Live data from Hacker News

Ancient Sumerians created the first writing system

lithub.com

1–10 of 199 posts

Re: Ancient Sumerians created the first writing system

#3
post #2

* that we are aware of as of 2024. I think most historical discoveries should be prefixed or suffixed with this because as we dig up more things we might learn that there was an even older writing system (in this case).

Isn’t that redundant? It’s like asking everyone to prefix every statement with “As far as I know…”

Re: Ancient Sumerians created the first writing system

#4
post #3
post #2

* that we are aware of as of 2024. I think most historical discoveries should be prefixed or suffixed with this because as we dig up more things we might learn that there was an even older writing system (in this case).

Isn’t that redundant? It’s like asking everyone to prefix every statement with “As far as I know…”

[flagged]

Re: Ancient Sumerians created the first writing system

#5
post #4
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn’t that redundant? It’s like asking everyone to prefix every statement with “As far as I know…”

[flagged]

No, you can't.

Our understanding of physical constants is based on empirical confirmation via multiple samples. They're still just probably correct, and we haven't confirmed the laws of physics are uniform across either time or space.

Re: Ancient Sumerians created the first writing system

#6
post #3
post #2

* that we are aware of as of 2024. I think most historical discoveries should be prefixed or suffixed with this because as we dig up more things we might learn that there was an even older writing system (in this case).

Isn’t that redundant? It’s like asking everyone to prefix every statement with “As far as I know…”

As an anecdata most of my friends believe that we know everything about ancient history. They are also very eager to hear about other parts of human knowledge to be progressing, for example AI models. Yet, when it comes to history they have this sort of static view.

Re: Ancient Sumerians created the first writing system

#7
post #4
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn’t that redundant? It’s like asking everyone to prefix every statement with “As far as I know…”

[flagged]

There is literally another MOND article discussed in this very forum every week or so. All theories are provisional and based on finite evidence and general consensus. There is no such thing as empirical truth the way you imagine.

Re: Ancient Sumerians created the first writing system

#8
post #3
post #2

* that we are aware of as of 2024. I think most historical discoveries should be prefixed or suffixed with this because as we dig up more things we might learn that there was an even older writing system (in this case).

Isn’t that redundant? It’s like asking everyone to prefix every statement with “As far as I know…”

Fair point, I think it depends on the certainty. I am just about 100% certain Neil Armstrong was the first human to walk on the moon, so "first" makes sense. Hillary and Norgay were the first "confirmed" climbers of Everest. The "confirmed" part is needed because it is reasonable that others before them made it without evidence. I am open to the possibility a civilization had a writing system before the Sumerians, and the evidence has been destroyed or not found yet.

Re: Ancient Sumerians created the first writing system

#9
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

No, you can't. Our understanding of physical constants is based on empirical confirmation via multiple samples. They're still just probably correct, and we haven't confirmed the laws of physics are uniform across either time or space.

This whole concept is what the skeptical shorthand of "you can't prove a negative" actually means. You can show some instance or set of instances of something, but you cannot show that something is universally always true. The tentative nature of our ability to understand the world is the basis for why we use science to approximate objective reality.

Re: Ancient Sumerians created the first writing system

#10
post #7
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

There is literally another MOND article discussed in this very forum every week or so. All theories are provisional and based on finite evidence and general consensus. There is no such thing as empirical truth the way you imagine.

> There is no such thing as empirical truth the way you imagine.

And statements misses the ability to hold an absolute truth. No, wait!

Post reply on HN