The Four Sided Triangle

The Four Sided Triangle is a perplexing conundrum. By definition, there is no such thing as a four sided triangle. Many people debate that the impossibility of a four sided triangle thus proves the existence of God. In that belief, the definition of a triangle (three sided shape) proves its existence. The same goes for the existence of God. The definition of God (supreme being, omnipotent etc) proves His existence. Furthermore, knowing what "triangle" means reflects that a four sided triangle is impossible. Similarly, knowing what "God" means shows that his non-existence is impossible. Therefore, God has to exist because four sided triangles are impossible. I told you this was perplexing. The four sided triangle is an old ontological argument stating that God exists just by thinking about it. So what do you think about it?

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar. What a guy right? Caesar was one of the greatest military and political minds to have ever lived. An individual of extraordinary caliber, a man of immeasurable intellect and virtue. However, you don't need a history lesson of his legendary exploits and conquests of Gaul and Britain. One thing stands out in particular. In 49 BCE Caesar crossed the Rubicon river and seized control of Rome. He proclaimed himself dictator perpetuo and took down the Republic. Caesar's reign single-handedly gave rise to the Roman Empire; an unstoppable force which would change the world forever.

Crossing the Rubicon is now a phrase of the english language- meaning to do a momentous action. Julius Caesar united the known world under one government, under the iron fist of one leader. Even though the Roman Empire enslaved a few cultures, its existence led to the greatest period in the history of technology, arts, sciences, philosophy, and peace(through conquest). Eventually, the empire fell to corruption and other inconvenient happenings, but this rubicon-crossing, world uniting led to the advancement of humanity.

Now its my turn to cross the Rubicon- do you think the world would be better under one leader? Under one government? There would be no wars- and world peace to go around for all. Maybe one government is the answer to the future- to expand to the stars- and usher in a new age of prosperity and peace. Under a man like Caesar, would the world be a better place? Or are these just crazy Malthusian theories?

The Future of Civilization

What does the future hold for humanity and civilization? I think the seers and soothsayers might fall short on this one. Nevertheless, any fair-minded individual can theorize. What do you think about the future? Inevitably, I think humanity will exhaust the resources on Earth. I think technology will advance to a point in which we are capable of the colonization of other planets. Consequently, our civilization will expand to the stars seeking new resources. I watched an amazing video on YouTube with Dr. Michio Kaku on the subject. Watch it. Its worth your time.



So what do you think? Feel free to comment.

The Business Cycle

The Business Cycle- the inevitable ups and downs in a free enterprise economy. It is my belief we will be facing the effects of this cycle. After all, history repeats itself. Think of FDR and the Great Depression in the 1920's. After booming times, we hit a terrible depression until WWII took us out of it. I wonder if our path lies the same.

Hindsight Bias

Have you ever experienced the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon? Well, I have. This phenomenon is quite prominent in every day life, and being aware of its existence is interesting. For an example: you give half the participants in a survey group a research finding, and the other half an opposing result. You tell the first half of participants, "Researchers have found that separation weakens romantic attraction. As the saying goes, 'Out of sight, out of mind.'" Ask them to think of how this is true. (Why might this be true?) However, you tell the second half of participants in the survey group the exact opposite. You say, "Researchers have found that separation strengthens romantic attraction. As the saying goes, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder.'" Ask them to think how this is also true (do you see how this could be additionally true?). Participants in the research group can easily explain both of these results and find them equally true. Most attribute it to unsurprising common sense. Do you see the hindsight bias, the oh, I knew that all along! This tendency to believe, after learning the outcome, that one would have foreseen it is called hindsight bias (Myers). Isn't this phenomenon interesting? Do you know any times in your life this has happened? What do you think?