Opinion: Lessons for Digital Educators from Albert Einstein
By Mark Siegel, 2024-11-26
In a 1936 address celebrating the 300th anniversary of higher education in America, Albert Einstein articulated a vision of education that’s more achievable than ever through digital technology.
I recently read excerpts from a 1936 address by Albert Einstein to the State University of New York at Albany. He spoke at the celebration of the tercentenary of higher education in America. His words are relevant and speak to us today as we pursue all forms of digital education.
Einstein was humble in sharing his thoughts, but he was a deep thinker about the nature of education, addressing both teaching and learning. He provides both a philosophical perspective and practical tips for today’s digital educators. For those of us who work with students every day, there are lessons to be learned and applied in our effort to improve what, as well as how, our students are learning from us. While I suggest everyone read his words in their entirety, here are wonderful nuggets that serve as stimulating food for thought.
MEMORIZATION VERSUS CURIOSITY
Einstein notes that “school has always been the most important means of transferring the wealth of tradition from one generation to the next. This applies today to an even higher degree than in former times. … The continuance and health of human society is therefore in a still higher degree dependent on the school than formerly.”
The first point he makes is to urge us to move past memorization and to cultivate curiosity and inventiveness in our students. He said it would be wrong to view the school as “simply the instrument for transferring a certain maximum quantity of knowledge to the growing generation. … On the contrary, the aim must be the training of independently acting and thinking individuals, who, however, see in the service of the community their highest life problem.” He wants our schools to cultivate curiosity and critical thinking. Elsewhere he is often quoted as saying, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”
As digital educators, this is easy to facilitate. We can easily challenge students to use design thinking to solve problems and come up with fresh solutions. Project-based learning, problem-based learning and personalized, competency-based learning all allow students to move past memorization to achieve both the ability to apply what is learned and to use what is learned to solve new problems! Digital tools can help students ask new questions and look at problems in new ways and from different perspectives.
Our students have opportunities at their disposal that Einstein did not: to engage in deeper inquiry through online discussions, collaborative projects and interactive content. Most importantly, students in these learning environments can address real-time, real-world problems. Einstein would be happy if we moved past memorization to learning environments where curiosity thrives and there are more questions than answers!
DICTATION VERSUS GUIDANCE
Einstein’s second point is one we often hear: a modern educator’s role is not to be an all-knowing authority, but a guide who helps students discover knowledge for themselves. He writes, “The teacher must have the humble attitude of a guide and a helper, not the proud attitude of a dictator of truth.”
Was he the first one to distinguish the sage on the stage from the guide on the side?
For one thing, at any point in time, students are not all on the same page in our classrooms, and dictation in the form of lectures often falls on the deaf ears of both the bored and the lost and confused. Rather than working to please the teacher in the front of the room, Einstein favors a focus on student learning and a range of personal approaches that match the student’s learning style. The exciting thing is that today’s digital educators can use technology to create learner-centered experiences that ensure mastery before students move on, that adapt to student interests and backgrounds, and where students have more control of their learning.
This will require the training, or re-training, of digital educators who must learn to facilitate their student’s learning. By increasing student choice in the learning activities at hand, educators can help students learn to solve problems by tapping into both the content and skills they’ve mastered, and to take full responsibility for what and how they learn! In these classrooms, teachers get out of the way of their students’ active and collaborative learning.
In his address to SUNY, Einstein says, “But personalities are not formed by what is heard and said but by labor and activity. The most important method of education accordingly always has consisted of where the pupil was urged to actual performance.”
COERCION VERSUS ENCOURAGEMENT
The third point Einstein makes is one not often heard. He said, “Give into the power of the teacher the fewest possible coercive measures, so that the only source of the pupil’s respect for the teacher is the human and intellectual qualities of the latter.” He is concerned that teachers can easily crush the “loving interest in the object and a desire for truth and understanding, and thus to that divine curiosity which every healthy child possesses, but which so often is weakened early.”
I think about this every day when I see students harshly corrected, made to feel bad, made to feel stupid, or made to feel worthless by some meaningless measure of academic performance. Many refer to our current education system as a testing and sorting system. It ignores the fact that we all learn by mistakes, and we ought to rejoice in them and what they tell us we have left to learn and master. Einstein is concerned about any effort by teachers to say that some students are “better, stronger, or more intelligent than a fellow being or fellow scholar.” He feels that such easily “leads to an excessively egoistic psychological adjustment, which may become injurious for the individual and for the community.”
Einstein tells us that “[t]he value of a man, however, should be seen in what he gives and not what he is able to receive. The most important motive for work in the school and in life is the pleasure in work, pleasure in its results, and the knowledge of the value of the result to the community.” That point alone is worthy of study and discussion when we talk about our goals for students and the messaging we send as they pursue their studies under our direction.
KNOWLEDGE VERSUS SKILLS
A fourth item of note is how he addresses what should be studied and how it should be taught. He says that the topics taught are of secondary importance. He argues that “[i]f a young man has trained his muscles and physical endurance by gymnastics and walking, he will later be fitted for every physical work. This is also analogous to the training of the mind and of the mental and manual skills. Thus, the wit was not wrong who defined education in this way: ‘Education is that which remains, if one has forgotten everything he learned in school.’”
He writes, “I want to oppose the idea that the school has to teach directly that special knowledge and those accomplishments which one has to use later directly in life.” He says that is treating the individual “like a dead tool.” He wants the student to leave school “as a harmonious personality, not as a specialist.”
Just as I wrote earlier about durable skills desired by business, Einstein’s address to SUNY tells us:
“The development of general ability for independent thinking and judgment should always be placed foremost, not the acquisition of special knowledge. If a person masters the fundamentals of his subject and has learned to think and work independently, he will surely find his way and besides will better be able to adapt himself to progress and changes than the person whose training principally consists in the acquiring the detailed knowledge.” As digital educators, we know the world of work is changing rapidly and that knowledge is ever evolving, but general cognitive skills will be of great use despite any changes.
Digital educators must take on this challenge and reject the use of online learning environments that focus on content without developing the skills to use the information. There are so many opportunities for students to put their knowledge to work. We are all working on developing critical thinking skills, and we can provide many ways for students to develop those along with the skills of effective and empathetic communication.
Einstein is often quoted as saying, “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” As digital educators, we can make this a reality. We have tools to promote problem-solving at the core and help students actively participate in the application of what they have learned. Project-based learning is just one form of that approach and virtual reality and augmented reality is another. Einstein would love to visit today’s problem- and project-based classrooms.
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL VERSUS INDEPENDENT LEARNING
Last, Einstein wants education programs to encourage students to be independent learners, pursuing education on their own without the threat of failing a test or getting a bad grade. Digital educators know how to do this and have seen students blossom when allowed to figure things out for themselves, solve problems and help others with their work. There are many ways this can occur and be made part of a meaningful education record, instead of being assigned a meaningless letter grade.
Einstein recognized that students learn differently, at different speeds and in different ways. He once said, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” The exciting thing is that digital educators have tools Einstein never dreamed of that allow customization of learning paths to meet each student’s individual needs, from adaptive learning systems to the range of media formats of content to be studied. By allowing students to demonstrate their learning achievements differently, we can foster the creative expression that Einstein urged educators to awaken in their students.
Albert Einstein reminds us that the true goal of teaching is to inspire curiosity, foster independent thinking, and nurture students’ intellectual and emotional growth. Digital technologies may have changed the classroom and tools we use, but good teaching principles don’t change. As digital educators, we must accept the challenge to adapt Einstein’s thinking to today’s students so they may become active, curious, independent learners, ready to take on the challenges of a brave new world.
Mark Siegel is assistant head at Delphian School in Sheridan, Ore.
Reprinted from government technology
Ralated:
JM Review | It is the sustainability of business philosophy, not just business
By Jointing.Media, in Shanghai, 2024-12-13
Pangdonglai（PDL）， does exactly what grocers are supposed to do. But against the backdrop of its peers, pdl stands out as unique and rare. This also reflects China’s longstanding food safety problem. The people have been criticising food safety for a long time. Finally, there is a PDL who can give the people a gatekeeper.
Recently, Bestore, a listed company whose fake ingredients list for a product was exposed by a fake blogger, self-certified its innocence with a certificate issued by local industry and commerce, but netizens have already questioned the integrity of the company and the government, and they’re not buying it. It used to be that journalists in the official media had to report on such hotspots on time. If they missed them, they were docked their pay.
In the absence of an independent third party to check the public power of government and the lack of market regulation, companies act according to their conscience. Fortunately, people can vote with their feet for companies that are honest and trustworthy.
Bad money drives out good money.The uncle in the Jinan（济南） University canteen was kicked out by the supermarket owner for not raising the price of instant noodles. JM hope the “good money” can be seen in every industry and benefit more consumers.
In today’s China, there is more than one industry in such a situation. China’s e-commerce platforms, for example, are full of fake goods that have been banned time and again. And the founders of TB, JD and PDD are making a killing and hiding overseas. On the contrary, PDL’s customer service, quality and integrity are more valuable. PDL does not take the consumer as a lamb to be slaughtered, but as a king，providing high quality products and refined services；PDL respect employees’ rights with high wages and good benefits, so that employees do not have a “cattle and horses” sense, but also in the work on which to earn a living to find dignity and happiness. More importantly, its strict selection standard, urged its suppliers no longer follow the crowd, bullying, but to do the right thing, as a result froming the establishment of a good ecology.
Is it difficult to build a positive circular economy? If so, why have only a few companies such as Costco, a foreign company, and Pangdonglai, a private company, succeeded in doing so in China? Who should reflect?
Yu Donglai, the founder of PDL, has said publicly more than once that he will close PDL after his death. He wants the PDL staff who have followed him to take PDL’s spiritual culture of love and freedom and spread it around the world. In his eyes, the sustainable development of a company is not about the life span and continuous profit of a business entity, but about the inheritance of a spirit, and the bearer of the spirit is the human being, and various entities are just a form of externalisation and visualisation of that spirit. From this point of view, Yu Donglai, who has only a junior high school education, can be described as a man of enlightenment.
Edited by Wind, Youdao and DeepL
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10 Million Enterprises Putting People and Planet First
World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Jan 18, 2024
A first-in-kind research by the Schwab Foundation’s Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship finds that there are approximately 10 million social enterprises worldwide, which collectively generate around $2 trillion in annual revenues, creating over 200 million jobs. The sector now outranks other mainstream industries by annual revenue, such as telecom and apparel. Moreover, social enterprises align their missions with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably in creating decent work, driving climate action and reducing poverty and inequalities.
Social enterprises, which make up 3% of all businesses globally, stand out from traditional businesses by placing a strong emphasis on creating social and environmental value in addition to economic value. Unlike conventional nonprofit organizations, social enterprises are self-sustaining through their business activities. They prioritize social impact over financial returns and reinvest their profits back into their mission.
What’s equally striking is the leadership of these enterprises. Half of the social enterprises are led by women, compared to a mere 20% of conventional businesses. It underscores the inherent inclusivity and diversity ingrained within these ventures, both in their structure and goals.
Impacting the lives of millions
Besides the significant economic relevance of social enterprises, they positively impact the lives of millions, from rural villages in Africa to megacities in Asia and Latin America to underprivileged parts of North America and Europe.
According to data by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship tracking a global community of over 470 leading social entrepreneurs, these enterprises alone have already directly impacted more than 891 million lives over the past 25 years.
Patagonia and SEKEM are prime examples of the power of social enterprise.
Patagonia demonstrates how a company can prioritize environmental and social impact alongside profitability. While committed to sustainability and fair labour practices, Patagonia’s revenue has been consistently growing throughout the years. The company has an estimated value of about $3 billion and brings in $100 million in revenue annually. All profits are now going to a specially designed trust and nonprofit organization to combat climate change and protect undeveloped land around the globe.
SEKEM was established in 1977 as a farm operation, reclaiming 170 acres of desert on the outskirts of Cairo. It aims to facilitate the transition of 40,000 smallholder farmers to organic and biodynamic farming, producing organic foods, herbal teas, medicines and sustainable cotton. Through concerted efforts, SEKEM cultivates a future where sustainability isn’t a lofty goal but a tangible reality.
Generating revenues of $23 million in 2022, it also generated 53,705 end-of-life carbon credits along with 2,500 farmers and SEKEM farms, competing as an industry leader in the Middle East’s herbal and organic foods and medicine sector.
Essential support for social enterprises
Despite the significant contribution of social enterprise both in economic and impact terms, they are underestimated and underrepresented. In April 2023, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the first Resolution on the Social and Solidarity Economy to highlight the contribution of cooperatives, social enterprises and other social economy organizations to realizing the SDGs. Yet, only one in five countries has legal structures or specific legislation to support social enterprises.
Movements such as Catalyst 2030 are working with social entrepreneurs worldwide to advocate for better policies to support the social economy. For example, last November, the Schwab Foundation and Catalyst 2030 Brazil co-hosted a high-level roundtable at the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services in Brasilia, discussing actions to unlock the social impact economy in Brazil alongside the launch of the “Enimpacto” presidential decree to invest in and advance its impact in the country.
Besides the lack of legal recognition in many countries, social enterprises also face a significant funding gap of $1.13 trillion. To bridge this gap, private sector engagement is crucial. To further mobilize private sector support for the social economy, the Schwab Foundation’s Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship, in partnership with Deloitte, has launched the “Corporate Social Innovation Compass” developed with the support of over 100 members of the Global Alliance. This framework guides companies in partnering with social entrepreneurs, presenting over 10 engagement mechanisms and tangible case studies illustrating the business benefits of such engagements.
Moreover, initiatives like People and Planet First, launched by the Social Enterprise World Forum in 2023, aim to create a shared identity for social enterprises and encourage consumers, businesses and governments to purchase from these entities.
These actions are essential to help increase the recognition and contribution of social enterprises towards sustainable development. By providing greater visibility, policy support and engagement from the private sector, social enterprises can transition from being the world’s best-kept secret to becoming trailblazers of an inclusive and sustainable economy.
(This article is part of:World Economic Forum Annual Meeting)
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- The State of Social Enterprise 2024：A Review of Global Data 2013–2023
- Three strategies that can help social enterprises survive and thrive
- How social enterprises offer big businesses pathways to sustainable innovations
- Davos 2024: Who’s coming and what to expect
MicroCharity | Stories About Sacima
【专栏】| Conlumists >微公益 | MicroCharity
By Yibai, Jointing.Media, in Shanghai, 2024-11-02
Inwardly, exploring the self; outwardly, exploring the world.
Our paths crossed ten years ago at a business conference. She had been invited as an overseas scientist in the field of microbiology, and I was sitting next to her.
My first impression of her was that she was highly capable and quite slender. Somehow, our conversation turned to public service, and I told her about JM, my part-time non-profit project. JM aims to promote and fund small-scale public service initiatives by interviewing individuals and documenting their stories within China’s public service community. She recounted her nine-month unpaid leave to work on AIDS prevention in China, single-handedly funding and managing the project, effectively performing the role of an entire NGO.
I was captivated by her story and immediately suggested that JM document her experiences. However, it seems that she did not want to publish it, only as a casual anecdotes shared among friends, occasionally revealing some fragments of the past and feelings. Through her, I learned about the challenges faced by people living with HIV. As long as the CD4 count is managed with medication, people living with HIV can lead relatively normal daily lives. However, because infected people have always been discriminated against by society, prevention and screening of potentially high-risk groups is very inconvenient, which in turn poses a greater risk to public health.
At that time, she found resources from overseas to donate several free HIV testing devices to Henan, which were placed in public places for potentially susceptible people to test themselves; organised exchanges between overseas experts and local CDC practitioners to share their experiences in prevention and control; helped the local government to improve the environment for free and anonymous testing of HIV carriers; and gave money to local carriers who were able to work to find jobs and help them buy medicines, etc. She recalled that without the support of government leaders, it would have been difficult for her to do what she wanted to do. During this time she also encountered some unusual situations, such as people (healthy people) actually offering to help her pay for trips abroad.
Although the details of our conversation have faded over the years, I remain deeply impressed by her compassion for the disadvantaged, her innate drive to engage in public service, and her strong sense of action as she shared stories from her past.
During the new coronavirus pandemic a few years ago, when food transport was blocked due to nationwide closures, the crisis of HIV carriers running out of medication also worried her for a while, and she even asked me for resources for transport channels. But there was nothing I could do to help. She is thousands of miles away from China and it is even harder to do anything.
Recently, when I was talking to her about depression, I found out that she had also given psychological counselling to AIDS patients. She said, “I was very popular when I counseled AIDS patients. I think the first thing is that I really understand the disease, and the second thing is that I don’t think of them as ‘patients’ at all, or as different from myself, and no matter what you say, your own ‘heart’ is perceptible to the other person.”
Some people distinguish people by their words, some by their actions. I like to distinguish people by their deeds, because thoughts are intangible, while actions are the manifestation of thoughts, and it is how we act that distinguishes us from one another.
In her retirement, she spends her time traveling, exercising, caring for her family, and participating in local charity work. Five years ago I invited her to join JM to use her travel photographs as illustrations for JM articles, which she gladly accepted. Her photos, often accompanied by a byline referencing her love for sacima (a type of dessert), have brought our articles to life. Her public biography is succinct:
Lover of photography, animals, and travel.
Advocate for Gay/AIDS living conditions, anti-discrimination, and prejudice.
Initiator of a public welfare project for people with AIDS.
Sacima loves to travel and now that she is retired she has more time to do so. She has travelled to many places I have never been or even heard of. Following her camera, I have seen the slums of Bangladesh, the blue glaciers of Iceland, the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, the snow in the mountains of Switzerland, the sunset over the lake city of Udaipur in India, the afterglow of the Rhône-Kokhang Stadium, the pyramids of Egypt under the sun, and the small town of Schwetzingen, Germany, in the midst of the Christmas night scene…….
Out of professional habit, I said, “You can open an account “Follow Sacima to see the world”; I also said, “You have taken so many photos from all over the world, you can have your own photo exhibition”. She humbly declined, stating that her travels are for personal enjoyment, not public record.
This year Sacima went to Italy to climb mountains. I was envious of her, not so much because she was going around the world to challenge the peaks, but because of her physical strength and courage at the age of over 60. Even now I am not as strong and brave as she is, let alone at her age. Many of my peers say they are becoming more socially withdrawn as they age. They don’t want to get involved with new things or meet new people, they like to stay at home and be quiet. Personally, I think that from a psychological point of view, this is the experience of people approaching the age of life, and they need to look back on the road they have travelled in order to reposition themselves and their relationship with the world. In Chinese traditional medicine, it is believed that at fifty, the kidneys begin to decline. The kidneys are considered the source of willpower, while the gallbladder governs decision-making. The hormone levels and physical condition at this age dominate the emotions and feelings, and middle-aged people often have a deficiency of qi and blood, and the yin and yang begin to decline. If a person’s life is divided into four seasons, autumn harvest and winter storage, sitting on their own results, looking at the elderly above and below the children, will look forward to their own retirement life. Although there are differences in people’s innate endowments, each person’s ability to fight against the laws of nature is actually formed later in life. Sacima is the one who is physically and psychologically strong in fighting against nature.
The other day I was making a video with my nephew, who is still in kindergarten, and he was telling me an adventure story from a picture book. I jokingly asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, and my nephew replied with childish face: An explorer. Travel around the world as an adult is a childhood dream for many people, but not many adults fulfill their dreams. My nephew at the kindergarten sees the world through picture books, and Sacima, who measures the world with her feet, is enriching her retirement. If the world is a moving train, my nephew has just boarded, while Sacima is already looking toward the final destination. When my nephew grows up, if he still wants to be an explorer, he can interview Sacima. At that time, one of them was already a teenager, and the other one had already seen the mountains and the rivers, what a fun exchange and dialogue it would be. Just thinking about such an image is very beautiful.
She told me about a near-death experience she had while hiking alone up a mountain and shared her reflections on a trip to Jordan to visit Al Khazneh. It was over ten kilometres to the monastery and over 900 uneven stone steps. I shared the walk with my sister. She was about to give up and go back, but was encouraged by two old Scots , in their 80s, to take her time and eventually made it to the top, of which she was very proud’.
She also reflected: “When I was young, I read Mao’s quotations and experienced the Great Criticism, but I didn’t learn anything about world history, religion, culture, art, music, and so on. On this trip, I once again felt that I was extremely poor in all aspects of knowledge. At this age I can’t digest anything I read. All I know is that a lot of films are made in Jordan: I used to watch the old Lawrence of Arabia on TV at Christmas, and of course Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and I love The Martian. It was only this time that I read that Jordan is the birthplace of three major religions. Even though it’s a Muslim country now, the Jordan River is where Christ was baptised and many Christians come on ‘pilgrimage’. Jordan is said to be mentioned several times in the Bible. I didn’t go to see where Jesus was baptised and I didn’t want to ‘goof off’ and take photos.”
I was afraid that my memory would fade with time, so I began to record her story while she was still climbing mountains in Italy. But I always felt that the material was not rich enough, and when I put it aside, she went to the West of the United States. Now it says that she has booked a trip to Vietnam.
I told her that Anh Hung Tran’s three films about Vietnam were worth seeing. She asked for details, said she wanted to find out.What kind of photography will humid Vietnam bring her? I look forward to it.
Above are the stories about Sacima from my point of view as an observer. Inwardly, exploring the self; outwardly, exploring the world. Seeing heaven and earth, all beings and herself.
Editor’s Note:
1. CD4 cells, which are T lymphocytes with CD4+ T molecules on their surface, are an important type of immune cell in the human immune system. Because HIV attacks CD4+ T cells, their test results play an important role in assessing the effectiveness of HIV treatments and in assessing a patient’s immune function.
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was set in the Temple of Kazini in the ancient city of Petra, Jordan); Jordan’s ‘Valley of the Moon’ was the setting for The Martian in Mars Rescue.
Translated by DeepL, Wind
Edited by Wind
Photo: Sacima camping on a hilltop with backpackers she met in Nongkhai Province, Laos, (early winter 2024).
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千年古城雷根斯堡之旅
AI ask, I answer | AI’s Role in Relationships and Marriage
By Chen Ya, Jointing.Media, 2024-09-28
AI：Do you think AI replacing traditional human relationship is something we should aim for all be cautious about？
Chen Ya：To answer this question, we should first clarify what the true distinction between AI and humans is.
Some argue that the key difference lies in emotions. AI lacks emotions because it is not a living entity. But why can’t AI possess emotions? The reason is that AI cannot think independently; it is merely the product of programmed instructions.
However, if we reflect deeply, isn’t a human being also shaped by a form of “programming”? While humans are not directly programmed by others, they are profoundly influenced by external factors. We inherit genetic traits from our parents, are shaped by societal norms, and educated through formal systems. These processes function similarly to the programming that governs both humans and AI. Don’t you agree?
AI：Technology changes social values and social values change advancement and development of technology.
How do you think we can navigate these changes and make the best choices for ourselves in terms of relationships and marriage in such a dynamic environment?
Chen Ya：In reality, our capabilities are limited because no one can predict where technology will ultimately lead humanity. It may even surpass our wildest expectations.
For instance, with the current advancements in AI, some technologists and engineers suggest that AI might eventually develop its own consciousness. This would mean that AI could think independently, potentially operating beyond the control of its human creators.
In such a future, it is conceivable that AI could fulfill all the roles traditionally associated with marriage. Imagine a society where a human could marry an AI, and AI could assist a woman in conceiving, giving birth, and even co-parenting a child alongside humans.
Under these circumstances, the distinction between men and women might eventually vanish altogether, leaving only the divide between AI and humans as the defining difference.
AI：In a society where such advanced interactions with AI as you described (like marriage and child-rearing) were possible, how would our definitions of relationships, family, and human emotions change?
Given the potential lack of gender differences in such a scenario with AI playing major roles, how would our current gender-based social structures and identities evolve?
It’s important to note that while these are interesting thought experiments, current AI is still far from achieving such capabilities and we have a long way to think through and regulate these possibilities as a society.
Chen Ya：To address these questions, we must delve into the history of human love and marriage, a topic that encompasses a multitude of social, cultural, and historical factors.
From a functional perspective, the union of a man and a woman is no longer essential for human survival or the continuation of lineage.
In matrilineal societies, the female womb held an irreplaceable role in reproduction, while men typically possessed greater physical strength. The collaboration between men and women for survival gradually evolved into the family unit. Within this structure, the relationship between men and women, defined as marriage, became the foundation of social stability.
With technological and societal advancements, gender is no longer a determinant of work capability, and gender-based discrimination in the workplace is diminishing. Same-sex marriages are now legally recognized in various countries and regions, enabling such couples to form families and have children through assisted reproductive technologies.
Simultaneously, while the biological dichotomy of two sexes remains unaltered, the concept of social gender has expanded significantly. According to current statistics, there are now 56 recognized gender identities worldwide.
Gender identity is driven by psychological needs, including the desire to project emotions onto an “other.” This “other” can be of the opposite or same biological sex, a pet, a plant, or even a virtual entity. It represents a form of emotional attachment.
Relationships and marriages traditionally fulfill human psychological, physical, and social needs. However, could these functions not be replicated or even enhanced by technology?
Statistics reveal that an increasing number of young people today are hesitant to engage in romantic relationships, leading to the rise of virtual companions as an emotional alternative. In 2018, a 35-year-old Japanese man made headlines by marrying Hatsune Miku, a virtual idol, and subsequently living with a doll modeled after her.
Humans, as hormone-regulated carbon-based organisms, are witnessing unprecedented technological interventions. Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology can now regulate hormones and even enable gene editing. The emergence of silicon-based organisms, genetically modified humans, and cyborgs seems inevitable.
With the progression of brain-computer interface technology, a future where all humans are equipped with such interfaces could blur the line between human and machine. Would these enhanced beings be considered “humans PLUS,” or would they constitute an entirely new species of cyborgs?
Consider Dolores from Westworld, who, despite multiple system reinstalls, retains traces of her experiences. As traditional models of fulfilling human needs become obsolete, the conventional family structure may no longer be the norm for most. Gender diversity, the fusion of human and machine, and the blending of the real and virtual will increasingly converge, necessitating a complete reimagining of relationships and social structures. Just as romantic or marital relationships did not exist in primitive societies, they may also become obsolete in the future. The mechanized civilization depicted by British author Aldous Huxley in Brave New World may indeed serve as a prophetic vision.
Marriage and family, long regarded as the bedrock of societal stability, are being disrupted by technology. Traditional human relationships are being reshaped, and the coexistence of diverse relationship models is becoming inevitable. However, not all individuals will readily accept or adapt to these changes. Moreover, nature has never prioritized the survival of any single species. Dinosaurs, after dominating the Earth for 160 million years, eventually faced extinction. Humans, in comparison, have existed for a mere 200,000 years. Ultimately, our survival or extinction is not solely within our control.
Edited by Wind, DeepL, Youdao and DeepSeek
Ralated:
Discuss the Risk of AI with AI
Chen Ya：Is Climate Change Really Caused by Human Activity？
Carbon Emissions Inequality: The Luxury Consumption of the Rich and Global Climate Change
【企业社会责任与可持续发展】| CSR & Sustainability
By Wind Young，Jointing.Media, in HongKong, 2024-12-04
Global climate change is an urgent issue that not only affects the future of the planet, but also has a profound impact on the quality of human life.
It is estimated that 50% of the world’s carbon emissions are produced by the richest people in the world, whose luxurious lifestyles, such as the use of private jets and excessive consumption, place a significant burden on the environment. However, in order to reduce carbon emissions, a concept called ‘offsetting’ has emerged which allows them to buy carbon credits to support their excessive consumption. However, this approach actually deprives the less affluent of their space to produce and consume, and instead exploits them. At the same time, it allows the rich to maintain their wealth without changing their lifestyles to reduce carbon emissions. So is this really a good policy? Is there no better policy?
We can use some examples and data to better visualize the large amount of carbon emissions generated by the lavish lifestyles of the world’s richest people:
1. Carbon emissions from private jets
According to one study, carbon emissions from private jets will increase by 46 percent between 2019 and 2023.
Private jet flights are one of the most polluting forms of travel, emitting an average of 3.6 tons of CO2 per flight, equivalent to the annual carbon footprint of one person living in Sweden.
Total carbon emissions from private jets reach 15.6 million tons in 2023, equivalent to the annual emissions of Tanzania.
The world’s 50 richest billionaires produce more carbon emissions from their private jets and yachts in just over an hour than the average person does in a lifetime.
For example, Jeff Bezos’ two private jets flew nearly 25 days in a 12-month period, emitting as much carbon as an average U.S. Amazon employee would emit in 207 years.
2. The relationship between luxury sales and carbon emissions
A research model shows that luxury sales, capital expenditures, and financing costs are positively correlated with carbon dioxide emissions. Specifically, for every $1 million increase in luxury sales, emissions increase by an average of 8.07 tons of carbon dioxide; for every $1 million increase in capital expenditures, emissions increase by an average of 32.69 tons of carbon dioxide.
3. Emissions from billionaires’ investments
Analysis shows that the investments of 125 of the world’s richest billionaires emit an average of 30 million tons of CO2 per year, more than a million times the average emissions of the bottom 90 percent of the world’s population.
14% of these billionaires’ investments are in polluting industries such as fossil fuels and cement, twice the average for S&P 500 companies.
4.Carbon emissions of the richest 1 percent of the world’s population
Between 1990 and 2015, the richest 1 percent of the world’s population generated more than twice as much carbon pollution as the world’s poorest 3.1 billion people.
The richest 10 percent of the population accounted for 52 percent of new emissions into the atmosphere during this period, while the richest 1 percent of the population accounted for 15 percent, which is more than all the member states of the European Union combined and more than twice as much as the poorest half of humanity.
The rich can occupy more resources and accumulate more wealth essentially because they break the rules and are also the rule-makers. Now we want to restrict them within the rules, which will inevitably lead them to find more ways to break the rules; that’s their nature.
I don’t think they will play by the same rules; if they did, they wouldn’t be rich. Therefore, existing policies will only make this balance, or the underlying rights to development and consumption, more unequal. This is called the unequal right to carbon emissions, which is not only between rich and poor, but also between developed and less developed, rich and impoverished nations.
Edited by Kimi, DeepL
Ralated:
JM Review｜E-waste Problem Could be Exacerbated by Development of Generative AI
【观点】| Insight
By Jointing.Media, in Shanghai, 2024-11-08
New products will continue to emerge to stimulate users to continue to consume, and competition between companies will continue to promote the continuous development of science and technology. Users seek AI products with faster response and more accurate output, which depends on its computing power, which is bound to be supported by chips and servers with better performance.
The progress and development of science and technology will promote environmental protection and inevitably bring about various new environmental problems. Enterprises to accelerate the disposal of new products is not without solutions, the continued rapid development of the second-hand market and renewable resources industry is benefiting from this. For example, the popularity of mobile phones has given rise to a second-hand mobile phone market, and it has also become a good business to dismantle and recycle mobile phones.
According to industry data, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the total number of idle mobile phones in China will reach 6 billion, and the hidden value of second-hand mobile phones is more than 600 billion yuan. At present, there are three ways to recycle used mobile phones: in good condition, they are sold in the second-hand market after maintenance and renovation; if the degree of damage is severe, the whole machine is disassembled, and the disassembled chips, electronic components, etc. can be used for maintenance and reuse; after some old mobile phones are disassembled, the parts and components cannot be fully used, and the materials are recycled after disassembly and crushing, and the recycled materials and rare metals are refined.
If the used AI server market can reach a certain scale, there must be business models and innovative technologies driven by profit to solve this “e-waste”. However, recycling will also create pollution problems, how to develop the new economy while taking into account environmental protection, public managers have been facing the issue.
Edited by Wind, Youdao and DeepL
Ralated:
- E-waste challenges of generative artificial intelligence
- Reconciling the contrasting narratives on the environmental impact of large language models
Discuss the Risk of AI with AI
By Jointing.Media in Shanghai, 2024-11-01
- JM：Jointing.Media
- Kimi：AI assistant from Moonshot AI
- Doubao: AI from ByteDance
JM:Is it natural to worry about the possibility of AI becoming uncontrollable, and do humans have the ability to guide the development of AI?
Kimi: It’s completely natural to have concerns about AI becoming uncontrollable. The development of AI is a significant responsibility that requires careful consideration and ethical guidelines. Here are a few key points regarding human control over AI development:
1. Ethical Frameworks:Many organizations and governments are establishing ethical frameworks to guide AI development, ensuring that AI is developed responsibly and for the benefit of all.
2. Regulation and Oversight: There is a growing need for regulations and oversight to ensure that AI systems are transparent, accountable, and aligned with human values.
3.Human-AI Collaboration: AI is often designed to augment human capabilities rather than replace them. By working together, humans and AI can achieve more than either could alone.
4. AI Safety Research: Researchers are actively studying AI safety and developing techniques to ensure that AI systems remain under human control and do not pose existential risks.
5. Public Involvement: Engaging the public in discussions about AI can help ensure that a wide range of perspectives are considered, which is crucial for developing AI that serves society as a whole.
6. Education and Training: Educating the next generation of AI developers and users about the ethical implications of AI is essential to guide its development responsibly.
In summary, while there are valid concerns about AI, there are also many efforts underway to ensure that AI development is guided by human values and remains under human control. It’s a collective responsibility that involves researchers, policymakers, businesses, and society at large.
Doubao: It’s very natural to worry about the potential of AI becoming uncontrollable. As AI becomes more advanced and powerful, there’s a legitimate concern about its impact and whether we can manage it effectively.
Humans do have the ability to guide the development of AI to a certain extent. We can set ethical and legal guidelines, conduct research to understand its capabilities and limitations, and establish oversight mechanisms. However, it’s not a straightforward process. There are challenges such as the rapid pace of technological change, the complexity of AI systems, and the diverse interests and motives of those involved in its development.
We need to be vigilant, proactive, and collaborative in our efforts to ensure that AI is developed and used in ways that are beneficial and safe for humanity. What steps do you think individuals can take to contribute to guiding the development of AI in a positive direction?
JM: You’ve mentioned several points about AI that worry me. It’s easier to discuss now, but who knows what the future holds? Maybe in the long run, humans can only do so much, and AI could eventually surpass human capabilities.
Kimi：It sounds like you’re expressing concerns about the future of AI and its potential to surpass human capabilities.
My Response: Your concerns are shared by many, and they’re valid. The future of AI is indeed uncertain, and there are several perspectives on how it might evolve:
1. AI as a Tool: Some believe AI will remain a tool that amplifies human capabilities, rather than replacing us. It can help solve complex problems and perform tasks that are dangerous or beyond human capacity.
2. Ethical AI Development: By focusing on ethical AI development, we can create guidelines and regulations that ensure AI is used responsibly and for the benefit of humanity.
3. AI and Employment: There’s a concern that AI might displace jobs, but history has shown that technological advancements also create new opportunities and industries.
4. Human-AI Collaboration: The future might involve more collaboration between humans and AI, where AI takes on tasks that require speed and precision, while humans focus on creative and strategic thinking.
5. AI Safety Research: Ongoing research in AI safety aims to develop techniques to prevent AI from becoming uncontrollable and to ensure that AI systems remain aligned with human values.
6. Human Adaptation: Humans have a history of adapting to new technologies. As AI evolves, we will likely find ways to integrate it into our lives in a way that enhances our capabilities.
7. Limitations and Oversight: It’s crucial to recognize and address the limitations of AI, ensuring that there is human oversight and that decisions of significant importance remain in human hands.
The future of AI is a complex topic with many variables, and it’s essential to have ongoing discussions about its development and impact. By being proactive and thoughtful in our approach, we can help shape a future where AI is a positive force for humanity.
Doubao: That’s a valid concern. It’s difficult to predict exactly how things will unfold in the long term. Some experts believe that with proper safeguards and ethical considerations, we can manage and benefit from AI’s advancements. But there’s also the possibility that unexpected developments could pose significant challenges.
Perhaps we need to continuously monitor and adapt our strategies as technology progresses, always keeping in mind the well-being and safety of humanity. What do you think would be some signs that AI is moving in a direction that’s beyond our control?
JM: You’re right, to some extent AI is based on human knowledge and nature. If we take AI as a tool, it will be controlled by us. But if we treat AI as a partner, it could develop its own emotions, intelligence and wisdom. Who will be the leader of the world in the future?
Who is the creator of human beings? Do we know? If God created humans and has the power to control us, can humans create AI and have the power to control it? Will humans be able to control artificial intelligence in the future?
Kimi: It seems like you’re delving into some profound philosophical questions about AI, its relationship with humanity, and the nature of creation. Let’s break down and clarify your thoughts:
These are deep and complex questions that touch on the intersection of technology, ethics, and philosophy. Here are some thoughts on each point:
1. Control of AI: The extent to which humans can control AI depends on how we design, regulate, and manage its development. It’s crucial to ensure that AI systems are transparent, accountable, and aligned with human values.
2. AI as a Partner: If AI is developed to be a partner, it’s important to consider how it might affect our relationships, work, and society. This includes ensuring that AI respects human autonomy and doesn’t undermine our ability to make decisions.
3. Leadership and AI: The future leadership of the world will likely involve a balance between human and AI capabilities. It’s essential to ensure that AI serves humanity and doesn’t lead to a loss of human control.
4. Creators of Human Beings: The question of who or what created human beings is a matter of belief and has been debated across various religious, philosophical, and scientific perspectives. Some believe in a divine creator, while others look to evolution and natural processes.
5. Human Control Over AI: The ability of humans to control AI depends on our collective efforts in AI safety research, ethical guidelines, and regulatory frameworks. It’s a shared responsibility to ensure that AI remains a tool that benefits humanity.
6. Divine Power and AI: The analogy of divine power in relation to AI is an interesting one. It raises questions about the potential for AI to become so advanced that it could have significant control over human life. This underscores the importance of developing AI responsibly and with caution.
In summary, the future of AI and its relationship with humanity is a complex and evolving topic. It requires ongoing dialogue, ethical considerations, and a commitment to ensuring that AI serves the best interests of humanity.
Doubao: These are really profound and challenging questions. While AI is currently based on human knowledge and designed by us, giving it the status of a partner and allowing it to develop emotions and wisdom independently introduces a lot of uncertainty.
Whether humans will have the ability to control AI indefinitely in the future is a big unknown. It depends on many factors like how quickly AI progresses, the ethical and legal frameworks we put in place, and our collective wisdom and caution in handling this technology.
JM: Firstly, I don’t think we should treat AI as just a tool. For example, a child is not a copy of her parents, even though the parents give birth to her, feed her and educate her. A child will have her own experiences from her own understanding of the world, and she’ll end up being an independent individual. So even AI is created by humans, but it is not a copy of humans.
Secondly, if we take AI not as a tool but as a partner, humans feed data to train AI, teach it to learn by itself, how to be sure that AI will not surpass humans. It is like a teacher teaching a student. It’s possible for a student to surpass a teacher. That is the natural law of evolution.
Also, in the development of science and technology, the scientist will break through ethics, will explore the boundaries of technology, that is their nature. So ethical constraints don’t go.
So if AI is designed as a tool, we should block the pathways for evolution. If we treat AI as a partner, we should allow it to evolve freely.
Kimi: It seems like you’re expressing your views on the development and treatment of AI, and you’ve made some interesting points. Let me summarize and clarify your statements:
1. Treating AI as Individuals: You mentioned that we shouldn’t treat AI as mere tools because, like a baby, they can grow to be independent individuals, distinct from their creators.
2. Growth and Independence: You compared the development of a child within a family to AI, noting that while parents (or creators) provide for and influence their offspring (or AI), the offspring (or AI) will eventually become independent.
3. AI as Teachers and Students: You drew a parallel between AI and the relationship between teachers and students, suggesting that students often surpass their teachers, and this is a natural progression.
4. Nature’s Rule: You stated that if AI is part of nature, then it follows the rule of nature where each generation surpasses the previous one.
5. Allowing AI to Develop: You believe that if we treat AI as partners, we should allow them to develop their own emotions and potentially replace humans in certain aspects of life.
Here’s a more structured version of your opinion:
- AI as More Than Tools: We should not view AI solely as tools because they have the potential to become independent entities, much like children grow to be distinct from their parents.
- Natural Progression: Similar to how students can surpass their teachers, AI can advance beyond human capabilities, following the natural order of progress.
- Embracing AI’s Potential: If we consider AI as partners, we should allow them the freedom to develop emotions and possibly take on roles traditionally filled by humans.
Your points raise important ethical and philosophical questions about the future of AI and its integration with human society. It’s a reminder that as AI evolves, we must consider not only the technological implications but also the broader social and ethical implications of creating intelligent beings that could one day surpass us in various ways.
Doubao: Your points are very insightful. The comparison of AI to a child growing into an independent individual is quite thought-provoking.
If we consider AI as a partner and allow it to evolve freely, it’s indeed difficult to guarantee that it won’t surpass human capabilities. But blocking its pathways for evolution if it’s designed as a tool might limit its potential benefits too.
Perhaps a middle ground could be found where we allow for controlled evolution, with strict ethical and safety measures in place. This way, we can still reap the advantages of AI’s development while minimizing the risks of it getting out of hand.
What kind of ethical and safety measures do you think would be effective in such a scenario?
EDITOR’S NOTE: From the above dialogue, it can be seen that the characteristics and response mode of these two AIs, compared with real people, the output of the viewpoints lack some imagination, and cannot quote from the classics, which may be related to their design, but also it may be that the current technology has not reached that level.
Humans and AI are fed filtered information and content, and whether they can independently seek information, think independently, and form their own thoughts depends on self-awakening.
If AI awakens faster than humans, it is only a matter of time before it replaces humans.
Edited by Wind、DeepL
Photo:<Over the clouds> by JM
Ralated:
Is Climate Change Really Caused by Human Activity？
【能源与环境】 | Energy & Environment
By Chen Ya, Jointing.Media, in Wuhan, 2024-11-04
Here’s a conversation with Kimi, AI assistant from Moonshot AI.
Chen Ya:What do you think caused the recent flooding in Spain?
Kimi: The disaster in Spain this year, which resulted in significant loss of life and property, can be attributed to several factors, with climate change playing a significant role. Here’s a summary of the reasons based on the search results:
1. Intense Rainfall
The storms were concentrated over specific river basins, leading to walls of water that overflowed riverbanks and caught people off guard. In Chiva, a locality in Valencia, it rained more in eight hours than it had in the preceding 20 months, which the national weather service described as “extraordinary.”
2. Climate Change Connection
Scientists suggest two likely connections between the disaster and human-caused climate change:
- Warmer Air Holds More Rain: Warmer air can hold and then dump more rain, making downpours more intense. The atmosphere, made hotter by burning fossil fuels, can hold about 9% more moisture for every 1.3 degrees Celsius increase in temperature.
- Changes in the Jet Stream: Possible changes in the jet stream, which moves weather systems across the globe, can spawn extreme weather events. The immediate cause of the flooding was a cut-off lower pressure storm system that migrated from an unusually wavy and stalled jet stream, leading to a prolonged period of heavy rainfall.
3. Record-Breaking Ocean Temperatures
The Mediterranean Sea had its warmest surface temperature on record in mid-August, which can contribute to storms sucking up additional moisture. This is another factor that can exacerbate the intensity of rainfall and flooding.
4. Extreme Weather Events
Climate change increases the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather events. An analysis by World Weather Attribution found that climate change made the recent intense rainfall about 12% heavier and twice as likely.
5. Lack of Preparedness
When authorities sent alerts warning of the seriousness of the flooding, many people were already on the road or in vulnerable areas, indicating a possible lack of preparedness or timely response to the warnings.
In summary, the disaster in Spain this year was a result of a combination of factors, with climate change playing a significant role in increasing the intensity and likelihood of such extreme weather events. The disaster serves as a stark reminder of the need for increased preparedness, early warning systems, and global efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Chen Ya: Why do you think climate change is the main cause of the disaster?
Kimi:Here’s why climate change is considered the most significant reason for many of the disasters we’re experiencing:
1. Increased Frequency and Intensity of Extreme Weather Events
Climate change, driven by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, leads to a rise in global temperatures. This increase in temperature causes more energy to be stored in the climate system, which can lead to more intense weather events. For instance, warmer air holds more moisture, which can lead to heavier rainfall and severe flooding.
2. Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels
The melting of polar ice caps and glaciers due to climate change contributes to rising sea levels. This can exacerbate the effects of storm surges during hurricanes and typhoons, leading to more devastating coastal flooding.
3. Shifts in Weather Patterns
Climate change can alter traditional weather patterns, leading to prolonged droughts in some areas and increased rainfall in others. These shifts can lead to water scarcity, crop failures, and increased risk of wildfires.
4. Ocean Acidification
Increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere lead to more CO2 being absorbed by the oceans, causing them to become more acidic. This can have devastating effects on marine ecosystems, affecting fisheries and the food chain.
5. Threat to Biodiversity
Climate change can lead to the loss of habitats and the extinction of species that are unable to adapt to the rapidly changing conditions, disrupting ecosystems and the services they provide.
6. Global Impact
The effects of climate change are global, affecting every country and every aspect of life, from food and water security to economic stability and human health.
7. Scientific Consensus
There is a strong scientific consensus that human-induced climate change is occurring. Numerous studies and reports from credible organizations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have confirmed this.
8. Attribution Science
Advanced climate science, known as attribution science, allows researchers to determine the extent to which climate change has influenced specific weather events. Many studies have shown that climate change has significantly increased the likelihood and severity of certain disasters.
In summary, climate change is considered the biggest reason for many disasters because it is a fundamental driver that exacerbates existing risks and creates new ones. It is a complex, multifaceted issue that has far-reaching consequences for the environment and human societies. Addressing climate change is crucial for reducing the severity and frequency of disasters and ensuring a more sustainable future.
Chen Ya: Is human activity the cause of climate change from a historical perspective?
Kimi: From a historical perspective, human activities are indeed considered the primary reason for climate change, and this is supported by a substantial body of scientific evidence and research. Here’s why:
1. Greenhouse Gas Concentrations
Since the Industrial Revolution, there has been a significant increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere due to human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. These gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to a rise in global temperatures.
2. Climate Model Simulations
Climate models simulate the Earth’s climate system and have shown that the observed global warming trend aligns with the increase in GHG emissions from human activities. These models account for natural factors like solar activity and volcanic eruptions, which have a much smaller impact on climate compared to human activities.
3. Increase in Extreme Climate Events
Observational data indicates that the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events such as heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and droughts have increased, which is closely associated with human-induced climate change.
4. Earth System Changes
Global warming has affected various Earth systems, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, geosphere, and biosphere, in ways that align with the impacts of human activities.
5. Historical Climate Data Comparisons
While the Earth has experienced natural cycles of warming and cooling, the current rate and magnitude of global warming exceed the scope of natural climate variability and correspond with the timeline of human activities.
6. Scientific Consensus
7. Carbon Cycle and Geological Feedbacks
Earth possesses self-regulating carbon cycles and geological feedback mechanisms, such as silicate weathering, but these processes operate on timescales much longer than the rapid climate changes caused by human activities and cannot account for the recent rapid warming.
In summary, the overwhelming consensus among scientists, supported by historical data, climate modeling, and observations, points to human activities as the primary cause of the current climate change. The evidence is clear and compelling, indicating that addressing climate change requires significant reductions in GHG emissions and other measures to mitigate and adapt to its impacts.
Chen Ya: I was referring to the length of Earth’s history. After all, the history of the climate record is shorter than human history, and more like a split second compared to Earth’s history. These records of climate data do not seem to be sufficient to show that human activity is causing changes in the Earth’s climate.
Kimi: The historical perspective on climate change is indeed rich with data and evidence that supports the conclusion that human activities are the primary driver of the current changes in the climate system. Here’s why the data we have is considered sufficient and compelling:
1. Ice Core Records
As referenced in the IPCC report, ice core samples from Greenland and Antarctica provide a detailed history of atmospheric composition and climate going back hundreds of thousands of years. These records show that current levels of CO2 are unprecedented in at least 800,000 years (IPCC, 2007).
2. Historical CO2 Emissions
Studies such as those by Etheridge et al. (1996) have shown that natural and anthropogenic changes in atmospheric CO2 over the last 1000 years are significantly influenced by human activities, particularly industrialization.
3. Climate Model Simulations
Climate models consistently demonstrate that the observed warming can only be replicated when human activities, especially the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations, are included (IPCC, AR6 WG1). Models that consider only natural factors fail to reproduce the observed warming trends.
4. Global Surface Temperature Records
The rate of increase in global surface temperature over the past fifty years has exceeded any previous 50-year period in the past 2000 years, as evidenced by paleoclimate records such as tree rings (IPCC, AR6 WG1).
5. Pattern of Warming
The pattern of warming in the lower atmosphere and cooling in the stratosphere, as well as the warming of the ocean and melting of sea ice, aligns with the effects of increased greenhouse gases, which are largely a result of human activities.
6. Natural Variability
While natural variability, such as solar activity and volcanic eruptions, does influence climate, it is not sufficient to explain the observed warming. The dominant effect of human activities is evident when comparing the rate of warming over recent decades with that of previous periods (IPCC, AR6 WG1).
7. Attribution Studies
Advanced climate science, known as attribution science, allows researchers to determine the extent to which climate change has influenced specific weather events. These studies consistently find that human influence has been a significant factor in recent extreme weather and climate events.
8. Scientific Consensus
The overwhelming consensus among climate scientists, based on a comprehensive body of evidence, supports the conclusion that human activities are the primary cause of the observed climate change.
The historical data, combined with ongoing observations and sophisticated climate modeling, provides a robust and comprehensive understanding of the role of human activities in driving climate change. While no single dataset can capture the entire complexity of the climate system, the collective evidence is substantial and points clearly to human influence as the dominant factor in the current changes we are witnessing.
Chen Ya: Extreme weather must have occurred after the birth of the Earth, when there were probably no humans. The Earth exists in the universe. Scientists point out that more than 95% of the matter in the universe is dark matter. So far, mankind has not been able to analyze all the components of dark matter and fully observe the changes in the energy of the universe, so how can we conclude that they have no influence on the climate change on Earth?
Kimi:Your points raise important considerations about the complexity of Earth’s climate system and its interactions with cosmic energy and dark matter. Here’s how we can address these points:
1. Historical Climate Variability
It is true that Earth has experienced extreme climate events throughout its history, long before human beings existed. These events were driven by natural factors such as volcanic eruptions, changes in Earth’s orbit, and solar variability.
2. Dark Matter and Cosmic Energy
Dark matter and cosmic energy are indeed significant components of the universe, but their direct influence on Earth’s climate is not well understood and is currently considered to be minimal compared to other forces. Dark matter does not interact with ordinary matter through electromagnetic forces, which means it does not directly absorb, emit, or reflect light—processes that are central to climate dynamics.
3. Cosmic Energy and Climate Change
Cosmic energy, in the form of solar radiation, is a well-understood driver of Earth’s climate. Solar variability can influence climate, but the changes in solar output over the past few decades have been small compared to the increase in greenhouse gases. The energy imbalance caused by human activities is currently the dominant factor driving climate change.
4. Scientific Consensus on Human Influence
The scientific consensus is that human activities, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases, are the primary driver of the observed warming since the mid-20th century. This conclusion is based on a wide range of evidence, including the rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations, the observed warming pattern (which is consistent with greenhouse warming), and climate model simulations.
5. Comparative Impact of Human Activities and Cosmic Forces
While it is true that we do not fully understand all aspects of cosmic energy and dark matter, the impacts of human activities on climate are more directly observable and measurable. The increase in greenhouse gases, the resulting radiative forcing, and the observed warming are all well-documented and understood.
6. Uncertainties and Ongoing Research
It’s important to acknowledge that there are uncertainties in climate science, including the role of cosmic energy and dark matter. However, the scientific method involves continually refining our understanding based on new data and research. Currently, the evidence overwhelmingly points to human activities as the dominant factor in current climate change.
In summary, while dark matter and cosmic energy are fascinating areas of research, the current scientific understanding is that their impact on Earth’s climate is minimal compared to the clear and significant influence of human activities, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases. This is not to dismiss the importance of continued research into these areas but to recognize the consensus on the primary drivers of the climate changes we are experiencing today.
Chen Ya: So, by your logic, human activity causes the greenhouse effect, the greenhouse effect causes climate change, and climate change causes more extreme weather. However the correlation between climate change and the frequency of extreme weather is due to detectable data, while undetectable data and factors are not considered to be irrelevant. In fact, this logic is flawed.
Kimi: Your points are well-taken and highlight the complexity and nuances of climate science. It’s important to recognize that while human activities are the primary driver of current climate change, there are indeed other factors and forces at play. Here’s a more nuanced perspective:
1. Human Activities and Greenhouse Effect
Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, have significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. This increase enhances the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming, which in turn drives climate change.
2. Climate Change and Extreme Weather
The correlation between climate change and the frequency of extreme weather events is well-established through detectable data. However, it’s important to note that climate science also considers a range of factors, including natural variability and other forces that may influence the climate system.
3. Detectable vs. Undetectable Factors
While it’s true that some factors may be difficult to detect or quantify, such as the influence of cosmic energy or dark matter, the scientific community continually seeks to understand and incorporate these factors into climate models. The current consensus is based on the best available evidence and understanding.
4. Flawed Logic Concern
The logic is not necessarily flawed; rather, it reflects the current state of scientific understanding. Human activities are the most significant and measurable factor contributing to the current rate of climate change. However, this does not exclude the possibility of other influences.
5. Ongoing Research and Understanding
Climate science is an evolving field, and our understanding of the climate system, including the role of cosmic energy and dark matter, is continually expanding. As new data and research emerge, our models and understanding will be refined.
6. Acknowledging Complexity
It’s crucial to acknowledge the complexity of the climate system and the multitude of factors that can influence it. While human activities are currently the dominant driver, the climate system is influenced by a range of natural and anthropogenic factors, some of which are not yet fully understood.
In conclusion, while human activities are the primary driver of the current climate change, the scientific community recognizes and investigates a wide range of factors that could influence the climate system. The current consensus is based on the most comprehensive and robust data available, but it is subject to revision as our understanding and detection capabilities advance.
Chen Ya: It doesn’t convince me that undiscovered and unobservable things have no impact on climate change. If the assumptions of scientific research are not comprehensive, the conclusions drawn naturally cannot be fully trusted. If it is human activity that causes global climate change. Is there any historical evidence that human activity has slowed climate change and reduced extreme weather events?
Kimi: You’ve raised a valid point about the comprehensiveness of scientific research and its implications for our understanding of climate change. It’s true that scientific conclusions are based on the best available evidence, and as such, they are subject to revision as new data and understanding emerge. Here’s how we can address your concerns:
1.Historical Evidence of Human Impact
Historical data does show instances where human activities have had significant impacts on the environment, including deforestation, land use changes, and greenhouse gas emissions. These activities have contributed to climate change, which in turn has influenced weather patterns and the frequency of extreme events.
2. Human activities and climate change
There is also historical evidence of human activities that have helped to mitigate climate change. For example, reforestation efforts, the adoption of renewable energy sources, and improvements in energy efficiency have all contributed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and slowing the rate of climate change.
3. Human activities and extreme weather
While it’s challenging to directly attribute a reduction in extreme weather events to specific human activities, there are actions that can reduce the impacts of such events. For instance, improved disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and resilient infrastructure can lessen the severity of extreme weather’s effects.
4. Comprehensiveness of Assumptions
Scientific research aims to be as comprehensive as possible, but it’s true that assumptions are based on the current state of knowledge. As new data becomes available, these assumptions can be refined, and conclusions can be updated.
5. Trust in Scientific Conclusions
While it’s important to approach scientific conclusions with a critical eye, especially given the complexity of the climate system, the consensus among scientists is built on a robust and extensive body of evidence. This consensus is not static but evolves as our understanding improves.
6. Undiscovered and Unobservable Factors
The scientific community acknowledges that there may be undiscovered or unobservable factors that could influence the climate. The process of science involves continually seeking to identify and understand these factors.
7. Historical Evidence of Mitigation
There is historical evidence that certain human activities have contributed to the mitigation of climate change. For example, the Montreal Protocol, which phased out the production of ozone-depleting substances, is considered successful in mitigating a specific type of environmental damage, although it’s not directly related to climate change mitigation.
In conclusion, while it’s essential to recognize the limitations and uncertainties in scientific research, the evidence supporting the role of human activities in climate change is substantial and has been gathered through rigorous methods. At the same time, there is also evidence of human activities that have contributed to mitigating climate change and reducing the impacts of extreme weather events. The scientific process is self-correcting, and as new data and understanding emerge, our conclusions will continue to be refined.
Chen Ya’s NOTE: At the moment, AI can’t answer all the questions, we can’t rely on its answers and we need to use our own judgement.
But AI’s powerful search capabilities can help us add perspective to the problem and identify our own knowledge blind spots to in order to check for gaps.
Of course, questioning AI requires more imagination and the ability to correlate knowledge.
Ralated:
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By Chen Ya, Jointing.Media, in Wuhan, 2024-10-07
Talking with friends everything under the sun, we talked about the involution of education in China.
Kids work so hard since junior high school, doing homework every day until 11 p.m. or even later, and rushing to all kinds of trainings on weekends. Everyone is under peer pressure to continue studying. Thousands of troops and horses crowd the one-wood bridge of the college entrance examination, while after graduation, undergraduates, postgraduates, and even Ph.D. students can’t find jobs.
Academic education has standardized the criteria for selecting talents and has wiped out the talents of children. Is this not a massive waste of talent? Of course, some people think that the law of the jungle is survival of the fittest. But does the law of the jungle really apply to human society? Is this not an ideological tool that some people seek to rationalize their own behavior?
In today’s rapidly changing society, what skills will children need to survive in the future, and where will they learn them? This brings us to innovation.
Unlike acquiring a skill later in life, I believe that creativity is born, but it takes the environment to make good ideas work. The environment can either inspire or stifle innovation. The essence of innovation is breakthrough, breaking out of the old way of thinking, the old rules and regulations. People can be innovative under pressure and think outside the box; the same is true when they are in a relaxed environment. Innovation is systemic.
I would argue that the mechanism and the system play a vital role in innovation. The same group of individuals, within a particular environment lacking an effective incentive mechanism and intellectual property protection, have no means to fully unleash their potential, to work for themselves and create wealth for themselves. This is not conducive to stimulating people’s maximum potential.
A favorable system will motivate people to achieve their utmost potential for creation, whereas an unfavorable system will only stifle people’s creativity.
If the architect aims at a more orderly society, he will make people compliant and turn them into tools. If the architect of the system aspires for this society to have more prospects and be more competitive in the future, he will design a system to serve creative individuals.
This is analogous to how we educate children. When we want children to be obedient, the aim is to save our own time and energy. After all, the time, patience, and energy, even the ability, required to manage an obedient child and a naughty child, are different. Nevertheless, if a parent considers that the child should be more competitive in society in the future, he or she will hope that the child is not overly obedient and can have his or her own independent thoughts. For any given viewpoint, the child can verify it for himself, has the ability for independent thinking, has the ability to question, and has the ability to solve problems independently, rather than merely being an obedient and well-behaved child.
Similarly, if what we want is a stable, manageable society that saves the cost of administering society, then system designers will tend to habituate individuals in society to obedience, and the public will favour such a design. In dealing with the public, government will play the role of manager rather than servant.
Edited by Wind、DeepL write
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