Scaling Knowledge

Scaling Knowledge focuses on the intersection of knowledge, technology, and human progress. It explores how innovation, intellectual exploration, and educational methods impact society and individual potential. The content covers startup strategies, societal progress through open-ended exploration, cognitive augmentation, the role of criticism and disobedience in advancement, and the implications of AI and dataism.

Startup Development Societal Progress Educational Methods Cognitive Augmentation Artificial Intelligence Dataism Health and Well-being Communication Enhancement Reading and Learning Techniques

The hottest Substack posts of Scaling Knowledge

And their main takeaways

Open-endedness in Society

196 implied HN points • 29 Mar 23
🚌 Education Research Novelty Goals Exploration Knowledge
  1. Objectives vs. Open-endedness: Consider if clearly-defined objectives help or hinder impactful discoveries.
  2. Education and Research: Question whether standardized curricula or open-ended curiosity leads to more success in children and scientists.
  3. Novelty Search: Embrace exploration of novel solutions in problem-solving, rather than just following objective-based approaches.

Why Job Displacement Predictions are Wrong: Explanations of Cognitive Automation

117 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🕹 Technology AI Automation Cognition ML Economics
  1. Predictions about job displacement due to large language models are often wrong because they lack explanations of how LLMs and human intelligence differ.
  2. Jobs are more likely to be augmented than automated by technologies like LLMs, as human creativity and autonomy are essential in many fields like software engineering, medicine, law, and media production.
  3. Regulations on AI and cognitive automation may hinder progress and knowledge creation, leading to unforeseen consequences and limiting the potential benefits of such technologies.

Spaced Repetition for Knowledge Creation

176 implied HN points • 04 Dec 22
  1. Spaced Repetition Systems can accelerate knowledge creation and help in solving problems efficiently.
  2. SRS eliminates forgetting by optimizing review intervals, allowing for retention of a vast amount of knowledge.
  3. Utilizing SRS enhances creativity and the brain's ability to combine existing knowledge to create new theories and ideas.
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Human Progress via Intellectual Progress

196 implied HN points • 21 Jul 22
  1. Knowledge is the key to solving problems and driving progress.
  2. Intelligence, creativity, and knowledge accumulation are essential for progress.
  3. Improving education, cognitive augmentation, and knowledge infrastructure are crucial for advancing human progress.

Knowledge: Burden or Boost?

78 implied HN points • 25 Nov 22
  1. The concept of burden of knowledge, where more knowledge is seen as hindering innovation, is flawed and doesn't consider the dynamics of knowledge growth.
  2. Knowledge does not grow linearly or geometrically, but through sudden bursts of progress and can start from a young age.
  3. Old and false knowledge is discarded, and new knowledge often involves fewer, deeper theories, compressing information for easier understanding and leading to innovation.

Criticism and The Ascent of Man

58 implied HN points • 28 Nov 22
  1. Criticism is essential for improvement and the source of new knowledge and solutions.
  2. Prohibiting criticism can lead to the spread of false beliefs and hinder progress.
  3. Embracing a culture of criticism can lead to intellectual enlightenment and progress in society.

Disobedience and Intelligence

39 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Innovation IQ AGI AI
  1. Disobedience can lead to innovation and improvement in society.
  2. IQ tests may not fully capture important aspects of intelligence like independent thinking.
  3. Disobedience is a key trait in developing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and testing it is a challenge.

The Science of Tools for Thought and Cognition Augmentation Software [Archive]

117 implied HN points • 13 Dec 21
  1. Humans have used tools for millions of years to augment their abilities, and now cognitive augmentation software is expanding our knowledge and work capabilities.
  2. Developing precise terminology and definitions in the field of Cognition Augmentation Software is crucial for advancements.
  3. Augmented cognition, measuring cognitive states, distributed cognition, and personal knowledge management are key areas that impact learning and memory augmentation.

Augmented Communication

19 implied HN points • 06 Feb 22
  1. Clear writing strategies can significantly improve communication efficiency.
  2. Precision in language, similar to mathematics, can enhance clarity and understanding.
  3. Using software tools for writing augmentation and parsing can aid in clearer communication.

Reading, its augmentation, and Reading while listening (RWL)

19 implied HN points • 18 Nov 21
  1. Reading While Listening, also known as immersive reading, is a beneficial reading augmentation technique that can enhance comprehension and reading speed.
  2. Understanding the science behind reading models like Simple View of Reading and Scarborough's Reading Rope can help categorize reading disabilities and break down reading abilities.
  3. Using Reading While Listening applications like Amazon Whispersync, Natural Reader, and Speechify can improve your reading experience with features like audio-visual synchronization, fast loading speed, and high-fidelity voices.

Dataism is eating the world: information flow at all costs [Archive]

0 implied HN points • 17 Jun 21
  1. Dataism values information flow above everything else, unlike traditional systems like Capitalism or Communism.
  2. Dataism sees the universe as data streams and measures an entity's value by its data processing power.
  3. Increasing diversity in information processors and improving communication infrastructure are key goals of Dataism.