Sunday, September 01, 2013
Neat idea
Some discussion program on BBC this morning ended up with the idea that dancing, or at least gestural communication, is far more likely to be a 'universal language' than mathematics.
Makes complete sense. If the ETs have bodies with moving parts that they use to sense and manipulate their environment, we can probably communicate with them by motions.
Gestural communication among mammals is obvious but not a real test of the idea because we're deeply similar.
Better test: Cephalopods, who have tremendous intelligence and manipulative limbs but share very little genetic connection with us. You can find lots of videos of confrontations between humans and cuttlefish, or humans and octopuses. It's clear that each side understands the other's intentions to some extent.
The scientist's dream of math as universal language has never made sense. As Polistra noted earlier, you can develop the technology needed to signal or reach other planets without ever using symbolic math, so you can't assume that math must be the 'least common denominator' between critters on different planets. For fuck's sake, even humans within the same ethnic group and economic class and family don't use math to communicate! We use a mix of words and gestures.
When we do use math, it's always for the exact opposite purpose: to establish our membership in a mysterious priesthood that owns specialized secrets. Math says "I know things you don't know, and I'm going to prevent you from learning. Nyah nyah nyah."
Gestural communication among mammals is obvious but not a real test of the idea because we're deeply similar.
Better test: Cephalopods, who have tremendous intelligence and manipulative limbs but share very little genetic connection with us. You can find lots of videos of confrontations between humans and cuttlefish, or humans and octopuses. It's clear that each side understands the other's intentions to some extent.
The scientist's dream of math as universal language has never made sense. As Polistra noted earlier, you can develop the technology needed to signal or reach other planets without ever using symbolic math, so you can't assume that math must be the 'least common denominator' between critters on different planets. For fuck's sake, even humans within the same ethnic group and economic class and family don't use math to communicate! We use a mix of words and gestures.
When we do use math, it's always for the exact opposite purpose: to establish our membership in a mysterious priesthood that owns specialized secrets. Math says "I know things you don't know, and I'm going to prevent you from learning. Nyah nyah nyah."Labels: Danbo
¶ 4:05 AM
