Personal Reflection XIII - A Dialogue on Faith

V: Do you believe in G-d?
G: Yes I do but it is a belief that I have had to work on for most of my life. It’s a struggle. A frustrating one at times but certainly a necessary initiative.

V: In what way?
G: I am by nature a scientific rationalist and consequently seek proof for my beliefs and avoid as much as possible any leaps of faith. However I am also aware that science is bound to the material world and consequently has a limited realm through which it can access knowledge. I have dedicated much of my life to science but I am consciously aware of its constraints.Having said this though, I will exhaust all scientific explanations before deferring to an extra-material analysis in grasping the phenomenology of events. I owe this to myself. In a sense I am a skeptic, not a logical positivist, but a realist armed with Occam’s Razor but cognizant at the same time of the extra-material universe.My belief is similar to that of the scholar Martin Gardiner. I could be described as a soft theist but even this label falls short of what I believe I am. In short I ‘feel’ G-d’s presence – as a magnificent spark - but I am loathe to let it override my rationalism unless I have an excellent reason to do so.

V: What is your opinion on Judaism?

G: I consider myself Jewish in the cultural and historical sense and celebrate many of its traditions. I see Judaism, as Mordechai Kaplan did, in being indicative of a civilization. Religion is one facet of the civilization, but does not comprise its entirety. 

I cannot take seriously the revealed nature argument for the religion (including of course the revelation at Sinai) as it does not stand up to rational scrutiny. However the richness of the biblical tradition, the emphasis on ethics and justice, as epitomized in the Tanakh and the Talmud, provide valuable insight into the human condition. 

V: Have you always held this position?
G: No. I haven’t. Indeed I have fluctuated at times from strong theism to agnostic theism/deism. I have rejected non-interventionist deism as it does not seem rational that a creator would completely divorce himself from its creation. I am not an atheist as I have yet to see a convincing argument as to why something exists as opposed to nothing (despite the trials and tribulations of Victor Stenger). This something-nothing standoff is the kink in natural philosophy which of course underpins the argument of rational atheism. 

V: What do you think G-d is? 
G: This is a tough one which no human is truly qualified to answer. However we are all able to speculate. The definition of G-d that makes sense to me is that of the Kabbalistic Ein Sof which I have written at length on this board. In a way it is similar to the Uppanishad definition of the Infinite Soul - Brahman. I am actually very much taken by the Hindu understanding of our individual soul, - the Athman - being in its essence a derivative of the Brahman. I believe we can approach the Ein Sof/Brahman by performing meaningful acts of goodness which I take as the Spark of G-d referred to earlier.

V: You are critical of organized religion. Why is this?
G: Organized religion is generally driven by supernatural revelation which by its very nature counteracts science in emphasizing the concept of ‘miracles’. I don’t believe G-d acts this way. I believe that we all have within ourselves an ability to understand G-d and nobody is privileged in this regard. Strict revelation argues for the privileged position. Furthermore I believe that belief in G-d is a private initiative and should not be dominated by ritual which is very much a feature of organized religion.

V: Yet you still believe G-d can if he wants to perform miracles.
G: Yes I do but he doesn’t have to. There is enough reason to believe in G-d without him having to resort to this device. Also its very clear that he has structured the physicality to make miracles unnecessary.

V: How does one leverage the spark?
G: Meaningful acts are tantamount to acts of kindness – an extension of one’s sense of self to include the other. Marin Buber wrote about this in the I and Thou. These bring one closer to G-d and allow us to appreciate his magnificence. Life also has to be lived with purpose. In doing so we discover the G-d Spark.

V: Is prayer important?
G: Yes it is. However it must come from the heart. I prefer to produce my own prayer words that are of a personal nature. I realize others prefer pre-written templates or established prayer. It is their choice as long as the lines of communication are maintained with G-d.

V: Do you believe in Angels?

G: No I don’t these are manifestations of the ancient mythology (largely Babylonian). 
G-d is all powerful and does not need a messenger system.

V: What other aspects are important with your belief?
G: Questioning G-d. Reflecting on the G-d presence and always using critical thought and reason where possible to evaluate a situation. 

V: But is not Belief or Faith inconsistent with reason?
G: All systems of reason and logic are built on the a priori. Everyone takes a leap of faith at some point otherwise logic systems would not get off the ground. Godel showed this with his incompleteness theorem in Mathematics for example. I have yet to see a convincing proof that shows how our logical framework breaks down as a result of the G-d assumption that I have outlined.

V: But if it did break down. Would you be forced to reconsider the G-d assumption?
G: Definitely. It would be intellectually dishonest not to. However I very much doubt that it would.

ON SETI

I am a huge proponent of SETI and a great fan of Science Fiction. About ten years ago I wrote a book the HISTORY OF THE FUTURE (reprints on this blog) detailing a world where contact with alien species is made and our species is forced by necessity to enter into a new geopolitical reality. Odds are that if we are to be immersed in a world where we are less sophisticated than the extra terrestrials than it will not work out well for us. However there is an unpredictability with all encounters that may prove refreshing. 

Lately though I have become somewhat disillusioned, not so much in the way contact will play out, but whether contact will occur at all. Based on scientific assessment the odds of another humanoid type species evolving ( or even some type of facsimile) to make contact with us appear to be close to zero. A subtle interventionist deity could rig the odds but that seems to be wishful thinking. One can take solace in the Drake Equation but there are so many unknown variables in that equation that it seems to be practically meaningless. My heart wishes that this weren't so but looking just at the probability game and the levels of fine tuning that are necessary it may just be the case that we are simply alone.

Western History 76: How did Weaponry develop in the Middle Ages?

Warfare in the Middle Ages changed drastically from that of antiquity along four major axes – cavalry, artillery/siege warfare machinery, ranged weapons and the use of armour. Other developments impacted naval strategy and the use of hand held weapons.

Cavalry – Cavalry replaced infantrymen as the principal agents of warfare in the middle ages. There is some debate as to whether the invention of the stirrup was the principal driver for such change but the switch to cavalry force was certainly evident in the Carolingian war machine (from Pepin the Short onward). This changeover facilitated the development of the lance, the long sword and the horseman’s pick. The cavalry archer was a stable feature of the Turkic and Muslim war machine. However it is important to note that there would be a later switchback to infantry fighting in the High Middle Ages as seen with the rise of the Swiss Pikemen and English Longbowmen (victors at the Battle of Agincourt)..

Artillery/siege warfare machinery – These devices included the trebuchet, the catapult, the battering ram, the ballista and the siege tower. Trebuchets made use of counterweights to throw large objects at enemy positions. Catapults converted stored elastic potential energy into energy of motion for the projectile. Ballista were a type of bolt thrower whose actual origin goes as far back as biblical times. Gunpowder canons were commonly used from the 14^th century onward with an early advantage being made of such technology at the Battle of Crecy (1346).

Ranged Weapons – The bow was a consistent feature of the medieval army with specialization leading to the development of the crossbow (popular among the French) and the Longbow (English/Welsh origin). The throwing spear/axe, javelin and slingshot also supplemented the medieval army.

Armour – Body armour changed over time to include protection from leather/fabric to more exotic types of chainmail, Brigandine steel plates and regular Plate Armour (more popular in the 15^th to 16^th centuries).

Handheld weapons in common use included the club, mace, longsword, war hammer, pollaxe, pitchfork, halberd (two-handed pole weapon), the knightly sword and the dagger.

Nine Possible World War Three Scenarios

This is more of a brainstorming exercise than anything else but it is worth thinking about nevertheless.

1. China against the US - A war of ideology and Economic influences. Principal theaters of conflict would be the Pacific, South East Asia and Eastern Russia/Manchuria.

2. China allied with the Islamic World against the West - similar to scenario #1 but with more parties involved.

3. US against Russia - The original Third World as envisioned by Cold Warriors. Less likely to happen than in the time before the 1990s (collapse of Communism) but nevertheless it is still a possibility. Would be apocalyptic as both countries still possess the largest nuclear arsenals on the globe.

4. West and India against China and Russia - China and Russia fighting to avoid encirclement by their enemies. Could occur if Totalitarianism is resurrected in Russia.

5. US and China against India and Russia - Would be a possibility if Russia reasserted itself and realigned with India, Another Cold War Scenario come to life.

6. The Americas against Asia - A late 21st century war possibility that could occur as both continents strive for domination of the mining rights to the Planet's largest Ocean.

7. War of the Corporations - A war situation in a post-nation state world where corporations battle one another for control of the planet's resources. This war could quite likely move into the region of space near Earth.

8. The War of the Next ideology - A war in which the next counter-capitalism ideology raises its head, spreads out across the border and challenges the existing capitalist infrastructure. Counter-capitalism culture could take the form of rejuvenated Marxism or a totally new ideology (perhaps New Age) that has yet to be synthesized.

9. The Oil Wars - Decreasing energy resources may force the West to take matters into their own hands and force OPEC to hand over its assets.

Western History 75: What was the Investiture Controversy?

While the church claimed the right of the spiritual domain and the lay rulers the material world a broad overlap in areas of responsibility often precipitated a struggle of wills. In the 11^th and 12^th centuries several popes has challenged the authority of the state rulers. England’s Henry I was at loggerheads for a time with Pope Paschal II during the period 1103 to 1107, however the clash between Pope Gregory VII and the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV known as the Investiture Controversy was the most notorious of all of these standoffs.

The clash itself emerged from the reforms of an earlier pope Gregory I who sought to take power of clerical investiture away from the ruling secular powers (such as the Holy Roman Emperor). Pope Gregory VII went further by composing the Dictatus Papae which stated that the Church was under the control of God and that the Pope alone could depose of clergymen and move them throughout the Holy see. This action fell afoul of the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry IV who reacted with a harsh letter to the Pope and the subsequent appointment of his own chaplain as the Bishop of Milan.

What followed was a series of events that included the the twice excommunication of Henry IV, an internal revolt against the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry’s penance at Canossa, the election of an Antipope (Clement III), the invasion of Rome by Henry, the sacking of Rome by Gregory’s Norman allies and  finally Gregory’s flight from Rome that preceded his death.

The controversy would continue several decades later with Henry son’s Henry V clashing with the Papacy. The Holy Roman Emperor  was himself excommunicated, before the Signing of the Concordat of Worms eventually eased tension between  Rome and the Imperial Power. The Concordat was confirmed by the First Lateran Council in 1123.

Significantly the Investiture Controversy represented a high point in the struggle between the Papacy and the secular authorities. It reflected the strength of the Papacy as the dominant force in the Middle Ages but it also provided a view into the challenges that the Holy see would face in the centuries to follow with respect to its apparent monopoly of power.

On the Intellect

12 Topics of Personal Intellectual Fascination 
1. Deism
2. Modern Physics
3. Classical Mechanics
4. The Middle East Conflict
5. The Future: Both Near and Far
6. French Revolution/Napoleon
7. Political Philosophy: Conservatism and Leftism dichotomy
8. World War II and its origins
9. Jewish History
10. The Beautiful Game
11. The Cultural Wars
12. Philosophy of Science

Western History 74: What were some of the Important Italian City States?

Between the 9^th and 16^th century the Italian peninsula was dominated by several trade based city controlled by very influential families. The oldest of these city states was Venice which broke away from the Byzantine Empire and set itself up as a Republic (run by the Doge and the Great Council of Venice) in 742.

The City States were dynamic entities that largely functioned as independent unions although many of them were allied with various partners in geo-political leagues of convenience. Trade was a key factor in the success of this system that for great stretches of time was dominated by such notable families as the Borgias, Medicis and Sforzas. One could even argue that the modern economy developed from these states who originated the practice of bookkeeping and accounting.

It was in the milieu of the city states that a great renaissance in the arts would  be realized, a seeding of culture and the resurrection of classical ideas that would spread throughout the continent. Table 14 lists some of the key city states that emerged.

Table 14

Principal Italian City States

City State	Region	Points of Significance
Bologna	Emilia-Romagna (North-Central)	Part of the Lombard League. Expanded rapidly from the 12th century onward. Noteworthy cultural and artistic center.
Florence	Tuscany	Cradle of the Renaissance. Economy built on strong wool industry. Political power controlled by the Medici family – patron to the art of Michelangelo, da Vinci and Botticelli.
Genoa	North-Western Italy.	Maritime Republic. Known for its skilled warriors (crossbowmen) and merchant force. Also important center for Banking. Birthplace of Christopher Columbus.
Milan	Lombardy	Important city during the Renaissance. Famed for its guilds. Politics dominated by the powerful Sforza family.
Naples	Campania (South)	A dynamic city that attracted Pisan and Genoese merchants, Naples was at different times controlled by various outside interests (German and Spanish). It did however play host to artists that included Boccaccio, Petrach and Giotto
Padua	North-Eastern Italy	Famed for its university that at one time Galileo Galilei as a lecturer, Padua has a very stable legislative assembly and was noted as a site center for humanist thinking. The city was later dominated by Venice.
Pisa	Tuscany	Maritime power. Set up colonies a far afield as the Levant. Went into decline after defeat against Genoese in 1264.
Rome	Central-Western Italy (Lazio)	Chief city in the Papal States. A one time leader in the Italian Renaissance but lost some of its clout during the Western Schism (1378-1417) when several claimants vied to head the Papal  See.
Siena	Tuscany	Ancient City. Republic lasted for four centuries until 1551 but the city went into decline following the Italian Wars (1551-1559).
Venice	Veneto	One time Capital for International Finance. It played a key role in launching the Fourth Crusade and the Battle of Lepanto. Dominant maritime power with colonies located throughout the Adriatic Sea Power rested with the Doge (Chief Magistrate) and the Great Council. Home city of Marco Polo.

Western History 73: Who were the Seljuk Turks?

The Seljuk Turk Empire was a Turko-Persian medieval power that controlled a vast region stretching from Asia Minor, through the Levant, deep into Persian and Central Asia. It was founded in 1037 by Tughril Beg and was a Sunni Empire. The Seljuk’s played a role in exporting both Persian and Turkic culture. The Empire’s zenith occurred around 1092 following the death of Malik Shah I.

It clashed frequently with the Byzantine Empire scoring a major victory over its Christian foe in 1071 at the Battle of Manzikert. Famous Emperors include Alp Arslan (victor at Manzikert), Tughril himself (who captured Baghdad from the Abbasids) and Malik Shah I (who masterminded the expansion into Persia).

After the death of Malik Shah I, his sons clashed with each other weakening the Empire. It further suffered defeat at the hands of the Georgians and was weakened by clashes with the Crusades.  By the 13^th century the Seljuks were in decline with a new Empire, the Ottoman’s rising up in their place.

The legacy of the Seljuks is seen in their promotion of academic scholarship. They were great patrons of the art and literature and under their rule the Persians enjoyed a renaissance characterized by the writing of Philosopher poet Omar Khayyam and al-Ghazali.

They made contact with Western Europe through the twin vehicles of war and trade thus spreading many of their learned gains to a broader base.

Teacher Reflection - First Day of Class

It was the first day of the second semester yesterday. New classes new students. There is a certain anxiety to be expected with many students assessing their fate for the next five months. As a general philosophy I follow the guideline outlined below for Day One.

1. Set the Tone for the class with respect to behavior (most important for Applied Classes).
2. Hand out the Course Introduction Document that very clearly specifies the mark breakdown and policies around late submissions. There should be no ambiguity here.
3. Emphasize that extra help will be available and that you as a teacher are approachable and indeed are a human being.
4. Only hand out textbooks if the course numbers are expected to be relatively stable.
5. Define a seating arrangement if necessary (although I generally avoid this)
6. Tell the students a bit about yourself (kids like that) and your expectations. Allow them to speak freely about their concerns.
7. Use a video hook or group activity to set the initial interest in the course.
8. Start the ball rolling with some work. Momentum in this regards is key (no physics pun intended).
9. If applicable give the students a quick Diagnostic Assessment to provide a rough guide of overall skill levels.
10. Stress very clearly that you are on their side to facilitate success but the ultimate factor in the success equation is the student themselves. They have to take responsibility for their own learning.
11. With classes that are expected to have disciplinary problems it is better to take a tougher approach (but a fair one nevertheless) from the get go.You can always soften up a bit later based on feedback.

From the Uppanishad.

I am not Hindu but I find much of their philosophy to be incredibly fascinating. The following is such an example:

That supreme Brahman is infinite, and this conditioned Brahman is infinite. The infinite proceeds from infinite. If you subtract the infinite from the infinite, the infinite remains alone.

Western History 72: What were some of the key milestones of the English-Scottish Wars?

Conflicts between the English and Scots were largely focused on land and political succession. These date back as early as the sixth and seventh centuries in the fight between Northumbria and the Picts.  Several battles were fought in the 11^th and 12^th centuries but it was in the 13^th to 16^th centuries that war between these two people manifested itself in the broader First and Second Wars of Scottish Independence, the Border Wars, the Anglo-Scottish wars and the Rough Wooing. What follows is a quick chronicle of these events.

1296 – Start of First War of Scottish Independence. English take Berwick-upon-Tweed and are victorious at the Battle of Dunbar.

1297 – William Wallace rebellion against English is underway. Scots undertake a successful raid at Scone and defeat English at Stirling Bridge.

1298 – Edward I’s forces defeat Scots at Battle of Falkirk. Wallace resigns as Guardian of Scotland.

1304 – English take Stirling Castle. Scots beaten back beforehand at Happrew.

1305 – Wallace is captured and executed.

1306 – Scottish rebellion led by Robert the Bruce soon to become King of the Scots.  Scores victory against English at Glen Trool and Loudon Hill.

1314 – Scots defeat English at Bannockburn in 1314. Great victory for Robert the Bruce over Edward II. Scottish independence is secured for the time being.

1320 – Declaration of Arboath – Affirmation of Scottish Independence sent to the Pope.

1328- Uneasy peace reached with the English in 1328 – Signing of The Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton

1332-1357 – Second War of Scottish Independence. David II retains Scottish throne. Independence from England secured.

Mid 15^th century – Resumption of hostilities between England and Scotland.

1512 – English defeat Scots in the Flodden Campaign

1541 – Scots are defeated in the Solway Moss Campaign. Period of the Rough Wooing.

1546 – Scotland divided by factionalized fighting between pro-Catholic and Protestant Elements.

IQ Tests

20 Important Realizations

1. A person's intelligence is a function of both their genetics and the environment. Genetics tend to be the larger factor (roughly 2:1 split).

2. The best IQ tests are those that have a high g loading. The g-factor is defined as general intelligence and is essentially a function of your brain's ability to process information.

3. IQ tests should measure mathematical skill, verbal fluency and comprehension, memory, visual spatial ability and the ability to apply the fundamentals of reasoning and logic.

4. The average IQ score for men and women in the West is roughly the same and is defined as 100. Distribution of IQ and Standard deviation has been known to differ for the sexes.

5. IQ tests performed before age 16 may show considerable variation that is consistent with brain development. Scores after age 16 tend to settle down although they can vary on a day by day basis based on the mood of the taker.

6. The Gold Standard for IQ Tests is the Weschler Test that can be administered for both adults and children. It is comprised of 11 sub-tests that provide both a Verbal and a Non-Verbal Score. It is administered on a one-by-one basis. Other Tests used are the Stanford-Binet and Cattell (in the UK). Many school boards use IQ tests that have been developed on a national or local level.

7. IQ scores are meaningless unless the Standard Deviation for the Bell Shaped (Gaussian DistributionI is given). Weschler uses a Standard Deviation of 15 so that a score of just over 130 places a person in the top 2% of the population (this is both the cutoff for most school gifted programs and MENSA).

8. Taking Internet IQ tests are a waste of time as there is no consistent methodology inherent in the norming of these tests.

9. The Average IQ of a University student in the US is about 113. IQ scores for students attending more demanding programs are considerably higher than those in less challenging programs.Differences can vary by 20 points.

10. Old versions of the SAT correlated well with IQ scores but today's version of the SAT is no longer seen as an adequate reflection of IQ.

11. There is a correlation between work occupation and average IQ score that reflects the degree of cognitive challenge inherent in the job.

12. IQ scores have been increasing over time. This is known as the Flynn Effect. There are various explanations for this. The most common one is that student's are becoming more comfortable with this type of test.

13. There is a general positive correlation between High IQ and success at school/university.The correlation is a bit less positive when looking at High IQ and material success in life.

14. IQ tests should not be treated as a number that defines you for the rest of your life. A one off poor performance can be a function of many factors including Test Anxiety and should not write off expectations. One should use great care when reporting IQ information.

15. IQ tests are much better at testing convergent thinking (thinking towards one right answer) and don't assess for the most part one's imaginative ability or propensity to philosophize (divergent thinking).

16. Models of Multiple Intelligence have been proposed by individuals such as Howard Gardiner but these have often been criticized for not being scientifically rigorous.The same is true of Robert Sternberg's Triarchic Theory of Intelligence.

17. The Earliest IQ Test was developed by Alfred Binet in France in 1904. Its primary function was to screen for low performing students.

18. IQ scores predictably follow a Bell curve for a large population sample Scores of above 150 (SD =15) corresponding to 1 person in a thousand are extremely rare.

19. People have a tendency to inflate their IQ scores for obvious reasons.

20. We do not know the vast majority of Famous people as most either lived before the test was invented or indeed never took the Test in the First Place. Nobody knows Albert Einstein's IQ as it is believed that he didn't even take such a test.