Insights on knowledge, curiosity, and routine: Wikipedia leads to philosophy; combat epistemic anxiety with truth; navigate responsibilities with routine, and seek knowledge through collaboration and learning.
- Wikipedia Philosophy Game: Start on any Wikipedia page and click the first hyperlinked word in the main text. Repeating this process will almost always lead you to the Philosophy page. A 2017 study showed that 95% of all Wikipedia articles lead to philosophy, usually within 10-30 clicks.
- Epistemic Anxiety: This is the feeling of unease when you crave truth but feel your knowledge is incomplete or erroneous. It stems from a universal human desire for truth, exacerbated by information overload.
- Conway's Game of Life: A zero-player game invented by mathematician John Conway. The starting configuration of cells on a grid determines the outcome based on simple rules. It demonstrates emergence and self-organization: abundant, diverse "ideas" (cells) can lead to complex, unique concepts.
- Moradoom - The Evergreen Forest of Late Stage Capitalism: A metaphor for modern work life, where "swallowing evergreen trees" represent exploitative jobs that drain time and energy, offering only consolatory rewards. The "Axe of Satisfaction" is needed to cut through this, diminishing the need for overconsumption driven by status anxiety.
- Igamor - The Disorienting Caves of Ignorance: Referencing Plato's Allegory of the Cave, it represents the choice of ignorance when faced with challenging new information. We retreat to biases and familiar sensations. The "Torch of Curiosity" is the solution – prioritizing thought over sensation to escape the cave.
- Dorothy Hodgkin Example: Hodgkin's curiosity, starting from studying pebbles, led to groundbreaking work in X-ray crystallography, solving the structures of penicillin, vitamin B12, and insulin, saving potentially a billion lives.
- Evermore - The River of Responsibilities: Represents the constant flow of daily obligations. The "Oars of Routine" are essential for navigating this, freeing up mental space for curiosity. Routines eliminate the need for constant, draining decisions.
- Yitang Zhang's Story: Zhang, despite working odd jobs, maintained a consistent routine of mathematical study, leading to a breakthrough in number theory. This illustrates the power of consistency over flashes of brilliance.
- Luminspire - The Mountains of Knowledge: Represents expertise. To truly learn, you must be willing to "get off your peak," abandoning existing knowledge and becoming a student again.
- Paul Erdős Example: Erdős collaborated with over 500 mathematicians, actively seeking collaborators and demonstrating a willingness to learn from others. This highlights the value of collaboration and shedding ego.
- Building and Finding Communities: Actively seek out experts in areas of interest. Ask for introductions, engage in thoughtful questions, and commit time to learning.
- Documenting Your Intellectual Journey: Regularly write down ideas, thoughts, and notes. This forces clear thinking and allows for new connections and ideas to emerge.