Squirrels and philosophy: 11 degrees of separation
  • Jamal
    9.8k
    I noticed this on xkcd: 'Wikipedia trivia: if you take any article, click on the first link in the article text not in parentheses or italics, and then repeat, you will eventually end up at "Philosophy"'.

    So I tried it starting with the article on cheese. It took 13 clicks to get to philosophy.

    From "Squirrel", just 11 clicks, perhaps reflecting the fact that squirrels are more basic constituents of the world than cheese (discuss).

    To my surprise, from "Love" it took 13 clicks, even though it seems closer to philosophy than squirrels, being an abstract concept and not a rodent.

    Justin Bieber: 14 clicks

    One Direction: 14 clicks

    There you have it: squirrels are more philosophical than cheese, love, Justin Bieber and One Direction.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squirrel
    Jamal Options
  • bert1
    2k
    That's really interesting. It's like going down the family tree of knowledge, starting with the particular and moving to the general and ending in philosophy at the trunk. Presumably this doesn't work so well with other subject areas like, say, economics... I'll try.

    ...Nope, once we get to philosophy it starts looping back on itself via existence, ontology and other such abstract universal concepts.
    bert1 Options
  • Jamal
    9.8k
    It was quite remarkable that in each case the last several steps were the same, beginning at natural science, even in the case of Bieber.
    Jamal Options
  • ProbablyTrue
    203
    ↪jamalrob
    Diamond was nine clicks.
    ProbablyTrue Options
  • Wosret
    3.4k
    "Hair" is 8 clicks. Woman 10 clicks, and man 9.
    Wosret Options
  • shmik
    207
    Sam Harris - 22 clicks X-)
    shmik Options
  • Jamal
    9.8k
    @shmik's in the lead so far.

    The object of the game, I suppose, is to find the least philosophical thing on wikipedia. Note: when any links go to a wiktionary entry I go back and click on the next link.
    Jamal Options
  • ProbablyTrue
    203
    Murder is 24 clicks. Helps to be in incognito mode to keep the links fresh.
    ProbablyTrue Options
  • Baden
    16.4k
    Religion, 11 clicks. On a par with squirrels then.
    Baden Options
  • Baden
    16.4k
    Donald Trump, 11 clicks. Las Vegas, 14 clicks. The Click, 12 clicks. :-|
    Baden Options
  • Michael
    15.8k
    Philosophy is 4 clicks.
    Michael Options
  • Benkei
    7.8k
    19 for "contract".

    Infinte for "conscious" and "aware" because they loop back on themselves.
    Benkei Options
  • Michael
    15.8k
    Aha.

    Joke → Punch line → Joke.

    The joke's on xkcd.
    Michael Options
  • shmik
    207
    It take 13 clicks from "Getting to philosophy" according to the article Getting to philosophy.
    shmik Options
  • Jamal
    9.8k
    ↪Benkei
    Almost, but the first link in consciousness is 'quality'.
    Jamal Options
  • Moliere
    4.8k
    "computer" is a mere 9 clicks away.
    Moliere Options
  • Moliere
    4.8k
    Haha. "Kant" is 13 clicks away. :D Squirrels appear to have something truly profound to say.
    Moliere Options
  • bert1
    2k
    Infinte for "conscious" and "aware" because they loop back on themselves. — Benkei

    Wooow, you can't get more fitting than that! This is amazing. Consciousness knows consciousness by reflexion.
    bert1 Options
  • Michael
    15.8k
    ↪bert1
    Although, as @jamalrob says, he's wrong. Consciousness is 2 clicks and Awareness is 3 clicks.
    Michael Options
  • Baden
    16.4k
    Baden, 13 clicks. Beaten by squirrels. And religion. Holding my own with cheese though.
    Baden Options
  • bert1
    2k
    22 for 'plank'. 'Murder' is the record holder so far.
    bert1 Options
  • Michael
    15.8k
    Plank is 14, Murder is 23, and Sam Harris is 10. See WikiLoopr.
    Michael Options
  • bert1
    2k
    WikiLoopr makes it easier.

    'Mangle' gets stuck in a different loop. But all the other ones I've tried get stuck at ontology and philosophy. I find that immensely pleasing for some reason.
    bert1 Options
  • shmik
    207
    ↪Michael
    Cool site though it's not strictly accurate, try Sam Harris yourself.
    shmik Options
  • Michael
    15.8k
    ↪shmik
    Yeah, it's picking up the italicized cultura in Literature.
    Michael Options
  • Sir2u
    3.5k
    School is 5 clicks to infinity. When it gets to awareness it circle to conscious.
    Sir2u Options
  • Sir2u
    3.5k
    Shit is 13 clicks to infinity, it also hits the aware conscious loop.
    Sir2u Options
  • Sir2u
    3.5k
    This is fun but I have work to do, work by the way seems to be a one clicker.
    Sir2u Options
  • Michael
    15.8k
    There is no aware-conscious loop. The first link in consciousness is quality which then goes to philosophy.
    Michael Options
  • Sir2u
    3.5k
    There is no aware-conscious loop — Michael

    You're right, blame it on Benkei, I just followed his lead. :-}
    Just goes to show that you should never believe the things you see on the internet without checking it out first.
    So school runs out to 8 clicks.
    Sir2u Options
  • Sir2u
    3.5k
    And shit is ten. :P
    Sir2u Options
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