Words of Wisdom — June 28, 2014

Cicero On The Importance of Knowing History

“To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

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A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

“To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.”

– Marcus Tullius Cicero

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

The word "enough" stands boldly in black at the center, with incorrect spellings like "enugh," "enuph," "enuff," and "enuf" crossed out in red above and below, subtly highlighting the quirks of English spelling.

The Past

When enough is “enuf”: The strange and futile history of English spelling reform

In “Enough Is Enuf,” Gabe Henry traces the history of simplified spelling movements and the lessons they teach us about language.

People in early 20th-century attire gather outside a building, as an intriguing green geometric pattern overlays the scene. This blend of classic and modern elements evokes the innovative spirit of AI art.

High Culture

The cinematograph, the “noematograph,” and the future of AI art

Hugo-winning author Ken Liu explores what early cinema and Chinese poetry can teach us about AI’s potential as a new artistic medium.

Two side-by-side images of the Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula showcase different views with vibrant colors and star-filled backgrounds, embodying the great paradox of beauty within science.

Starts With A Bang

Science’s great paradox: we don’t know what we don’t know until we look

Our scientific instruments are constantly improving, revealing nature’s workings as never before. Without them, we’ll remain in the dark.

A person sits on a sidewalk near an escalator entrance, next to an overturned shopping cart on a metal grate.

The Present

Can science solve the poverty problem?

An evidence-based policy movement is arming the fight with tools and programs that are more effective than ever before.

A painting on an easel at the entrance of Plato's cave overlooks misty mountains, with a small fire flickering nearby.

Thinking

Plato’s cave and the stubborn persistence of ignorance

Plato’s cave metaphor illustrates the cognitive trap of ignorance, where we may be unaware of the limitations of our understanding.

Up Next

Surprising Science

A Call For Better Sex Education in Chinese Classrooms

A recent New York Times editorial detailed the rampant issue of child sexual abuse in China and the dire need for the government to better educate its population.