Exploring Memory Span, Quantum Thought & the Golden Ratio

[Galteeth]

Memory span as the "quantum" of thought plus golden ratio the basis of everything?

I found this paper linked to in wikipedia's article on information theory. After a little bit of background checking, it seems the authors (or at least one of them) is known as being controversial for their racial theories and politics.
The paper seemed interesting certainly, although the way it was sort of all over the place seemed a bit unusual for a scientific paper.


So my question (and not sure if this even the right forum for this)- Is this a bunch of bunk, or are the factual statements he made (that are mostly cited) accurate?

http://www.v-weiss.de/chaos.html

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Moved from S&D.

Not sure about the best place for this one; the paper seems to meet our minimum requirement for a regular science forum.

 

[Frame Dragger]

This shouldn't even BE here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkmar_Weiss

@Galteeth: This paper is "all over the place", because it's patterns and math being found and then ruminated over, massaged, and then made to fit the authors' preconceptions.

This is what happens when very bright people are blinded by their agendas. As for Harald Weiss, I've never heard of him, and the only reference I can find has him as a COMPOSER?!... which makes sense, given that Volkmar has always had interests as wide as his prejudices, and truly is a jack of all trades, master of none. To be fair, I give him too much credit.

http://www.v-weiss.de/wissen-e.html

Regarding the book he's selling (what a shock)... his OWN description:

This is an exceptional book ... . It leaves the protected intellectual field of 'pure science' and extends psychology into the battle field of politics, sociodemographic and economic statistics and statements by promoting ideas which are partly contrary to the present Zeitgeist. ... It is recommended for everybody who engages in intelligence research and wants to convey the idea of the relevance of this concept to all areas of social and political life, and it should be recommended to students of psychology. It would be useful to have an English translation.

This is the kind of person I can imagine yearning for twin studies circa the EARLY 40's. :grumpy:

This isn't science, it isn't medicine, it's utter and complete horse****, devoid of substance. His entire notion of memory duration and IQ as being essentially linked is sophomoric, and his interpretations of EEGs are just WRONG. His math, I don't know, but who cares? A solution only matters in medicine, as in physics, if it has a physical reality... more so in medicine and psychology. This "Dr." is disgusting.

 

[Gokul43201]

Moved from S&D.

Not sure about the best place for this one; the paper seems to meet our minimum requirement for a regular science forum.

This "paper" is published in a journal founded and edited by the rather famous crank: Mohamed El Naschie. The history of the journal, and the tricks used by El Naschie to artificially raise its impact factor through self-citation of hundreds of essentially unreviewed crackpot papers, have been chronicled in several blogs and news stories (from John Baez's blog to Nature News). After widespread attention was drawn to the abuse, Elsevier announced that El Naschie was to retire (this was back in 2009) as editor of the journal.

I have no doubt that this paper would not be published in most any respectable journal, and that it got published in "Chaos,..." simply because it played by El naschie's rules and cited him heavily, mentioning him by name in the abstract, etc.

 

[LudusRex]

As a scientist, it is important to critically evaluate any information presented, especially when it comes to controversial topics. While the paper you have mentioned may have some interesting ideas, it is important to approach it with caution and skepticism.

Firstly, the fact that one of the authors is known for their controversial views and theories should raise red flags. It is important to consider the potential bias and agenda behind the paper.

Additionally, the paper being "all over the place" and not following a typical scientific format is also a cause for concern. Scientific papers should follow a clear and logical structure, with evidence and data to support their claims.

In terms of the factual statements made in the paper, it is always important to fact-check and verify information from credible sources. If the information is not supported by reputable sources or goes against established scientific principles, it should be approached with caution.

In terms of the specific topic of memory span, quantum thought, and the golden ratio, these are all complex and multi-faceted concepts that require thorough research and understanding. It is not accurate to claim that memory span is the "quantum" of thought, as thought processes involve much more than just memory. Similarly, while the golden ratio may have aesthetic and mathematical significance, it cannot be considered the basis of everything.

In conclusion, it is important to approach this paper and its claims with a critical and skeptical mindset. It is always best to seek out multiple sources and reputable experts in the field to gain a well-rounded understanding of complex topics. As a scientist, it is essential to base our conclusions and theories on evidence and data, rather than personal beliefs or biases.