Learning Through Principles
When I studied my first degree (Chemistry) my tutor commented that, for some topics, it is easier to learn the principles as opposed to the detail. This is the challenge of being introduced to Systems Thinking the teaching starts with methods each with great detail but presented without any overall principles. The principles remain obscured in the method or approaches and the wide variety of approaches are presented in different styles, by different authors from different times. Together the tapestry if background information is disparate, diffuse and detailed. It is difficult to access all this information let alone comprehend it.
All new sciences start with "stamp collecting" - the patient accumulation of multicoloured facts which are then stuck into an album until a pattern emerges. This pattern is known as theory and is used to predict other patterns of facts, which may or may not turn out to be correct. Those new patterns which do emerge are then used to create yet more theory and so the subject progresses.
The Economist, Science & Technology Nov 30th 1996
Structure by Questions
I had been attempting to write a book on the subject but the serial presentation of the muddle is the wrong format, there is no coherent history or thread of evolution just a seemingly random set of ideas from disparate thinkers working in different fields often oblivious of other’s work (similar or not). To extract the common or contrasting principles requires encyclopaedic knowledge and an agility of thinking styles to develop a coherent mapping of some genius ideas.
The approach here is to use AI (more properly the combination of semantic search, summarisation and standardisation) to produce a new algebra of comparison and contrast. The mathematics behind AI is one of average or consensus whereas ideas and opinions are the domain of difference and divergence. Our interrogation of the various ideas needs to be on their intrinsic merit and not on spurious reasons (such as buzzword density) or unimaginative factors (such as popularity). The architecture explains more.
Copyright
The base material - the set of papers and references - are the domain and copyright of the originators. By buying their book I gain rights to the content but only for my own use - which I choose to be the shred and scan process. Many years ago I was told about the ‘fair use’ principle in Copyright Law or use for research purposes and direct use of 5-10% is permitted (see Copyright - Fair Use in UK Law). I am also assiduous in my attributions and quoting as anyone referencing the Sources and Reference sections of this content will agree. Providing Google’s claim that NotebookLMs are private then the source material is safe, it remains under my ownership and control with no fear of disclosure to third parties unless I decide to share the sources.
The formation of the QSets and the Analysis work is, I contend, my own work. Where I hold the Copyright I am happy it is used freely with attribution (see my story on The Linguistic Torpedo) and certainly while the design and structure of the prompts are essential to the formation of this collection I am happy they are shared. My footer on each page acknowledges this status for sharing.
With regards to the role of AI (aka NotebookLM aka Gemini) the owner Google seem remarkably relaxed about accreditation as noted in the footer. In some cases the role of the AI is merely the tool to do the task and I would be tempted to use a logo of the form:-
In other cases, see the posts described as serendipity, the system goes beyond any dumb tool and is, at least in my mind, drawing some novel conclusion.
The important point is that the QSets are “all my own work” (with help from Google of course) and as independent material can be shared and used separately from the source material. I could share or publish (via NotebookLM sharing) the raw material such that the analysis features and facilities could be carried out with others. Sadly the collaborative features of NotebookLM are rather primitive and whilst I might do some sharing it does not scale (but if you are interested I can easily provide the complete Obsidian vault, which runs locally on your laptop, for your own work and play).
[ 🅭🅯 Roger James | 📄✨ NotebookLM Assisted ]
Attribution Text:
This work by Roger James was synthesized using NotebookLM.
It is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.