Skip to content

knowledge

The Power of Knowledge Sharing and Education

image generated by ChatGPT, image generator - prompt

Create an image that symbolizes the power of knowledge sharing and education. The scene should feature a diverse group of people exchanging books, ideas, and technology in a vibrant, modern setting. In the background, there could be elements representing historical knowledge, such as ancient scrolls and the Library of Alexandria, merging seamlessly with modern educational tools like computers and tablets. The atmosphere should be bright and inspiring, with visual metaphors for growth and enlightenment, such as light bulbs, open books with glowing pages, and interconnected networks symbolizing the spread of knowledge.

About this post

This post is result of an interaction between Antonio Feijao UK and ChatGPT.

timeline of major historical events

https://www.antoniofeijao.com/timeline/ - Example of a timeline with major historical events that, if prevented, could re-share history as we know it -


Preserving the Library of Alexandria

Historical Context

The Library of Alexandria, established in the 3rd century BC in Egypt, was one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. It housed countless works of literature, science, philosophy, and other fields of knowledge. The library was a symbol of the Hellenistic quest for knowledge and intellectual curiosity.

Potential Change

  • Action: Prevent the multiple destructions and fires that led to the loss of the Library of Alexandria's vast collection.
  • Method: Ensure better protection, promote the copying and dissemination of texts, and establish stronger cultural and political support for the library.

Potential Benefits

  1. Acceleration of Scientific and Technological Advances:
  2. Preservation of ancient knowledge in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and engineering could accelerate the development of modern science and technology.
  3. Earlier dissemination of scientific principles and methods across different civilizations could lead to more rapid innovation.

  4. Cultural and Intellectual Flourishing:

  5. A continuous exchange of ideas among scholars from different cultures and regions would promote a more integrated and advanced intellectual community.
  6. Philosophical and ethical discussions preserved and developed further could lead to more enlightened societies.

  7. Avoidance of the Dark Ages:

  8. The retention of classical knowledge could mitigate the intellectual stagnation that occurred in Europe during the Middle Ages.
  9. Greater continuity of learning and innovation might result in earlier Renaissance-like periods in multiple regions.

  10. Global Impact on Education:

  11. Earlier establishment of educational institutions and libraries worldwide, inspired by the model of the Library of Alexandria.
  12. A tradition of valuing and preserving knowledge could become more deeply ingrained in global cultures.

  13. Enhanced Cross-Cultural Understanding:

  14. With a central repository of knowledge accessible to scholars from around the world, the library could facilitate greater understanding and collaboration among different cultures and civilizations.

Potential Risks

  1. Unpredictable Cultural Shifts:
  2. The preservation and centralization of knowledge might influence cultural and political power dynamics in unforeseen ways.
  3. The dominant role of one intellectual tradition could overshadow others, potentially limiting diverse perspectives.

  4. Technological Overreliance:

  5. Rapid advancements in technology without corresponding ethical and philosophical development might lead to new challenges and societal issues.
  6. The potential for technological misuse or environmental impacts could be heightened without proper safeguards.

  7. Resistance to Change:

  8. Societal resistance to new ideas or technologies can slow the adoption of progressive educational practices.

The Power of Knowledge Sharing and Education

Accelerating Scientific and Technological Progress

  • Enhanced Innovation: By sharing knowledge widely, new ideas can be built upon more quickly, leading to faster technological and scientific advancements.
  • Collaborative Research: Global collaboration in research can tackle complex problems more efficiently, leading to breakthroughs in various fields such as medicine, renewable energy, and information technology.

Promoting Social and Economic Development

  • Improved Quality of Life: Access to education empowers individuals, leading to better job opportunities, economic growth, and improved living standards.
  • Reduction of Poverty: Education is a key factor in reducing poverty, as it equips people with the skills needed to improve their economic situations.

Fostering Equality and Social Justice

  • Equal Opportunities: Providing access to education helps to level the playing field, giving everyone the chance to succeed regardless of their background.
  • Empowerment: Education empowers marginalized communities, promoting social justice and reducing inequalities.

Enhancing Cultural and Intellectual Exchange

  • Cultural Understanding: Sharing knowledge across cultures fosters mutual understanding and respect, reducing conflicts and promoting peace.
  • Intellectual Growth: Exposure to diverse perspectives enriches intellectual growth and creativity.

Addressing Global Challenges

  • Climate Change: Educated populations are more likely to understand and act on climate change, leading to more sustainable practices and policies.
  • Public Health: Knowledge sharing in public health can prevent the spread of diseases and promote healthier lifestyles.

Promoting Democratic and Informed Societies

  • Informed Citizens: Educated citizens are better equipped to participate in democratic processes, leading to more effective and representative governance.
  • Critical Thinking: Education fosters critical thinking, enabling individuals to make informed decisions and challenge misinformation.

Barriers to Knowledge and Education Sharing

Economic and Resource Constraints

  1. Funding and Resources: Many regions, especially in developing countries, lack the financial resources to build and maintain educational infrastructure, provide teaching materials, and hire qualified educators.
  2. Economic Inequality: Wealth disparities mean that wealthier individuals and nations can afford better education, while poorer populations struggle with limited access.

Political and Institutional Barriers

  1. Government Policies: Some governments may prioritize other areas over education, or there may be political instability that disrupts educational systems.
  2. Bureaucracy: Inefficient bureaucratic processes can hinder the implementation and scaling of educational programs.

Cultural and Social Factors

  1. Cultural Norms: In some cultures, education, especially for certain groups (e.g., girls or minorities), may not be valued or encouraged.
  2. Language Barriers: The diversity of languages can make it challenging to create and disseminate educational materials that are accessible to everyone.

Technological and Infrastructure Challenges

  1. Lack of Technology: In many parts of the world, people lack access to the internet, computers, and other technologies that facilitate modern education.
  2. Infrastructure Deficits: Poor infrastructure, such as unreliable electricity and inadequate school buildings, hampers the delivery of education.

Intellectual Property and Information Control

  1. Intellectual Property Laws: Patents and copyrights can restrict access to educational materials, research papers, and textbooks.
  2. Information Control: Some entities may restrict access to information to maintain control or competitive advantage.

Social and Psychological Barriers

  1. Misinformation and Disinformation: The spread of false information can undermine educational efforts and create confusion about what is credible knowledge.
  2. Resistance to Change: Societal resistance to new ideas and innovations can slow the adoption of progressive educational practices.

Strategic and Competitive Reasons

  1. Competitive Advantage: Nations and corporations sometimes withhold knowledge to maintain a competitive edge in the global market.
  2. Security Concerns: Knowledge in fields like technology and science may be restricted due to national security concerns.

Addressing These Barriers

To overcome these barriers, a multifaceted approach is required:

  1. Investing in Education: Governments and international organizations need to prioritize funding for education and infrastructure.
  2. Policy Reforms: Implementing policies that promote equitable access to education and reduce bureaucratic hurdles is essential.
  3. Cultural Shifts: Promoting the value of education in all cultures and addressing gender and minority disparities.
  4. Technological Solutions: Expanding internet access and providing affordable educational technologies can bridge the gap.
  5. Open Access Initiatives: Encouraging open access to research and educational resources can help break down barriers to knowledge.
  6. Global Cooperation: International collaboration and the sharing of best practices can enhance educational systems worldwide.
  7. Combating Misinformation: Efforts to improve media literacy and critical thinking skills are crucial to counteract misinformation.

Conclusion

While significant barriers exist to the widespread sharing of knowledge and education, addressing these challenges through concerted efforts can unlock the potential for significant benefits to humanity. Prioritizing equitable access to education and fostering a culture that values knowledge sharing are critical steps toward a brighter and more inclusive future.


Happy learning

by Antonio Feijao UK

Level of IQ of the smartest people on Earth

See this list of the smartest people ever on Earth, listed by their level of IQ! With links to Wikipedia to read more about these genius. The purpose of this list is to inspire others and myself. Smartness will be determined by IQ number. IQ does not calculate intelligence. Someone who does badly at IQ tests can be brilliant at other things, like arts, playing music, and dancing.


Stephen Hawking

  • Stephen Hawking - possible - IQ of 160, but probably closer to IQ of 180

Stephen Hawking

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking

  • Born 8 January 1942, Oxford, England, United Kingdom

  • Died 14 March 2018 (aged 76), Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

  • 1 in 10.000 people have his IQ

  • Discovered many things about black holes, like black holes could die by leaking energy
  • Working with other scientists, we invented important theories about the Big Bang

Albert Einstein

  • Albert Einstein - estimated - IQ from 160 to 190, so the middle would be IQ of 175, but probably he had more

Albert Einstein

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein

  • Born 14 March 1879, Ulm, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire

  • Died 18 April 1955 (aged 76), Princeton, New Jersey, United States

  • 1 in 700.000 people have his IQ

  • Probably the most famous scientist ever
  • Known for this Theory of Relativity
  • The equation E = mc^2 - (Energy = mass multiplied by square of speed-of-light)
  • Jewish, escape from Germany
  • When nazis came in to power, Germany was in the process of making a nuclear weapon. He wrote a letter to the US recommending to make a nuke.
  • Later, Einstein regretted working on the Bomb (Nuclear Bomb)

Bobby Fischer

  • Bobby Fischer - possible - IQ of 180

Bobby Fischer

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Fischer

  • Born March 9, 1943, Chicago, Illinois, US

  • Died January 17, 2008 (aged 64), Reykjavík, Iceland

  • 1 in 3.500.000 people have his IQ

  • The most known chess players of all time
  • During Cold War, Soviets and USA organised a chess match between Boris Spassky (best Soviet Player) and Bobby Fischer. A battle to show which country was superior
  • Bobby won
  • After this match, Bobby stopped playing public chess for decades

Galileo Galilei

  • Galileo Galilei - estimated - IQ close to 185

Galileo Galilei

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei

  • Born 15 February 1564, Pisa, Duchy of Florence
  • Died 8 January 1642 (aged 77), Arcetri, Grand Duchy of Tuscany

  • 1 in 18.000.000 people have his IQ

  • Galileo lived many years ago, the IQ level is based on the age in which he started walking, talking, reading and performing various tasks
  • Galileo is know as the "Father of modern astronomy"
  • Made a Telescope (however, he did not invented it)
  • Zoom 30 times with the telescope and observed the skies doing many discoveries
  • Religious inquisition almost killed him for claiming that Earth goes around the Sun

Garry Kasparov

  • Garry Kasparov - estimated - IQ of about 187

Garry Kasparov

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garry_Kasparov

  • Born 13 April 1963 (age 56), Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union (now Baku, Azerbaijan)

  • 1 in 37.000.000 people have his IQ

  • Garry Kasparov is one of the best chess players of all time
  • Ranked world number 1 chess player for 225 out of 228 months
  • Scientists created a chess computer name Deep Blue
  • Deep Blue computer was capable of evaluating 200.000.000 chess positions per second
  • Garry Kasparov still managed to win a few rounds
  • Youngest ever undisputed world chess champion in 1985 at age of 22

Isaac Newton

  • Isaac Newton - estimated - IQ at 190

Isaac Newton

  • Isaac Newton

  • Born 4 January 1643 [O.S. 25 December 1642], Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, Lincolnshire, England

  • Died 31 March 1727 (aged 84) [O.S. 20 March 1726], Kensington, Middlesex, England

  • 1 in 107.000.000 people have his IQ

  • Most influential scientist ever
  • Isaac Newton three laws of motion still remain excellent approximations at the scales and speeds of everyday life
  • He made those laws 200 years ago
  • Gravity is less enigmatic thanks to him
  • Back in the day people believed that everything falls on earth, Isaac Newton believed that all object attracted each other
  • Isaac Newton proved that all the planets were held in place by the sun's gravity

Christopher Langan

  • Christopher Langan - estimated - IQ of 202

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/ChrisLanganP.png

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Langan

  • Born March 25, 1952, San Francisco, California, U.S.

  • 1 in 10.000.000.000 people have his IQ

  • In 1999, as part of an interview, langan did an IQ test which was provided by neuropsychologist
  • Works as a Horse Rancher
  • Develop a "Theory of the relationship between mind and reality"
  • Proven the existence of God after defining what God really is.

Following people are so smart that they make IQ scoring obsolete


Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

  • Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe - estimated - IQ of 205

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Wolfgang_von_Goethe

  • Born 28 August 1749, Free Imperial City of Frankfurt, Holy Roman Empire

  • Died 22 March 1832 (aged 82), Weimar, Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, German Confederation

  • Johann is one of the best writers in history

  • The course of his works, he uses 90.000 words, almost three times Shakespeare's total
  • He was also very quick, could do a poem in a matter of minutes
  • Studied Natural Science
  • Wrote several works on morphology and colour theory
  • He was everywhere and what he did, he did it almost perfectly

Leonardo da Vinci

  • Leonardo da Vinci - estimated - IQ of 220

Leonardo da Vinci

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci

  • Born 14/15 April 1452, Vinci, Republic of Florence (present-day Italy)

  • Died 2 May 1519 (aged 67), Clos Lucé, Amboise, Kingdom of France

  • There are sceptics with reasonable reasons to disagree with this IQ level

  • People you can paint as good as Leonardo, shows high intellect, attention to details and good visualisation
  • Leonardo also is renowned in the fields of Civil Engineering, Chemistry, Geology, Geometry, Hydrodynamics, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Optics, Physics, Pyrotechnics and Zoology
  • Leonardo conceived ideas vastly ahead of his own time, like parachute, helicopter, armoured fighting vehicle (tank) and many more numerous ideas

Marilyn Vos Savant

  • Marilyn Vos Savant IQ of 228

Marilyn Vos Savant

Photo credits

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_vos_Savant

  • Born August 11, 1946, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.

  • Arguable the smartest woman

  • Listed in the Guinness Book of records for having the highest IQ of 228
  • American magazine columnist, author, lecturer and playwright
  • Solved some science problems like Monty Hall problem
  • Held a membership in a secret hight intelligence society called Mega Society
  • only 1 in 1.000.000 people can pass the test and become a member

Terence Tao

  • Terence Tao IQ of 230

Terence Tao

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terence_Tao

  • Born 17 July 1975, Adelaide, South Australia

  • Today, the person with highest IQ of 230 is Terence Tao

  • Extraordinary mathematical abilities from an early age
  • Attended university-level mathematics courses at the age of 9
  • Won Mathematics Olympiad gold medal at age of 12
  • Become University Professor at the age of 24 at UCLA
  • Remains the youngest person ever appointed to that rank by the institution
  • Accomplished many things in mathematics

Nikola Tesla

  • Nikola Tesla - estimated - IQ of 235

Nikola Tesla

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla

  • Born 10 July 1856, Smiljan, Austrian Empire (modern-day Croatia)

  • Died 7 January 1943 (aged 86), New York City, United States

  • The myth, the legend, the icon

  • True or not true story, someone asked Albert Einstein "How it felt to be the smartest man on Earth", and Einstein answered "I would not know. Ask Nikola Tesla"
  • Tesla was ahead of time, some of his ideas and solutions are still a mystery
  • Discovered the Alternating current, which is cheaper to transport than direct current
  • Constructed the first Hydro-electric Power Plant
  • Discovered X-rays, later implemented in the medical field
  • Concept of making wireless transmission of electricity
  • Unfortunately, he did not have limitless funding
  • Alva Edison were minding their own business

"If you want to find the secrets fo the Universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration." - Nikola Tesla


Carl Gauss

  • Carl Gauss - believed to be - IQ from 250 to 300

Carl Gauss

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Friedrich_Gauss

  • Born 30 April 1777, Brunswick, Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

  • Died 23 February 1855 (aged 77), Göttingen, Kingdom of Hanover, German Confederation

  • One of the greatest mathematicians of all time is Carl Gauss

  • When he was 3 years old, he told his father that he had incorrectly measured something on his complicated payroll and he was right
  • Taught himself to read
  • Made numerous contributions with Number Theory, Geometry, Probability Theory, Planetary Astronomy, The THeory of Functions and Potential Theory.
  • Solved many mathematical problems, one of the problems stymied mathematicians for 2.000 years, Carl Gauss solved it in few months

William James Sidis

  • William James Sidis IQ of 275

William James Sidis

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_James_Sidis

  • Born April 1, 1898, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

  • Died July 17, 1944 (aged 46), South Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

  • When someone says "Child Prodigy", this is the man that should come to your mind

  • Entered Harvard at age 11
  • Able to speak in about 25 languages and dialects
  • By age 8 he even constructed his own languange
  • At young age he lectured Harvard Mathematical Club on 4-Dimensional Bodies
  • It looked like he would become a famous scientist but later he went to seclusion
  • He hated the attention
  • It makes sense, people that smart feel alone in the society
  • In his book "The animate and the inanimate" he kind predicted Black Holes
  • Book link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Animate_and_the_Inanimate

Millenniums Problems

If you think you are smart, if you solve 1 millennium problem, you will get 1.000.000 $(not by me, though!)

Currently, there are 7 problems

  • P vs. NP Problem
  • Riemann Hypothesis
  • Yang-Mills and Mass Gap
  • Navier-Stokes Equation
  • Hodge Conjecture
  • Poincaré Conjecture
  • Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture

Grigori Perelman

Grigori Perelman

  • Born 13 June 1966, Leningrad, Soviet Union

Grigori_Perelman solved one of the problems, the Poincaré Conjecture

It took years for many mathematicians to understand his solutions

He was offered 1 million dollars and fields medal for it but he said no thanks

He just went back to live with his mother in St Peterburg


Additional notes

I hope you find this post inspirational.

Other areas to explore could be STEAM_fields, which are defined science, and technology, interpreted through engineering, and the (liberal) arts, and based in mathematics.


Credits

Build this list with inspiration from the video https://youtu.be/Drzz7Ayzij0 by MR SLAV.

Images from wikipedia.org


Happy learning

Antonio Feijao UK