MARSMARS athematics rt eligion ex ience CONTACT, March. 13, 2004.
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Transcript of MARSMARS athematics rt eligion ex ience CONTACT, March. 13, 2004.
MARS
athematics
rt
eligion
exience
CONTACT, March. 13, 2004CONTACT, March. 13, 2004
CONTACT, March. 13, 2004CONTACT, March. 13, 2004
Math, Art, Religion, Science:
4 Complementary Belief Systems
Carlo Séquin,
University of California, Berkeley
Why This Topic ?Why This Topic ?
I wanted to fit the Conference Ttitle.
Stimulated by last year’s conference…
-- in particular by this picture:
The Face on MarsThe Face on Mars
Picture taken by Viking Orbiter in 1976
Face on Mars Close-upFace on Mars Close-up
High-res. photo, Global Surveyor, 4/8/2001
How Do We Make Sense How Do We Make Sense of the Unknown?of the Unknown?
Different people have
different mental frameworks, belief systems
or use them in different order
to come up with possible “explanations”.
OutlineOutline
Look at four dominant forces that have shaped the human mind over the last few thousand years.
Fill in this matrix: CHARACTERISTICS
Math
Art
Religion
Science
Look at some test examples …
CharacteristicsCharacteristics Output:
What kind of beliefs does the system deliver ?
Basis: Where do these beliefs come from ?
Method: How are these beliefs found/created/developed ?
Evaluation: How do we know if they are valid ?
Use: What is this belief system good for ?
MathMath Output:
Theorems
Basis: Axioms, previous theorems
Method: Evolutionary steps, revolutionary inspiration
Evaluation: Consistency, formal proofs
Use: Creates a synthetic framework based on logic.Foundation for most of the sciences.
ScienceScience Output:
Models of the physical world
Basis: Observations, Experiments
Method: Educated guesses, hypotheses, tests
Evaluation: Consistency. Can you make useful predictions ?
Use: Makes models of the observable world.--> Understanding, technology, civilization.
ArtArt
Output: “Pieces”, “installations”, …
Basis: Observations, ideas, emotions, beliefs, …
Method: Inspirations, visions, having a message, …
Evaluation: Done by ( culture clique (?) in ) society
Use: Creates new artifacts based on imagination.Make life richer. Give beauty, joy, entertainment, …Provoke, put established assumptions in question.
ReligionReligion Output:
Pronouncements, rules, “truth”
Basis: Epiphanies, revelations, philosophical insights
Method: Authority, tradition, charisma of leader
Evaluation: ‘ You are not supposed to question it ! ’
Use: Addresses “un-answerable” questions.Gives meaning, hope, ethical guidance…
Overlap of these SystemsOverlap of these Systems
Religion once was the only system:
It explained nature
It provided a framework for thinking
It provided ethical guidance
It answered “un-answerable” questions
It provided rituals, spiritual enrichment, beauty ...
Today Religion is more compartmentalized !
Contention between SystemsContention between Systems
The two frameworks operate an different principles:
RELIGION – SCIENCE
authority – evidence
revelation – discovery
tradition – innovation
true believers – critical thinkers
Science and Religion are NOT the same(as the Templeton Foundation wants to imply).
Creationism is NOT a science.
PuzzlesPuzzles
Everybody subscribes to some degree to all of the above four frameworks;there are personal differences in the mix and the priority among these systems:
When you encounter something new, foreign,
how do you try to make sense out of it ?
which belief system do you enlist (first) ?
which interpretation will win in the end ?
My Attempt at ClassificationMy Attempt at Classification
Created by:
Intelligence Nature
Meaningfulmessage,or object
M
Systematic,repeatable
process
S
Randomone-time
occurrence
R
Artistic,or playfulartifact
A
I will display some intriguing(?) pictures:
Check yourself, how you interpret them...
Possible Answers,
with respective
probabilities:
Self-TestSelf-Test
Meaningfulmessage,or object
Systematic,repeatable
process
Randomone-time
occurrence
Artistic,or playfulartifact
Let’s start with another Let’s start with another mysterious example...mysterious example...
Nazca, PeruNazca, Peru Are these ancient landing strips ?
More Strange Lines…More Strange Lines…
PetroglyphsPetroglyphsBut what does it mean ?
GraffitiGraffiti
Faces on Faces on the Rocksthe Rocks
Panorama from Mars Rover OpportunityPanorama from Mars Rover Opportunity
Miracles of Photoshop ?
StrangeStrangeLife formsLife forms
Codex SeraphinianusCodex Seraphinianus
Codex SeraphinianusCodex Seraphinianus
Clouds in the SkyClouds in the Sky
UFO ?
Lenticular cloud
Fire in the SkyFire in the Sky
Volcanic Vent Hole ? Volcanic Vent Hole ?
Art by Andy GoldsworthyArt by Andy Goldsworthy
Andy Goldsworthy – Stone FormationsAndy Goldsworthy – Stone Formations
Andy GoldsworthyAndy Goldsworthy– Ice Formations– Ice Formations
AntarcticaAntarctica
2001 ?2001 ?
Breckenridge CO, January 2004Breckenridge CO, January 2004Snowsculpting ChampionshipsSnowsculpting Championships
“Turning a Snowball Inside-Out”
““Turning a Snowball Inside-Out”Turning a Snowball Inside-Out”
A model of the Morin Surface
= Half-way point of sphere eversion
The challenge is to turn a sphere inside-out: Surface may pass through itself,
but no ripping, puncturing, creasing allowed,e.g., this is not an acceptable solution:
PINCH
Sphere Eversion ProcessSphere Eversion Process But there are more contorted paths
that can achieve the desired goal.
Bernard Morin figured out one such path.
Charles Pugh made models from chicken wire.
Nelson Max made a first computer simulation.
Gridded Models for TransparencyGridded Models for Transparency
3D-Print from Zcorp SLIDE virtual model
Restructured Morin surface to fit block size: (10’ x 10’ x 12’)
Shape Adaption for Snow SculptureShape Adaption for Snow Sculpture
The Final ModelThe Final Model
Day1Day1
Day2Day2
Day3Day3
Day 4Day 4
Day4Day4
Day5Day5
Honorable Mention:
“Most AmbitiousDesign”
““Paradigm Shift” (British Columbia)Paradigm Shift” (British Columbia)
““Year of the Dragon” USA - TennesseeYear of the Dragon” USA - Tennessee
Why Do People Do Such Things ??Why Do People Do Such Things ??
All this effort for a short-lived artifact ?
The joy of creating something of your own design …
The pride of astounding people ...
Crop Crop CirclesCircles
Crop CirclesCrop Circles
Milk Hill Crop CirclesMilk Hill Crop Circles
Milk-Hill Design AnalysisMilk-Hill Design Analysis
http://bcornet.homestead.com/files/MilkHill/milkhill.htm
409 Circles
Milk Hill crop formation is exactly the same design as the interior of the Raelian Symbol which Raelians have been wearing publicly since 1990.
Crop Circle ConstructionCrop Circle Construction
26 person-hours of crop squashing,http://www.geocities.com/pduchesne3/
Probably not of extraterrestrial origin !
General ConclusionsGeneral Conclusions
Mars has been an enigma for a long time.
Fuzzy observations (channels, face,…) have led to fantastic, speculative interpretations.
This was a good take-off point for a reviewof the multiple channels through which we form our beliefs and seek interpretation.
There are still many strange things out there that we do not currently understand.
There is only a minuscule probability that any of them are due to extraterrestrial intelligence.
Is There Life Out There ?Is There Life Out There ?
No scientific answer yet.
My personal belief: YES, definitely !
(based on statistics and the fact that the sun and the earth are not such a special case as far as solar systems go)
When will we find it ?
My guess: In the next 10 to 20 years.
Is There Intelligent Life Out There ?Is There Intelligent Life Out There ?
Yes, probably somewhere in the universe.
When will we make contact with them ?
I have no idea …
Any guess would have to come from an estimate how long a technical civilization can survive. Our one and only data point says: probably at least 100 years…
QUESTIONS ?QUESTIONS ?
DISCUSSION ?DISCUSSION ?