Great post, Dean, really illuminating for someone trying to figure out their own career as a soon-to-be college graduate. I've been on a pragmatist bent for the past few months, and resonate with the Foucault quote; knowledge is made to be used.
I feel so much less like a weirdo for also getting obsessed with different topics. Hence my TEDx talk was on road infrastructure, my op-eds have been on government immunities, democracy, and disinfo, but my main work is AI. I find these side quests give useful historical parallels, and ways to understand our systems. They feel disparate but they don’t feel so. Thanks so much for writing this, especially the bit about when you know you’re ready to put pen to (digital) paper!
Great stuff here, Dean. I'd have to agree that pattern recognition is a defining trait of intelligence. Nothing more rewarding than recalling a bit of obscure knowledge gained through topical research and applying it in an entirely different (and seemingly unrelated) context.
I’m curious to hear more why you find that it’s useful to approach ideas historically, rather than just following along with the current experts.
Personally, I find that current practitioners are often not prepared to explain the most fundamental concepts and assumptions in their sub disciplines. So I spend a lot of time studying history, looking for the moment when these ideas had to be consciously articulated and defended, before they were forgotten like the invisible water in the fishbowl.
Is this why it’s useful to approach ideas historically—ideas depend on assumptions and terminological choices that are invisible in the present but that reveal themselves in history? Or are there other more important reasons?
Dean—this essay was phenomenal. Incredibly useful work here.
Great post, Dean, really illuminating for someone trying to figure out their own career as a soon-to-be college graduate. I've been on a pragmatist bent for the past few months, and resonate with the Foucault quote; knowledge is made to be used.
Great post! I really like your process. I wish AI would go slower so I could do something more like this.
I feel so much less like a weirdo for also getting obsessed with different topics. Hence my TEDx talk was on road infrastructure, my op-eds have been on government immunities, democracy, and disinfo, but my main work is AI. I find these side quests give useful historical parallels, and ways to understand our systems. They feel disparate but they don’t feel so. Thanks so much for writing this, especially the bit about when you know you’re ready to put pen to (digital) paper!
the nice thing about writing on ai is that an immense range of topics can help you understand ai better.
this is also the problem with writing on ai!
Thanks for the insight!
Maybe I need to do one, I agree with Tyler too
Great stuff here, Dean. I'd have to agree that pattern recognition is a defining trait of intelligence. Nothing more rewarding than recalling a bit of obscure knowledge gained through topical research and applying it in an entirely different (and seemingly unrelated) context.
What a brilliant essay! A fine intertwining of a necessary concoction of ideas and deep personal experience. Thanks very much.
This is a fantastic article.
I’m curious to hear more why you find that it’s useful to approach ideas historically, rather than just following along with the current experts.
Personally, I find that current practitioners are often not prepared to explain the most fundamental concepts and assumptions in their sub disciplines. So I spend a lot of time studying history, looking for the moment when these ideas had to be consciously articulated and defended, before they were forgotten like the invisible water in the fishbowl.
Is this why it’s useful to approach ideas historically—ideas depend on assumptions and terminological choices that are invisible in the present but that reveal themselves in history? Or are there other more important reasons?