“The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of... We know the truth not only by the reason, but by the heart.”
― Blaise Pascal, Pensées

“We feel that even if all possible scientific questions be answered, the problems of life have still not been touched at all.”
― Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus

'Science is meaningless because it gives no answer to our question, the only question important for us: "What shall we
do and how shall we live?" '
sociology.sas.upenn.edu/sites/defaul...

More Is Different

"At each stage entirely new laws, concepts, and generalizations are necessary, requlring inspiration and creativity to just as great a degree as in the previous one. Psychology is not applied biology, nor is biology applied chemistry."

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

www.sfn.org/-/media/SfN/...

www.sfn.org/about/histor...

From the ApplyingToCollege community on Reddit Explore this post and more from the ApplyingToCollege community

While AI makes 'safe' writing easier, originality always stands out.
www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingTo...

Career advice Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t. (Erica Jong) Here is my collection of various pieces of advice on academic career issues in mathematics, roughly …

terrytao.wordpress.com/career-advice/

Stumbled upon this quote when reading Terence Tao's blog: 'Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't.' --Erica Jong. Probably we always have the answer to our questions deep down when at life's turning points and need external confirmation to take the leap.

The Tools of Neuroscience Experiment: Philosophical and Scientific Perspectives This volume establishes the conceptual foundation for sustained investigation into tool development in neuroscience. Neuroscience relies on diverse and sophisticated experimental tools, and its ultima...

The understanding of the brain may remain pluralistic rather than wholistic. Investigation at multiple levels might resist being summed up in a neat formula. Its very interest lies in its multiplicity, as argued by Stuart Firestein.
www.routledge.com/The-Tools-of...

It might be epistemologically misguided to think we can be 'innocent' when looking at data. Our observations and discoveries are shaped by the theoretical frameworks in mind.

gershmanlab.com/pubs/innocen...

Stuart Firestein: "Ignorance: How It Drives Science" A neuroscientist claims that ignorance--not knowledge--is the true engine of science. He explains how scientists use ignorance to concentrate their research, and why "not knowing" is one of the greate...

Facts are sometimes the most unreliable part of research as our biases often dictate the way we look at the data.

dianerehm.org/shows/2012-0...

It might be epistemologically misguided to think we can be 'innocent' when looking at data. Our observations and discoveries are shaped by the theoretical frameworks in mind.

gershmanlab.com/pubs/innocen...

I wonder whether there are similar efforts in other fields. Any suggestions? (6/6)

The project of Foundational Papers in Complexity Science exemplifies this brilliantly. By contextualizing seminal works and reconstructing discoveries as they unfolded, it helps navigate the field’s complexities while fostering deeper appreciation. (5/6)

the initial empirical results they're based on, any methodological innovations, and how theoretical leaps are drawn from the data before they're taken for granted. (4/6)

As James Clerk Maxwell argued, 'Science is always most completely assimilated when it is in the nascent state.' By reading about the first development of scientific concepts, we put them in historical context and get to appreciate the immediate challenges they addressed, (3/6)

Revolutionary ideas appear inevitable in retrospect, as if they were natural progressions. However, that is not how science progresses. Real advancement is more desultory and zig zag. (2/6)

On learning the history of science:

'The textbook tendency to make the development of science linear hides a process that lies at the heart of the most significant episodes of scientific development.' – Thomas Kuhn

We are susceptible to hindsight bias when looking back. (1/6)

Learn to remain in the depths.

User Bill Thurston Q&A for professional mathematicians

...I'm happy when I can admit, at least to myself, that my thinking is muddled, and I try to overcome the embarrassment that I might reveal ignorance or confusion.'

mathoverflow.net/users/9062/b...

A beautiful quote of what math is by Bill Thurston

'Mathematics is a process of staring hard enough with enough perseverence at at the fog of muddle and confusion to eventually break through to improved clarity...

Internalizing the belief that it's normal to feel struggled and it's inevitable even for the greatest mind steels you to sit with the problem long enough to penetrate it.

doi.org/10.1037/edu0...

Frustration comes from unrealistic expectations. Early experiences of steadily progressing and getting regularly rewarded may set a false anticipation for working on creative problems that require unremitting focus amidst the fog of confusion.

andymatuschak.org/stillness/

finally found the starter pack function after manually following hundreds of people... thanks for the efforts!

Road map to important application dates. February 24, Applications Open. March 23, Applications Close. Mid-April, Application Decisions. Early-May, Enrollment Deadline.

📢 Applications Open Soon for Neuromatch Academy!

✨ Whether you're diving into CN, DL, Climate, or NeuroAI, this is your chance to learn from top experts, collaborate with a global community, and gain hands-on experience.

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Can't wait to get a hold of that

How to write good prompts Using spaced repetition to create understanding

@andy_matuschak
also has a lucid post on writing good prompts: they should be "focused, precise, consistent, tractable and effortful".
andymatuschak.org/prompts/

best article to get to know Anki augmentingcognition.com/ltm.html

For those who haven't heard of Anki, it's not just another 'optimal interval retention tool.' Anki encapsulates cognitive load theory, helping learning by segmenting and sequencing elements, thus reducing element interactivity.