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Approximate Thinking Culture Innovation Knowledge Production Research Science Systems Technology Trends Wisdom

Guns, Germs, and Steel : A (clearer) perspective on Diffusion (of Innovation) & Progress

The ‘broadest pattern in history’ is a pattern of diffusion of innovation (cultural and technological innovation). The outcomes of the flow of innovation in culture, political and economic organization, and technology, are what caused – eventually – a giant rift between the ‘old world’ and the new one, and between different political entities.

A discussion based on the book by J. Diamond (Link below).

Jared Diamond : The Author of Guns Germs and Steel
Jared Diamond : The Author of Guns Germs and Steel
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Approximate Thinking Approximation Education Fuzzy Thinking Incompleteness Innovation Knowledge Learning Measurement Research Science Systems Thinking

On Reduction and Approximations : University Rankings and Measuring Education

Ranking universities and higher education institutions is (??) helpful in some respects. It might make it easier for (the perplexed) youth entering into higher education to choose… Moreover, A competitive environment, promoted by university rankings, encourages creativity, innovation, and effort.

Nothing simplified, however, comes for free… “University Rankings” are an extreme Approximation (reduction), and those are dangerous.

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Books Creativity Cultural Products Culture Innovation Knowledge Production Research Science Systems Tech Technology Thinking

The Philosophy of Technology (Book): Themes & Thoughts on Technology and (Applied) Science

This is a short review of the book “Philosophy of Technology” by V. Dusek and its main themes and ideas. I’ve selected some interesting ideas to talk about, and included some excerpts from the book in the end.

Philosophy of Technology
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Approximate Thinking Approximation Creativity Cultural and Creative Industries Cultural Products Cultural Resources Innovation Knowledge Marketing Measurement Research Systems Tech Work

The Global Innovation Index 2022: Measurement, Growth, and Achieving Innovation Goals

Can Economists ruin Innovation with an Index? Thoughts on measuring innovation, growth, culture, and creativity.

The 2022 Global Innovation Index report released by WIPO has been published for 2022. Here are some of thoughts on the report, including a few comments and reflections on innovation, economic growth, measurement, and cultural resources.

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Analytics Approximate Thinking Approximation Education Incompleteness Innovation Knowledge Measurement Research Science Thinking

CRT : A Short Cognitive Ability Test that predicts (?) better mental skills

The Cognitive Reflection Test : A shortcut to measuring Intelligence

Can three innocent questions serve as a proxy for an intelligence test and predict cognitive ability? Even if not, it might be fun to play around with them, and reflect on what reflective thinking ability can teach us about our decision making and mental habits.

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Approximation Consumer Behavior Creativity Knowledge Measurement Research Science

The Still Head of the Staring Psychopath: On Click-y Headlines, Bad Science, and Approximations

I got a notification with a link to an article, and I was naturally inclined to check it out: https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/psychopathic-stare

How couldn’t I?

Breaking and important news… The headline itself is amazing :

Psychopaths don’t move their heads when talking

A new study found that people who scored high in certain psychopathic traits are more likely to limit head movements.

A ‘Psychopath’ staring (?) without moving his head
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Creativity Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Research

The Global Innovation Index – Quantifying National Innovation: Pillars, Rankings, and Remarks

The GII report and ‘Index’ reports in general

Let me start by saying that one should be very careful when dealing with broad inter-country indicators and not just because they could (they will) contain mistakes (some have had very juicy scandals that involve cooking data and massaging numbers).. I think that many of these ‘reduce-everything-into-a-number’ measures, especially when they try to measure wide social processes carry inherent ‘conflation risks’ leading to waste of mass-scale resources.

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Education Knowledge Learning Research Science Thinking

Learning Models – Stages and Cycles: Burch, Kolb, Handy

How does learning (the acquisition of knowledge and skills) happen? What are the models for the learning stages? There are many theories, but theorists seem to agree that four is a good number… and a circle is a good shape.

The models presented here consider conscious effort, competence level, abstract vs experiential learning, and contemplation/reflection on progress.