String theories - Many Minds
- Rating
-
- Fav.
- Waveform
-
- Action
-
- Link
- Title
- String theories
- Description
- <p class="p2">Where would our species be without string? It's one of our most basic technologies—so basic that it's easy to overlook. But humans have used string—and its cousins rope, yarn, cordage, thread, etc.—for all kinds of purposes, stretching back tens of thousands of years. We've used it for knots and textiles and fishing nets and carrier bags and bow-strings and record-keeping devices. It's one of the most ubiquitous, flexible, and <em>useful</em> technologies we have. But we haven't only put string to practical purposes. We've also long used it to tickle our minds.</p> <p class="p2">My guest today is <a href= "https://roopekaaronen.net/"><span class="s1">Dr. Roope Kaaronen</span></a>. Roope is a cognitive anthropologist and postdoc at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Along with an interdisciplinary team, Roope recently conducted two studies that showcase the centrality of string in human culture. One is on the history and diversity of "string figures” (which are visual designs made with a loop of string held between the hands, often known to English speakers as “Cat's Cradle”). The other study is on the history and diversity of knots.</p> <p class="p2">Here Roope and I discuss the deep history of string in human culture. We talk about the seemingly universal spread of string figures across the globe. We zoom in on one string figure in particular—the Jacob's ladder—which seems to be the most widespread string figure of all, despite its complexity. We talk about how both knots and string figures are related to the branch of mathematics known as “topology," and about how knots and string figures have evolved under different constraints. Finally, we discuss what our fascination with string designs might tell us about the human mind. And we lament the fact that much of our string-based cultural heritage is headed—quite rapidly—for extinction.</p> <p class="p2">Just a reminder that applications are now open for the 2025 Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute or DISI. If you are an early career researcher and you like this show, you would probably like DISI. Actually, fun fact: our guest today, Roope, is a DISI alum. We met at the Institute a couple years ago and I've followed his work ever since. That should give you some flavor for the people who attend. In any case, for more info, check out <a href="http://disi.org"><span class= "s1">disi.org</span></a>—that’s d-i-s-i. org.</p> <p class="p2">Alright friends, on to my conversation with Dr. Roope Kaaronen. Enjoy!</p> <p class="p3"> </p> <p class="p4"><span class="s2"><em>Notes and links</em></span></p> <p class="p4">3:00 – The <a href= "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-61839-w"><span class= "s1">2020 paper</span></a> reporting the use of string by Neanderthals.</p> <p class="p4">8:00 – A <a href= "https://journal.fi/iskos/article/view/110411"><span class= "s1">paper</span></a> describing the Antrea Net and its discovery.</p> <p class="p4">10:00 – On the issue of gender bias in the study of textiles, see Virginia Postrel’s book, <a href= "https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/virginia-postrel/the-fabric-of-civilization/9781541617629/?lens=basic-books"> <span class="s1"><em>The Fabric of Civilization</em></span></a>.</p> <p class="p4">12:00 – Dr. Kaaronen’s other ethnomathematical projects include work on <a href= "https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.adf1936"><span class="s1"> measurement across cultures</span></a>.<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p5"><span class="s3">16:30 – The website of the <a href="https://isfa.org/"><span class="s1">International String Figure Association</span></a>.</span></p> <p class="p4">19:30 – The <a href= "https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/3772907.pdf"><span class= "s1">1969 paper</span></a> first introducing the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample.<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p4">22:20 – A <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd5erYjjEhI"><span class= "s1">step-by-step explanation</span></a> for ho
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-06T05:27:00+00:00
- Status
- completed
- Website
- https://manyminds.libsyn.com/string-theories
- Length
- 81:27
- File
- /podcasts/Many Minds/1738819620-4992.mp3
- Size
- 111.86 MB
- Bitrate
- 187-CBR
- Channels
- 1
Queries: 25 | Cache Hits: 0 | Load Time: 0.0895 | 2 MB