Issue.13 - A?sub
This edition was first published on Substack on April 26th, 2023. Click here to browse all Agency publications.
Pandora’s Box
A Fresh Digest on my latest discoveries and some other things.
Through the lenses of Thi
AI Experiments
It’s been almost two months since OpenAI released an API for Chat-GPT, and ever since, one of the most interesting projects that caught my attention was Auto-GPT, an experimental open-source attempt to make GPT-4 fully autonomous.
The idea behind it is to turn Chat-GPT into a full-time assistant that doesn’t necessarily wait for instructions or commands to achieve its goals. Sounds crazy, right?
I’m no programming expert, but I was able to deploy it and experiment with the idea of making an AI assistant that could not only build but also deploy Front-end infrastructures. It works in a fairly simple way: when you first create it, you set a goal, and then you let it run until the written goal is achieved.
It asks for your authorization for every step, but you can set it to run continuously, which is not recommended by the creators of this repository. This can be potentially dangerous and cause the AI to run forever or carry out actions you would not usually authorize.
The video above is a quick preview of how it works.
Check out the GitHub repository here: https://github.com/Significant-Gravitas/Auto-GPT
Introduction
Hey there.
Welcome to Issue.13, reader!
You already are quite familiar with this topic but you don’t yet know.
Because A?sub is all around us.
Yet,
If we were to put all the scientists of the world in the same room and ask them to figure out what A?sub is…
They would forever walk in circles and run in utmost and perfect stillness.
Because there is no single meaning behind A?sub. It is not a science.
In the same way that A?sub is not represented by just a single word.
In the exact same way that A?sub is the verb variation of the noun A?su
I, personally, would say that A?su is a bridge as much as it is timeproof.
Whereas someone once said: “What you call A?su was invented by guys like me, to sell nylons” - that was a line from Don Draper, in the TV series Mad Men.
But many, many years before that…
Someone first said: “A?su has an intermediate nature, a bridge that connects the physical world of men to the abstract and perfect world of the gods. It is a force that brings balance to the universe and prevents these two dimensions from separating.” - that was what Diotima of Mantinea said to Socrates in Symposium
Fast-forward to the present. A brand once said, “I would like to buy the world a home and furnish it with A?su.” That was Coca-Cola in one of the most iconic commercials ever made.
By now, and if you watched the video above, you already know what I have been talking about all along.
A?su is the word Love in Brazil’s native language Tupi.
Below are some examples from my Tupi dictionary.
A?sub (verb) or A?su (noun) - To love, to esteem, to care for, to have friendship for. “Asa?su kunh?-karaíba” - I love a white woman, “Asa?sub Tup?” - I love god, “A’e byter nde ra?supa” - I still love you.
Do you see what I did?
I approached a very popular topic with a brand new word because if I were to use the word “Love”, you would either skip this edition or read it with a preconception behind its meaning.
We already talked about how the words we write and use are extremely important in Issue.8 - Copywriting for Crisis .
And I did that because the true meaning behind words tends to get lost in translation or even used by companies to sell… products.
Nevertheless, I will use the term love below this mark for clarity.
I haven’t retired the word love, but I found a new alternative rid of preconceptions about it because love can be many different things, not necessarily a bottle of Coke or a McDonald’s slogan.
In fact, the concept behind love is so ancestral and powerful that it is the narrative tool behind some of the greatest literature romances in history.
Precisely because of that, every type of creative professional needs to understand how to handle it in order to craft inspiring designs and messages.
Let’s investigate it further.
The Blancheflor
And the birth of romantic love.
Do you feel this jet lag?
Welcome back to the medieval era, reader. Precisely in the Celtic reality of the Indo-European people of the 12th Century!
This is where the medieval chivalric legend and romance of Tristan and Isolde was first told and written.
This is the same period when the Arthurian legends took place (King Arthur and The Knights of the Round Table)
Once upon a time…
A beautiful princess from a foreign land, Blancheflor, wife of Rivalen, a knight of the Round Table, learns that her husband has been killed in battle and, bathed in profound sadness, dies in childbirth.
The orphaned babe is named "Tristan" (From the Latin - tristis, "sad") because of the sorrowful circumstances of his birth. Tristan is later adopted in life and trained in chivalry duty by his uncle, the King Mark of Cornwall.
Some years later, as a young man, when Tristan was already known as a brave and skilled fighter, his uncle tasked him with going to Ireland to find Isolde, the King’s promised bride.
Tristan not only knew about the importance of such duty but also knew it represented a very hard journey for which he would be forever remembered.
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But Tristan could never expect to fall in love with Isolde. He would never expect to be struck to his core with a feeling that would make him question his intrinsic chivalrous beliefs.
Isolde’s marriage to King Mark was a political move taken by her mother to establish a peaceful alliance between the two kingdoms. Because she needed to ensure that she would fall in love with the king, her mother gave her a love potion that she was only supposed to drink upon arrival in her new kingdom.
“For your voyage, I gift you this health potion, my daughter. You should drink it before meeting the King so that it uplifts your spirit and restores your body with the energy of a true empress.”
Little did Isolde know that she and Tristan would both get hurt in the middle of the journey and that they would both end up drinking the love potion because they thought it was a healing potion, making them forever inseparable until the very end of their lives.
This accidental consumption of the love potion is what sets the stage for the tragic and complicated love affair between Tristan and Isolde that is at the heart of this antique legend.
I only scratched the surface of this tale, but this is an important story because, believe it or not, Tristan and Isolde’s legend had a lasting impact on Western culture. Our culture. Up until this day, the concept of love carries an aesthetic of romance that was born into this exact literature. Why?
It set the standard for the concept of “Romantic love,” an intense emotional and sometimes irrational attachment between two people characterized by feelings of affection, desire, and passion. It is often described as a "head-over-heels" type of love that can be all-consuming and deeply fulfilling.
The lovers were bound by an oath of loyalty to King Mark of Cornwall, who was also Tristan's uncle and benefactor. Tristan and Isolde's love was therefore considered to be a betrayal of King Mark's trust and a violation of their sworn duty.
In a period when marriages mostly happened for political and economic reasons, Tristan and Isolde were among the first examples of lovers who knew no rational or logical boundaries. This made society question how powerful, magical, and even sacred love can truly be.
It is one of the earliest and most enduring examples of a tragic love story in Western literature. The tale of two lovers who are prevented from being together due to societal and political constraints has resonated with readers throughout the ages and has influenced countless works of literature, music, and art.
The story also reflects the cultural and political values of medieval Europe, which was characterized by a feudal social structure, chivalry, and courtly love (which came before romantic love). These values and ideals continue to fascinate modern audiences, who are often drawn to the romanticized and idealized portrayal of medieval life.
The Philosophy of Love
To love or not to love?
At this point, we noticed that investigating the concept of love can reveal many different perspectives, whether cultural, historical, spiritual, or even… commercial.
Love, nevertheless, is an idea that has been investigated by society's great minds for many decades. In fact, at a given moment in our history, some of the greatest thinkers of ancient Greece decided to gather at a dinner party just to discuss… the meaning of love.
I’m not kidding; this particular day not only happened but was also turned into a book by Plato called “The Symposium .” Every person present in that unbelievable encounter was invited to deliver a speech of appreciation for the idea of love. Some people say that it is a work of fiction, but regardless, it is worth the read because the ideas discussed are timeless.
The characters who appear in the dialogue include:
Below is a summary of what each of them said about love:
Phaedrus
Love is the oldest and most important god, and it is the source of courage and honor. He argues that love is most powerful when it is between a mentor and an apprentice as it inspires the apprentice to become his best self.
Pausanias
Love can be either good or bad, depending on whether it is a healthy and respectful relationship or an unhealthy and exploitative one. He argues that the best kind of love is between two equals, where both parties respect each other's dignity and character.
Eryximachus
Love is a force that governs all things in the universe, from the smallest atoms to the largest celestial bodies. He argues that love can bring balance and harmony to all aspects of life, from health to politics to music.
Aristophanes
In the past, human beings were not divided into separate sexes, but rather were a unified androgyne. Zeus split them in half as a punishment, and now each half is always seeking its missing other half. Love is the desire to be reunited with one's other half, and this is the origin of human desire and longing.
Agathon
Love is the most beautiful and perfect thing in existence, and it is the source of all beauty and goodness in the world. He argues that love is gentle, generous, and kind and that it inspires people to be their best selves.
The book reaches its most inspiring pages after Socrates starts his discourse because he shares what Diotima of Mantinea taught him about the topic.
Diotima of Mantinea
Diotima explains that love is not a god, but a spirit that is neither immortal nor mortal. Love is not beautiful, but rather it desires beauty. Diotima suggests that the ultimate goal of love is the realization of the Form of Beauty.
Socrates
Love is the pursuit of wisdom and beauty, and it is a process of spiritual growth and transformation. He argues that love is not just about physical desire or emotional attachment, but rather it is a way of transcending one's individual self and achieving a connection with the divine.
Then, without anyone expecting, Alcibiades, an iconic Athenian who was once saved by Socrates in the Battle of Potidaea in 432 BCE bursts into the party drunk and wreathed in garlands, and proceeds to give his own speech.
Alcibiades
Love is a powerful and dangerous force that can lead to both great joy and great pain. He tells the story of his own unrequited love for Socrates, which caused him great anguish and longing. He argues that true love requires honesty and vulnerability, and that it can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and others.”
The Greek Dictionary of Love
As I said in the beginning, there are many different words used to represent love, being A?sub a brand new one for your dictionary, give your own meaning to it, but attention, because it is not a noun, it is a verb!
To wrap up this issue, below are some ancient words for the concept we have been talking about.
Agape
Agape is a selfless and unconditional love, often associated with divine love and charity. It is a pure, spiritual, and altruistic type of love that is not based on personal gain or desire. It is often described as a self-giving love, characterized by compassion and forgiveness, and is considered to be the highest form of love in Christianity.
Eros
Eros is a romantic and erotic love, often focused on physical attraction and desire. It is a passionate and intense form of love, characterized by intense longing, infatuation, and sexual attraction. It is often associated with the goddess Aphrodite and was considered to be a powerful force that could inspire creativity and spiritual growth.
Philia
Philia is a platonic love or affection between friends, often based on shared experiences or values. It is a deep and enduring love that is characterized by loyalty, mutual trust, and companionship. It is often described as a type of love that is based on shared virtues, and is considered to be an important aspect of human relationships and social harmony.
Storge
Storge is a familial love, such as the bond between parents and children or siblings. It is a natural and unconditional type of love that is characterized by familiarity, trust, and emotional closeness. It is often associated with a sense of security and belonging, and is considered to be an important aspect of family life.
Ludus
Ludus is a playful and flirtatious love, often associated with young lovers. It is a type of love that is characterized by playfulness, teasing, and a sense of fun. It is often seen as a precursor to more serious forms of love, and is considered to be an important aspect of the early stages of a romantic relationship.
Pragma
Pragma is a long-standing love or committed love, based on shared goals and mutual respect. It is a type of love that is characterized by commitment, stability, and practicality. It is often associated with mature relationships, and is considered to be an important aspect of long-term partnerships and marriages.
Made in 1996. Born & Raised Brazillian. Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising and Communication. Adept to autodidactism. Curious Soul. Published Author. Co-founder of Agency . Founder of Sentient
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