and early Greek astronomy. We should riff on that idea sometime! Hope you're well man!
Dominion is great. Are you aware of Paul Vanderklay's work (mostly on YT)? He cites Dominion often so perhaps of interest to you.
This made me lol: "There’s probably a science to this. I’ve been exposed to the Wii theme song² at least 17 times at a spaced interval, and now it’s looping in my head all day as if I’m in some cartoon lounge. My subconscious is poisoned."
The dark science of ear worms
Have you seen Van Neistat’s video on the Fourth Turning? I haven’t read the book, but his synopsis is compelling.
Also, I see you predicting the future in that Miro board: “The Singularity.” What marked the previous phase-change? How do you think our current phase will resolve into the next one?
I haven't, but just watched. Thanks for sharing.
Ray Kurzweil has said the Singularity is coming 2045, which is kind of close to the start of the 2nd turning within next saeculum. That's the "awakening era," (think late 50s to mid 70s), the "consciousness revolution," or whatever you want to call it. It's a kind of spiritual upheaval, and transcendence of the dominant order before it. People define the Singularity in different ways.
I think we might be faced with existential questions on what it means to be human. You can see this dilemma playing out in science fiction. If the 2nd turning is about consciousness, then this era might be about technology profoundly changing the paradigms of consciousness that have been constant.
altering consciousness (psychedelics)
replicating consciousness (simulated selves)
extending consciousness (AR/VR as teleportation)
foreign consciousness (AGI)
augmented consciousness (brain computer interfaces)
prolonging consciousness (life extension, immortality)
uploading consciousness (brain in a vat)
I agree that the prevalence and influence of technology in our lives will prompt serious existential questions. One trend I see is that we're floating further away from our physical surroundings and our bodies — into our screens and into our heads. We're increasingly disconnected from reality, which is being supplanted by pixels. In a secular society where all our physical needs are easily met the work we do happens in a digital space, from where will we derive meaning?
Oh, here's another rabbit hole. Byrne Power is a friend of PVK and has a series on "How we got here" a look of the 20th century, throughout the decades…via culture, music, media, etc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoiWHUbX9UQ&list=PLJ895CQuvzeURMq282OR57w-2lwdo625g
Byrne's convos with PVK throughout the years https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUyL5O1FUWw&list=PLYSXopxC8Z9uPdCB3rwHSLpAgsDoh7HWh
While not directly about 4th Turning, Timcast mentions it a lot on the show and this music video and the imagery reminds me of the cyclical nature of things https://youtu.be/B-iNIwAFzPw?t=232
Out on the march in the morning
He called his soldiers down
to take aim at the traitors
To gun those rebels down
Now they'll face the consequences
they held themselves above
this is the will of the people
he said
I wish I could spare them make them see the path
tempting as that sounds i'll have to pass
I know whats needed for the good of my people
To save them
Out in the dark without warning
He raised his fist above
led a cry to his people
to tear those statues down
Now they'll face the consequences
They held themselves above
This is the will of the people he said
I wish I could spare them make them see the path
tempting as that sounds i'll have to pass
I know whats needed for the good of my people
To save them
Drop your arms and march for them
Turn against the wall and bow your head
Speak your last words, let them be said
Out on the march in the morning
He called his comrades down
to take aim at the traitors
To gun those fascists down
Now they'll face the consequences
they held themselves above
this is the will of the people
he said
I wish I could find it the way to restore peace
Blessed were the days we held in vain
I'd give it all for a chance at redemption
As the cycle turns again
You've seen it before now you'll see it begin
You've seen the changes and the blood pooling
If you think it ends here think again
PVK had a recent video on metamodernism and the Fourth Turning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5_1SeQsULs
GPT-generated bookmarks
00:00:00 - Paul discusses his videos and conversations on social media platforms. Paul talks about the concept of meta-modernism.
00:05:00 - Traditional, modern, and post-modern cultural periods, with meta-modern as the latest stage.
00:10:00 - Meta-modernism critiques post-modernism and seeks societal and spiritual transformation.
00:15:00 - Discussion about frustration in achieving specific outcomes and practices, and tension between traditional and meta-modern perspectives.
00:20:00 - Discussion about Israeli professional wrestler Lenny Levi and meta-modernism.
00:25:00 - Discussion on cyclic patterns in history and a video recommendation.
00:30:00 - American society goes through cycles of four turnings: high, awakening, unraveling, crisis.
00:35:00 - Baby Boomers dominated after WWII, but declined since the 90s.
00:40:00 - Anticipating societal changes, distrust, rebuilding, and resolution in the future.
00:45:00 - The speaker discusses various historical events and societal trends.
Excited to watch this!
Good enough: satisfice vs maximizing (Herbert Simon)
> I’m a writer. I want to build fuzzy maps of knowledge across every discipline so I can connect them to my own original ideas.
Or, laying out your own Wiki landscape
Or Linking Your Thinking Maps of Content
shared ✅ 🎁 🙏
DM'd you the link! Be careful in there.
Do those links exist in a Obsidian/Roam/etc like place? Reminds me of VisualizingSEP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrz_TvdPcy4&list=PL3NaIVgSlAVI6j6bXResrReMIc6zKBH5q&index=6
https://www.visualizingsep.com/#/entries/aristotle/
They don't. For this project, I thought the fluidity of visualization was more important than having actual hyperlinks. It's pretty lo-fi for now. VisualizingSEP looks awesome.
Montaigne, you have Montaigne right?
Actually, not yet. I'm generally starting from the present and working back 200-300 years. Then I have another book where I'm starting from ancient times and working forward. So Montaigne is in that dark zone for me right now. Seems obvious that I should dive into the origin of the essay. Any other angles I should check out?