Oga Biko,
Thanks.
Thanks.
I am worried by the way you are handling this issue.
The description of your talk on fractals is superb but that non-factual assertion that opens it does not help at all.
Clearly, you have no evidence that-
' the computer engineering algorithms that power the Internet are based on complex African fractal designs common in structures built by African men, and cornrow hair designs pioneered by African women hundreds of years ago on the continent and in the diaspora''
For that assertion to be factual, there would have to be incontrovertible evidence that the creators of computer algorithms, at the inception of this technology, adapted African fractal designs.
To the best of my knowledge, such evidence does not exist.
I dont expect even Ron Eglash, the pioneer and perhaps foremost authority on the subject of African fractals, their relationship to science and to fractal geometry in other cultures, would make such an assertion, as evident from his book African Fractals, his website, and other essays where he continues his publications on the subject.
The more realistic assertion may be framed thus-
To the best of my knowledge, such evidence does not exist.
I dont expect even Ron Eglash, the pioneer and perhaps foremost authority on the subject of African fractals, their relationship to science and to fractal geometry in other cultures, would make such an assertion, as evident from his book African Fractals, his website, and other essays where he continues his publications on the subject.
The more realistic assertion may be framed thus-
''Did you know that the computer engineering algorithms that power the Internet are similar to complex African fractal designs common in structures built by African men, and cornrow hair designs pioneered by African women hundreds of years ago on the continent and in the diaspora?''
From that realistic and possibly factual assertion one could then proceed to demonstrate these similarities and reflect on their implications.
Such reflections could include questions of how to cultivate skills in computing by studying such designs.
Such reflections could include questions of how to cultivate skills in computing by studying such designs.
One could also reflect on the universal recurrence of similar cognitive forms across the world and the question of why different civilizations have developed these cognitive forms in different ways.
One could ask why Africa did not develop advanced technology even though it developed its own versions of cognitive forms that underlie computing, such as the binary organization of knowledge, as in the Ifa system of knowledge, a point made clear since Olu Longe's ''Ifa Divination and Computer Science,'' and taken further in various studies after Longe's as a Google search for the subject will demonstrate.
In exploring that question, one would also need to note that other cultures also developed similar cognitive forms before the West, as Eglash demonstrates on fractal geometry on his website.
The correlations between binary organization in the Chinese I Ching divination system and computer science are even better known and have been more often written about than the Ifa/science conjunctions, a correlation between I Ching and mathematical systems that seems to have been made famous by German philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Leibniz in the 17th century.
One account, such as this fine article by Damien Walter on the ancient history of binary coding, sees the I Ching as the source of Leibnitz's binary code, while another, such as this one, quoting a letter from Leibnitz, argues that he had already developed his system before discovering the Chinese example, which then reinforced his confidence in his invention, leading to the conclusion from this view that ''By seeing binary representation in ancient texts, Leibniz was compelled to continue his own writing of binary systems. This, in turn, became the language of modern computing still being used today, thus linking a 5,000-year-old text to the formation of the digital age.'
On the impact of his work in binary organization, the Wikipedia article on Leibnitz states, ''He also refined the binary number system, which is the foundation of nearly all digital (electronic, solid-state, discrete logic) computers, including the Von Neumann architecture, which is the standard design paradigm, or "computer architecture", followed from the second half of the 20th century, and into the 21st.''
The correlations between binary organization in the Chinese I Ching divination system and computer science are even better known and have been more often written about than the Ifa/science conjunctions, a correlation between I Ching and mathematical systems that seems to have been made famous by German philosopher and mathematician Gottfried Leibniz in the 17th century.
One account, such as this fine article by Damien Walter on the ancient history of binary coding, sees the I Ching as the source of Leibnitz's binary code, while another, such as this one, quoting a letter from Leibnitz, argues that he had already developed his system before discovering the Chinese example, which then reinforced his confidence in his invention, leading to the conclusion from this view that ''By seeing binary representation in ancient texts, Leibniz was compelled to continue his own writing of binary systems. This, in turn, became the language of modern computing still being used today, thus linking a 5,000-year-old text to the formation of the digital age.'
On the impact of his work in binary organization, the Wikipedia article on Leibnitz states, ''He also refined the binary number system, which is the foundation of nearly all digital (electronic, solid-state, discrete logic) computers, including the Von Neumann architecture, which is the standard design paradigm, or "computer architecture", followed from the second half of the 20th century, and into the 21st.''
Peter J. Lu ( Wikipedia article rich with links to discussions of his work) and Paul J. Steinhardt became famous through demonstrating relationships between the Islamic architectural patterns known as Giri Tiles and the modern advanced fractal geometry represented by Penrose Tiling ( both very rich Wikipedia links) in their paper "Decagonal and Quasi-Crystalline Tilings in Medieval Islamic Architecture'', which can be read at that link along with responses to the paper by other scientists while Sebastian Prange's ''The Tiles of Infinity,'' examines the subject for the general reader.
The authors of Indra's Pearls: The Vision of Felix Klein on the beautifully complex mathematical patterns first ''glimpsed'' in modern times by Felix Klein open their book by demonstrating relationships between these fractal patterns and the famous Buddhist image of the Net of Indra, thereby describing Klein as rediscovering in mathematics 'an idea from Asian mythology', as the Amazon page of the book puts it.
These correlations give further urgency to the question of why the West took the lead with advanced technologies employing related ideas while African, Asian and Islamic cultures had earlier developed the basics of these ideas. The Western ascendancy might be due to a unique convergence of cultural and economic factors. I expect that a significant degree of published work exists on the development of science in various cultures that can help such an enquiry.
The authors of Indra's Pearls: The Vision of Felix Klein on the beautifully complex mathematical patterns first ''glimpsed'' in modern times by Felix Klein open their book by demonstrating relationships between these fractal patterns and the famous Buddhist image of the Net of Indra, thereby describing Klein as rediscovering in mathematics 'an idea from Asian mythology', as the Amazon page of the book puts it.
These correlations give further urgency to the question of why the West took the lead with advanced technologies employing related ideas while African, Asian and Islamic cultures had earlier developed the basics of these ideas. The Western ascendancy might be due to a unique convergence of cultural and economic factors. I expect that a significant degree of published work exists on the development of science in various cultures that can help such an enquiry.
You continue with another assertion that is more obfuscatory than factual-
''Science does not always rely on conclusive evidence. Rather the testing and retesting of hypotheses are the guides to original contributions to knowledge.''
Conclusive evidence may be described as the destination of the scientific journey. The testing and retesting of hypotheses is a central method in the quest for such evidence. Where such conclusive evidence is found or developed, the reasons why it should be understood as conclusive are clearly spelt out for all to see and respond to. Where the evidence is not conclusive, the same applies.
Where what was seen as conclusive at a point in time is to be understood as no longer so, the reasons are also spelt out for all to see and respond to.
Where what was seen as conclusive at a point in time is to be understood as no longer so, the reasons are also spelt out for all to see and respond to.
In this instance, not only is the question asked about computing algorithms being based on African designs not a question in science, but is a question in the history of science, but even then requires a statement of justification, the provision of evidence on which that justification is based, and the analysis of that evidence demonstrating why it should be understood in terms of the interpretation provided.
You have not provided such evidence talk less analyzing it to demonstrate its validity for your claim.
You then invoke a claim of denigration of African achievement in order to anchor your inability to provide evidence for a non-factual assertion you should not have made in the first place-
You have not provided such evidence talk less analyzing it to demonstrate its validity for your claim.
You then invoke a claim of denigration of African achievement in order to anchor your inability to provide evidence for a non-factual assertion you should not have made in the first place-
''Anyone who claims that Africans have made no contribution to civilization should keep testing that null hypothesis''
The issue is not about the general subject of African contributions to civilization but the specific claim that ''the computer engineering algorithms that power the Internet are based on complex African fractal designs common in structures built by African men, and cornrow hair designs pioneered by African women hundreds of years ago on the continent and in the diaspora''
Your trying to avoid verifying your claim by invoking anti-African bias does not suggest the critical culture that should define scholarship.
You then reinforce those disturbing assertions by quoting well meaning but extremist and self defeating Negritudist rhetoric -
Your trying to avoid verifying your claim by invoking anti-African bias does not suggest the critical culture that should define scholarship.
You then reinforce those disturbing assertions by quoting well meaning but extremist and self defeating Negritudist rhetoric -
''Cesaire found such claims to be absurd and proclaimed 'hurray to those who invented nothing' for they remain human and deserving of equal dignity''
Africans certainly deserve equal dignity but the notion that Africans invented nothing, in various aspects of civilization and perhaps even in science, is a fiction and actually works against the dignity Cesaire wishes to claim flor Africans.
You conclude on another assertion that is made problematic by the problematic assertions that preceded it, casting doubt on whatever validity it might have, a validity that I for one wonder what its range really is-
You conclude on another assertion that is made problematic by the problematic assertions that preceded it, casting doubt on whatever validity it might have, a validity that I for one wonder what its range really is-
''African inventions are enormous but are stolen or denigrated''
Such assertions are at times used as an umbrella for various unsustainable claims of African achievement.
It would be helpful to have some striking examples of these ''enormous'' achievements that have been stolen or, at this point in history, are still denigrated.
Why are these issues important?
They are important because the limitations of logic evident in your assertion and defense of that assertion help to fuel anti-African bias where science is concerned.
It would be helpful to have some striking examples of these ''enormous'' achievements that have been stolen or, at this point in history, are still denigrated.
Why are these issues important?
They are important because the limitations of logic evident in your assertion and defense of that assertion help to fuel anti-African bias where science is concerned.
You are a scholar of international repute publicly making such assertions that may motivate some Africans or Black people to feel good but which can readily be shown to be non-factual. If you, with your level of education and professional achievement, can fall into that trap, what message could that send about others in your racial demographic who are not so developed or accomplished?
thanks
toyin
On Sat, 8 May 2021 at 01:37, 'Biko Agozino' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> wrote:
--Toyin,Science does not always rely on conclusive evidence. Rather the testing and retesting of hypotheses are the guides to original contributions to knowledge. Anyone who claims that Africans have made no contribution to civilization should keep testing that null hypothesis even after Cesaire found such claims to be absurd and proclaimed 'hurray to those who invented nothing' for they remain human and deserving of equal dignity, especially so when African inventions are enormous but are stolen or denigrated.BikoOn Friday, 7 May 2021, 18:07:51 GMT-4, Oluwatoyin Adepoju <ovdepoju@gmail.com> wrote:beautiful.but how true is this-''Did you know that the computer engineering algorithms that power the Internet are based on complex African fractal designs common in structures built by African men, and cornrow hair designs pioneered by African women hundreds of years ago on the continent and in the diaspora?''Is there conclusive evidence to this effect?toyin--On Fri, 7 May 2021 at 13:27, 'Biko Agozino' via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> wrote:--
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