The Sunday Brew #56
In this brew - Crypto Regulation in a picture | Cached Thoughts & Newcomb's Problem | COP 28 at Dubai, Must tells advertisers GFY & e/acc - a new age technology movement
Welcome to The Sunday Brew, weekly 1-2-3 newsletter by The Percolator. Every Sunday we drop in your inbox 1 story in a picture, 2 concepts, ideas or frameworks to expand your horizons and 3 news from the week, to keep you updated.
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ONE STORY IN A PICTURE
TWO IDEAS, FRAMEWORKS OR CONCEPTS
This week we bring to you two concepts - Cached Thoughts & Newcomb's Problem
Cached Thoughts
Cached thoughts are like mental shortcuts that our brains use to streamline information processing.
Think of your mind as a sophisticated computer with a cache—a temporary storage space that holds frequently accessed data. In the context of cognition, cached thoughts are mental patterns, concepts, or memories that have been accessed and processed before, creating neural pathways for quicker retrieval.
When you encounter a familiar situation or concept, your brain taps into these cached thoughts to make sense of the new information efficiently. It's a mechanism that aids in decision-making, problem-solving, and understanding the world around you. This process of mental caching is a fundamental aspect of learning and adapting, allowing you to navigate the complexities of life with a certain level of automaticity.
However, while cached thoughts provide efficiency, they can also contribute to biases and cognitive shortcuts. It's essential to balance the benefits of quick mental retrieval with critical thinking to ensure a nuanced and accurate understanding of the constantly evolving world. Recognizing and challenging cached thoughts when needed is a valuable skill in cultivating a flexible and open-minded perspective.
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Newcomb's Problem
Newcomb's Problem is a philosophical thought experiment that delves into decision theory and the intricacies of free will.
Conceived by William Newcomb, the scenario involves a super intelligent entity known as the Predictor, capable of accurately foreseeing an individual's choices. In this setup, two boxes are presented—a transparent one (Box B) and an opaque one (Box A). Before the decision point, the Predictor places a substantial amount of money in Box B, while Box A may either contain nothing or a more significant sum.
The dilemma emerges when faced with the decision: take only Box B or opt for both Box A and Box B. The Predictor, relying on its predictive prowess, adjusts the contents of Box A accordingly. If it anticipates the choice of taking only Box B, it places money in Box A; if it foresees both boxes being chosen, Box A remains empty. The paradox lies in the conflict between maximizing potential winnings by choosing only Box B based on faith in the Predictor's accuracy and the desire to claim both boxes and the larger sum.
This thought experiment has spurred debates on decision theory, causality, and the philosophical implications surrounding free will and determinism, offering no universally accepted resolution.
THREE NEWS FROM THE WEEK
"Unite, Act, Deliver" - COP 28 Starts in Dubai
28th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 20th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA). started on November 30 in Expo City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The theme of COP 28 is "Unite, Act, Deliver" and it is focused on accelerating climate action to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. Thereare a number of key outcomes expected from the conference, including:
An agreement to finalize the global goals for adaptation finance by 2024
A commitment to increase finance for developing countries to adapt to climate change
A call for all countries to strengthen their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by 2025
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Musk tells boycotting advertisers: “Go. Fuck. Yourself”
The tussle between X and its key revenue contributors - the advertisers have been ongoing since Elon Musk has taken over and renamed Twitter. It has been claimed that since the takeover, and an free-speech absolutist approach by new leadership has resulted in to increased hate speech on the platform, and thus many civil society groups have appealed to brands to stop advertising on X.
On being asked about such boycotts and threat of brands stop advertising on X, at an interview at the New York Times DealBook Summit, Elon Musk said, “I hope they stop. Don't advertise. If someone's going to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go fuck yourself. Go. Fuck. Yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is.”
Musk's comments were widely condemned, with many people criticizing him for being disrespectful and unprofessional. Some people also argued that his comments could further damage X's reputation and make it more difficult for the company to attract advertisers. Read More »»»
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Do you know about e/acc movement ?
Effective Accelerationism has taken the internet by storm over past weeks - at least the technology corner of it. t is a variant of accelerationism that promotes the rapid development of technology, believing that this will lead to a more prosperous and fulfilling future for humanity. E/acc proponents argue that we should not try to control or slow down the development of technology, but instead embrace it and let it take us where it will.
A provocative X account - BasedBeffJezos is being credited as the founder and “patron saint” of the movement. The e/acc movement is controversial, with some people arguing that it is dangerous and could lead to unpredictable and potentially harmful consequences. Read More»»»
The Sunday Brew by The Percolator brings to you curated news on tech, business & entrepreneurship, from across the internet to give your week a perfect start.
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