Aphorisms, Maxims and Heuristics from this page.
(temporary posting)
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https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8nhAlfIk3QIbnNhNlE4cFQ5YjA/edit?usp=sharing …moreaphorisms.pdf – Google Drivedrive.google.com
The Four Bs: Brain, Balls, Brawn, and Business Sense.
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You can have 4 out of 4 (Thales), 3 out of 4 (Plato, who had poor practical sense), 2 out of 4 (most great scientists and great businesspersons), 1 out of 4 (the typical “incremental” modern academics, or people you tend to find in jail), or 0 out of 4 (journalists).
(Exception for journalists who take personal risks, of course. Also the “balls” tends to be present in women at least as often as in men).
via The Four Bs: Brain, Balls, Brawn, and Business… – Nassim Nicholas Taleb.
On the other hand, it also seems that Taleb’s ethical basis is very traditional. He admits to be a faithful follower of the Orthodox Church, and shows no desire to be in the least critical of its metaphysical rigidities. It seems rather odd that he can blame scientists for cherry-picking data but not priests for cherry-picking the Bible, and react strongly to economic bigwigs who unethically subject others to risks, whilst apparently letting off the Church, which has been doing exactly the same thing through its tithing systems from many centuries. Taleb rightly identifies ways that tradition can be antifragile, and organically develop responses to a variety of conditions that are far more effective in the long-term than rationalised interventions. However, he seems blind to the metaphysical dogmas that also often accompany tradition, and the fragility and exploitation that often accompany these dogmas.
via ‘Antifragile’ by Nassim Nicholas Taleb | Middle Way Society.
HatTip to Dave Lull.
Contra the prevailing belief, “success” isn’t being on top of a hierarchy, it is standing outside all hierarchies.
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Or, even better, for those who can, not being aware of, or not giving a f*** about hierarchy.
via Contra the prevailing belief, “success” isn’t… – Nassim Nicholas Taleb.
Much of the difference between what is heaven and what is hell is branding.
[Note for commentators: I am not talking about afterlife]
via Much of the difference between what is heaven… – Nassim Nicholas Taleb.