sojournTime @sojournTime@social.cleverlibre.org

@peterdrake Batesian mimicry?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batesian_mimicry

@Annalee this video provides some explanation and support for your experience:

https://youtu.be/_rBO8neWw04

@rythur I also want to comment that I dislike Niall Ferguson, particularly his political beliefs, use of counterfactual history, and unabashed defense for the British Empire.

@rythur I mean, that is still a very simplistic view that glosses over a lot of history.

To address your statement: "if a state has a will to enslave from the beginning, and systems are built in society to rely on the underclass/slave's existence, then shouldn't they need to fill this gap elsewhere, with some other set of people?"

Your logic does not consider the following:

1) Society improves technologically to improve resource extraction, thus reducing the need for a large enslaved class to fulfill this role. A classic example is the industrial revolution, which eventually developed what we would now call the middle class. Of course everyone likes to point out the cotton gin as a counter example, but in general, this idea seems to hold true.

2) Societal/political revolutions change people's perception of their current state (usually out of necessity) which can in turn elevate an underclass/slave class and/or overthrow a ruling class. The Haitian or French revolution are classic examples.

What do these two things have in common? Both are considered types of revolutions and occur outside of the state's control. Which brings me to your original toot on constitutions. Constitutions, specifically ones that can be amended democratically, allow, to borrow a phrase from my high school history teacher, "government overthrow without revolutions". Which is why I disagree with your statement that "If a constitution is made with an implied or stated slave class, then there will always be a slave class...". That is just patently untrue.

"Always" is a strong word, especially in an ever-changing world. The world does not have to be a zero-sum game, and absolutes only exist in mathematics 😉.

@rythur I feel like this is incredibly pessimistic and illustrates a kind of fatalism I strongly disagree with. The (general) purpose of amendments to a constitution is to correct historical wrongs enshrined in law. Your thesis, that you're either enslaved or free, is extreme and frankly appalling. I'd recommend you reconsider your stance.

My favorite JWST-related website so far:

https://johnedchristensen.github.io/WebbCompare/

#jwst #space

@erou though this doesn't detract from the fact that many women have contributed to science and mathematics like Marie Gaetana Agnesi, Ada Lovelace, Emmy Noether, Marie Curie, and Grace Hopper to name a few:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Gaetana_Agnesi

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmy_Noether

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Curie

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Hopper

@erou sorry to burst your bubble, but there does not seem to be a consensus for this, and may be more anecdotal rather than factual:

https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/27/science/did-einstein-s-wife-contribute-to-his-theories.html

https://time.com/5551098/mileva-einstein-history/

https://www.technologyreview.com/2012/04/18/116220/did-einsteins-first-wife-secretly-coauthor-his-1905-relativity-paper/

@christianp contrapositive...now that's a name I've not heard in a long time...

@jalefkowit @firewally it would be if the filibuster didn't exist...