Connections - Kant to Hilter

I have enjoyed a number of shows from an older British TV program called Connections.  Recently, I watched a very interesting episode titled "Deja Vu".  In it, the narrator outlines the historically influence of Kant on Hitler through environmentalism.  Humboldt, greatly influenced by Kant, started the environmental movement after traveling throughout South America and the Caribbean.   Humboldt's ideas were mashed with Darwin's theories to argue for supreme human genetics.

While certainly the connections displayed in this show are often weak if not nebulous (as I believe these may have been), it was good to see even that weak connection between Kant and Hilter.  Peikoff so eloquently demonstrates in the Ominous Parallels, that the connection runs much, much deeper.

Update: According to commenter Tom, I changed Humbert's name to Humbolt (thanks Tom).

Long term trends look a bit gloomy

I worry about the future.  Especially 20 years down the road.  There is a major demographic change that will occur that will surely plunge our country into a long, long recession, if not a full blown depression, not unlike what Japan has experienced.  The baby boomers are going to retire.

There are several problems with this change:
1. The outlays for Medicare and Social Security will rise.  But the funds to do so are not there.  We will need to drastically increase taxes to afford these programs.  And since baby boomers are such a large voting bloc, they will likely do so.
2. Since the baby boomers are retiring, their income will drop dramatically, so they will not be paying those taxes.
3. Businesses will lose many of their most experienced workers, thereby hurting their chances for growth and possibly their bottom line.
4. Smaller business growth means smaller profits and smaller taxable income.
5. Business stagnation will mean lower stock prices. 
6. Retirees often want to switch from growth to income investments.  There will likely be many retirees pulling money out of the stock market and into other income investments, thereby draining the stock market of much needed capital.
7.  Businesses, unable to raise sufficient capital through stock issues, will struggle to grow, further depressing the economy.
8.  Even if ObamaCare does not pass in total, sufficient changes will likely pass that will raise costs of medical care.  With an aging population, more and more of our economy will have to support their medical care (again, because they will likely vote themselves the money).  This means less capital for other industries.
9. As America goes, so goes the rest of the world.

Our best hope to avoid such a deep recession or possible depression is to remember our individual rights.  America must relearn respect for each individual and stop mooching off of others.  We must teach people about the role of individual rights and become activists in the pursuit of freedom.  We must defend individualism and selfishness and demonstrate the facts associated with looting Peter to pay Paul. 

We must become educators!

GTD for professors

A year ago, I bought and read Getting Things Done by David Allen.  I've been trying to implement parts of it in my academic career.  Apparently, I'm not the only one.  [HT: Diana Hsieh]

The more parts I implement, the more productive I become.  The problem is my own consistently.  Still working on improving it so that I can get more done in less time.  I've really enjoyed my new smart phone (The DROID from Motorola), because now I can add tasks when I think of them rather than wait until I get back to a computer.  It helps to clear my mind of tasks once I write them down.   Even when I'm at the hospital, getting my knee stitched up (like last night).  Because Android is a Google product - Google tasks, Google calendar, Google email, and Google search are all built into the phone.  I use Google tasks and Google calendar extensively to organize my action items, projects, and appointments.   

Anyone in need of a bit of stress reduction and increased productivity, I would recommend Allen's book.

Google's compromise

In 2006, Google decided to enter China in order to offer search capabilities.  The Chinese government demanded a filter on certain content items, such as key words "human rights".  Google, knowing this to be wrong, launched google.cn anyways with the filters in place.  Their reasoning at the time was in essence the greater good would be served.  Its okay to sacrifice a few people (those seeking political change in China) for the many (those in need of better search services).  They were willing to compromise their mission "to organize the world's information and make it universally useful and accessible". 

Google has belatedly decided to remove the filter in response to cyber attacks on their servers from the Chinese government.  China's actions come as no surprise to those of us who understand the nature of freedom, or the lack thereof in China. 

The basic political principle of the Objectivist ethics is: no man may initiate the use of physical force against others. No man—or group or society or government—has the right to assume the role of a criminal and initiate the use of physical compulsion against any man. Men have the right to use physical force only in retaliation and only against those who initiate its use. - Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness [bold mine]

If Google is looking for a pat on the back for their change of heart, they won't get it here.  They knowingly perpetuated violations of individual rights by allowing the Chinese government of forcibly control the information shared between individuals.  Their change in policy does not negate the great wrong they committed over the past 4 years. 

The Concepts of Data and Information

This week, while preparing for a class in information systems, I discovered an integration of the concepts "data" and "information" in terms of Ayn Rand's Epistemological framework as defined in Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology.  As a check on my thinking, I am posting my thoughts here for feedback.

I begin with Rand's definition of a concept:

A concept is a mental integration of two or more units possessing the same distinguishing characteristic(s), with their particular measurements omitted. - ITOE

Using my own words, concepts represent an abstraction.  By omitting measurements except for essential characteristics, a concept economizes our thinking process by allowing us to think about a vast number of things at the same time, without having to mental refer to perceptual concretes. But when it comes to thinking about the world, it is necessary for the mind to selectively re-introduce measurements to concepts in order to build context around one's thoughts.  For example, if I were to say to myself "I want to buy a new chair for my living room," I have re-introduced the measurement of location (and perhaps function) to my thinking.  Any additional thoughts about this purchase would necessarily introduce more measurements.  Is the chair a recliner?  Do you want it to rock?  What color?  Do you want it overstuffed?  Leather or fabric?  Quality of construction?  Metal or wood legs? Etc.  With these measurements re-introduced, we are prepared to evaluate real chairs for the possibility of purchase.


But what are measurements, other than facts about reality.  In terms of data, data is nothing more than specific facts about some thing.  They are measurements.  They are measurements of real world entity.  As Rand defines it:

Measurement is the identification of ... a quantitative relationship established by means of a standard that serves as a unit. - ITOE p. 7

Data are the result.  Data are the quantitative relationships recorded about a specific entity.

My next question delved into was how information relates to these concepts.  Unfortunately, I could find no definition of information in a dictionary that adequately captured the essential characteristics of this concept.  The definition I offer serves as a working definition.  With that disclaimer, I define information as a set of measurements that denote a perceptual concrete of a concept or set of concepts within a specific context.  If I say "Please provide me with all relevant information," I am requesting data about a specific context.  Not just any data though.  Information is data with meaning.  How do we establish meaning?  Meaning comes from concepts.  So in essence, information represents data re-introduced to relevant concepts within a specific context.  A short hand notation I used to help think about this was information = data + concepts.  The assumption is that the concepts define the context.  Since language serves as a set of symbols to denote concepts, a variation of the above notation could be written information = data + language.  Again, the assumption is that the language defines the context.

In computer terminology, programming languages are used to manipulate data in logically constructed ways in order to add meaning to numbers.  I believe the term programming language is very apt, in that the language is used to define the context in terms of a computer program.  This led to my last integration where information = data + computer program. With this integration, I believe it is possible to better understand the role of information systems and computer programs in helping us think and act.  While computers cannot replace our thoughts, they can add meaning to the vast abundance of data.  But the meaning is limited to the context established by program itself. 

So those are my thoughts.  I believe my overall approach to these concepts is sound, but I'm interesting in hearing your thoughts.

New Year Goals

As part of my 5 year goals, I have some goals to focus my attention this year.

For my career, I'm redesigning my Introduction to Information Systems class based on a hierarchy of knowledge. That will take up the bulk of my time this semester, but once complete, should greatly enhance my textbook project down the road.

I also plan on expanding on the research stream in business ethics by conducting one or two more surveys with the ethical instrument I've already developed, along with additional constructs.

In home life, we are still adapting to 3 children in the house and all the consequences that it entails.  Our budget is a bit constrained because our two oldest will both be attending a Montessori school this spring.  Hopefully, our son is accepted into a charter school this coming fall, alleviating some of our financial strain.  In the meantime, my wife wants to go back to school for either a law degree or a masters in economics.  Additional income will be very nice, so I may look into starting a web based business this summer for some additional passive income.  We may also invest in real estate.  With these options in mind, I would like to start at least 1 part-time business this summer.

My wife and I are also looking into ways to both start working out more.  It'll probably have to be something we can do from home because the logistics of getting to a gym or rec center seem to be halting workout progress.  Something more than just running or biking, because I want a more well round workout. 

I think those goals will be more than sufficient to keep me occupied for at least 6 months this year.