The Gateway Chronicle 2020

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68 Abacuses were something of a new invention, but, when they were used, an empty space was left to indicate that there was nothing to add on. So, we ca n tell that these primitive people did have an idea of the concept zero, but al- Khwarizmi was the one who actually gave it a name. He then took it one step further and expanded upon the idea of early algebra, allowing more complex calculations to be performed, with the aid of his newfound number. Although al-Khwarizmi lived less than 40 years, his legacy is still felt today, testament to the rapid mathematical discovery that has taken place since his death, so this development is naturally credited to him. Whilst mathematical progress was being made from al-Khwarizmi’s death onwards, much of it was simply expanding on what earlier mathematicians had discovered and there were very few new concepts produced. We do not see a significant discovery again until 1614 (as between then and Al-Khwarizmi’s death, the most that occurred was further development of algebra, as well as the decimal system being introduced). This discovery was made by John Napier of Scotland, who revolutionised the mathematical world once again with the concept of Logarithms. A logarithm (or ‘log) is similar to an index (for example, a to the power of b where a and b are both integers), except that they are used to express numbers of powers of ten. For example, the number 100 is equal to 10 squared, which means that the logarithm of 10 here is 2. These logarithms may be developed into logarithmic tables, which are particularly useful for working out things like trigonometric functions, something with great significance and importance today. “All the way from the development of zero, right up to the pioneering Chaos theory, we know that maths is the driving force behind the world” The final stop on our mathematical tour is in the early 19 th and 20th centuries, when we experience a boom of new ideas, after a somewhat stagnant period of mere expansions of existing knowledge. Kickstarted somewhat by the Industrial Revolution, where new ideas were widespread thanks to the necessity of moving industrial materials. Where one thing moves, ideas usually move with it. In 1830, we see the development of non-Euclidian geometry; then, during the mid-20 th century, we see the pioneer, Benoit Mandlebrot develop fractal geometry. But the pinnacle of this boom was without doubt Chaos Theory. Chaos theory states that where we see great randomness, such as in weather systems, there is actually great underlying complexity and selforganization. Such is true for weather systems, although Chaos theory was not applied to weather systems until the 21 st Century. This is such an incredible concept because it proves that maths is omnipotent. If you look out of the window and a gale is blowing, rain whipping the windows, there is order in the black heart of the storm. There is method in the madness. Maths really is everywhere; in everything we see and in everything we do. It is incredible to think that this all came from a wolf’s femur found buried in the Czech Republic from 10 000 years ago! All the way from the development of zero, right up to the pioneering of Chaos theory, we know that maths is the driving force behind the world. It’s in this paper. It’s in this page. It’s even in you. Ben, 4.2
Mathematics and Economics 69 The history of Universal Basic Income T he idea that the State should provide some level of basic income to its citizens, unconditionally, to everyone, is one that has enjoyed a recent resurgence. It is a solution to, amongst other issues, the forecasted future wave of automation that could lead to mass unemployment across the world. Universal Basic Income (UBI) has been slowly gathering mo mentum and is increasingly a central topic of debate in think-tanks, universities and best-seller lists. While the Labour party has announced that it is considering making UBI a frontline policy, an American entrepreneur Andrew Yang progressed into the final ten nominees for the 2020 Democrat presidential candidate with his main agenda being to implement UBI, or as his marketing team have re-branded it ‘The Freedom Dividend’. From the outside, it seems like an overtly modern idea to this modern problem. Further to that, some of its key proponents are Silicon Valley moguls such as Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. Strangely, supporters of UBI are not confined to one end of the political or economic spectrum, including Dr Martin Luther King Jr and Milton Friedman. However, one of the most surprising aspects of the idea is that is over 500 years old and has been constantly added to and developed by numerous influential thinkers. “supporters of UBI are not confined to one end of the political spectrum” To say that Sir Thomas More (1478-1535), adviser to Henry VIII, was an advocate, or even creator of Universal Basic Income would be somewhat anachronistic, but it is fair to say that he was first prominent proposer of the notion of basic income to all. In his book Utopia, More envisaged a society in which everyone had a guaranteed income. The problem which More was addressing was the desperation with which the poor would steal and the failure of punishments such as hangings to prevent this. More wrote, ‘Instead of inflicting these horrible punishments, it would be far more to the point to provide everyone with some means of livelihood.’ This was one part of the wider paradigm shift that the care of the poor was to no longer be exclusively managed by Andrew Yang recently supported UBI in his bid to become US President the Church. A similar idea and rationale was picked up on by More’s friend, the Spanish philosopher Juan Luis Vives (1493- 1540), who is widely regarded as the first person to draw up actual plans for some basic income scheme. Vives was also concerned with the amount of hunger-related crime and thought basic income to be a solution too.
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CHRONICLE Thinking History THE GATE
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Contents A word from the editors…
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4 Political Ideologies Mare Nostrum
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6 Fascist Party’ was able to win
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8 Political Ideologies Lebensraum:
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10 isolation. Firstly, the Holocaus
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12 Political Ideologies How was Hit
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14 at fault for losing the First Wo
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16 For instance, for the 1937 Paris
Page 20 and 21: 18 With that said, how did it actua
Page 22: 20 Zionists both in Palestine and t
Page 25 and 26: 23 Wars of the Roses had significan
Page 27 and 28: Individuals 25 Marlene Dietrich: Re
Page 29 and 30: 27 became problematic when she retu
Page 31 and 32: 29 theatre director Vsevolod Meyerh
Page 34 and 35: 32 Religion Establishing and develo
Page 36 and 37: 34 which is often the way popular r
Page 38 and 39: 36 to a period of sustained chaos,
Page 40 and 41: 38 individuals, who believe that di
Page 42 and 43: 40 This said, it took until AD597 f
Page 44 and 45: 42 This brings us to the 6 th of Ja
Page 46 and 47: 44 - including explanations on cont
Page 48 and 49: 46 In Islam, waqf is a donation of
Page 50 and 51: 48 The Putney Debates “Agreement
Page 52 and 53: 50 Religion The origins of laïcit
Page 54 and 55: 52 Clergy, which redrew regional cl
Page 56: 54 be forced to acknowledge the imp
Page 59 and 60: 57 Democracy itself was created in
Page 61 and 62: 59 evident in 1787 and continues to
Page 63 and 64: 61 battle’, which resulted in Hen
Page 65 and 66: 63 Henry V certainly drew authority
Page 67: 65 his initial promises, Czechoslov
Page 72 and 73: 70 However, he seems to be more of
Page 74 and 75: 72 Mathematics and Economics How la
Page 76 and 77: 74 Mathematics and Economics Corona
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