XuLei

Blockchain Guardian of Humanities Literature#

Extended Information#

1. How the National Library of Medicine should evolve in an era of artificial intelligence
   1. AI is changing the nature of scientific research, accelerating scientific progress while also introducing the risk of scientific forgery, making it difficult to distinguish new knowledge from deliberate fabrication.
   2. NLM applies blockchain technology in the field of scientific data and information, creating immutable hash keys for the sources and creation dates of data and information.

Initial Question#

The paper "The Persistence and Development of the Humanities in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" mentions that the humanities need to: "Consolidate a solid foundation of basic literature, where the precision and immutability of foundational literature are crucial in the digital age. An immutable electronic database needs to be constructed to ensure the stability of the knowledge base." Is blockchain technology one of the core technologies to achieve the immutability of literature? If it is a core technology, how does blockchain achieve the immutability of literature and data in this application scenario?

Reflection and Thoughts on the Initial Question#

DS Thoughts#

Well, the user's question is about how blockchain technology ensures the immutability of foundational literature in the humanities. First, I need to confirm whether blockchain is indeed the core technology in this scenario. Based on previous understanding, the distributed ledger and cryptographic features of blockchain can indeed provide the characteristic of data immutability, so it should be.

Next, the user wants to know how blockchain specifically achieves this. I need to break down the key technical points of blockchain, such as hash algorithms, consensus mechanisms, decentralized storage, timestamps, and smart contracts. Each part needs to be explained clearly regarding how they work together to ensure the immutability of literature.

For example, the hash algorithm generates a unique digital fingerprint, and any alteration will change the hash value, thus detecting tampering. Additionally, data is not stored on a single server but is distributed, making it difficult for an attacker to modify all nodes simultaneously. The consensus mechanism ensures that only verified transactions can be added, preventing malicious modifications.

It may also be necessary to mention timestamps, which ensure the chronological order and proof of existence of literature, which is crucial for academic integrity. Smart contracts can automatically manage the access and revision processes of literature, reducing the risk of human intervention.

We also need to consider the challenges in practical applications, such as storage costs, processing speed, and how to balance transparency with privacy protection. These may not be directly asked by the user, but should be mentioned for a comprehensive analysis to demonstrate a thorough understanding.

Additionally, is the user a scholar or student in the humanities? They may be more concerned about how technology specifically applies to literature management, such as digitizing ancient texts or certifying papers, and examples should be provided to make the explanation more concrete.

Finally, it should be emphasized that blockchain is not a panacea; it needs to be combined with other technologies such as digital signatures and access control to build a complete anti-tampering system. This way, we can comprehensively answer the user's question, explaining both the core role of blockchain and pointing out its limitations and considerations in practical applications.

Gemini Reflection#

Critically reflecting on , I believe your thought direction is entirely correct, capturing the essence of the question and already constructing a clear answer framework. However, to showcase analytical depth and cognitive limits even further, we can delve deeper into the following aspects:

1. Beyond the "core technology" statement, delve into "necessity" and "optimality":

• Critically examine the claim of "core technology": While blockchain excels in immutability, directly asserting it as the "core technology" may be somewhat arbitrary. We need to analyze in detail whether there are other technological paths to achieve the goal of "ensuring the immutability of foundational literature." For instance, can a centralized trusted third-party certification agency combined with digital signature technology also achieve immutability to some extent? Therefore, a more precise statement might be: blockchain is currently one of the most promising and advantageous technologies for achieving the immutability of foundational literature in the humanities, rather than the absolute "core technology."

• Argue for the "necessity" and "optimality" of blockchain: We need to start from the characteristics and needs of the humanities to argue why immutability is crucial for foundational literature. This is not just a technical issue but fundamentally concerns academic integrity, knowledge transmission, and cultural memory. At the same time, we should compare and analyze the advantages of blockchain relative to other technological solutions (e.g., traditional databases with permission management, trusted third-party certification, etc.), highlighting blockchain's unique value in decentralization, transparency, and traceability, thus arguing for its "optimality" in specific scenarios. For example, traditional solutions may rely on the trust endorsement of central institutions, while blockchain relies on cryptography and distributed consensus, providing a more robust and transparent foundation for trust.

2. From technical details to the elevation of humanistic values:

• Not just a listing of technical principles, but revealing the philosophical implications behind the technology: Your thoughts mentioned technical details such as hash algorithms and consensus mechanisms, which are necessary. But further, we need to explore the humanistic values behind these technical characteristics. For example, the decentralized nature of blockchain corresponds to the humanities' pursuit of academic independence and freedom of thought; the transparency and traceability of blockchain correspond to the humanities' emphasis on academic openness and knowledge sharing; the immutability of blockchain corresponds to the humanities' responsibility to safeguard historical truth and cultural memory. Integrating technical details with humanistic values can elevate the depth and scope of the response.

• Elevate from "literature immutability" to "the reshaping of knowledge infrastructure": Immutability is not just to prevent malicious tampering; its deeper significance lies in constructing a trustworthy, reliable, and sustainable knowledge infrastructure. In the digital age, foundational literature in the humanities faces risks of digital information loss, damage, and manipulation. Blockchain technology can provide new ideas for building the next generation of knowledge infrastructure, enhancing the resilience, credibility, and openness of knowledge. Viewing blockchain applications from this height can reflect its true strategic significance.

3. Deepen the analysis of application scenarios, foresee potential challenges and innovations:

• From "digitizing ancient texts" to "reconstructing the academic ecosystem": Your thoughts mentioned digitizing ancient texts and certifying papers, which are good entry points. But we can further expand application scenarios, for example:

  • Academic identity verification and intellectual property protection: Using blockchain to build a decentralized academic identity system to address academic fraud and identity theft issues; using smart contracts to automatically manage the intellectual property of academic achievements, promoting the reasonable circulation and value distribution of knowledge.
  • Open science and collaborative research: Using blockchain to build open science platforms to promote the sharing of research data and collaborative research, accelerating knowledge innovation.
  • Protection and dissemination of public cultural heritage: Using blockchain to record information about cultural heritage, preventing illegal transactions and destruction, and promoting the digital dissemination and active utilization of cultural heritage.

• Foresee and analyze potential challenges: Your thoughts mentioned challenges such as storage costs and processing speed, which are very important. We can further deepen the analysis, for example:

  • Technical complexity and learning costs: Blockchain technology is relatively complex, and researchers and institutions in the humanities may need to invest significant learning costs to apply it effectively.
  • Data governance and privacy protection: How to balance the transparency of blockchain with the privacy of humanities research? How to establish reasonable data governance rules to prevent data misuse?
  • Legal regulations and ethical norms: The application of blockchain technology may involve new legal regulations and ethical norms, requiring collaboration between the humanities, legal fields, and technology sectors to explore and establish.
  • Sustainability and long-term maintenance: How to ensure the long-term stable operation and data security of blockchain systems? How to establish sustainable maintenance mechanisms to avoid technological obsolescence and data loss?

4. Show more forward-looking and innovative thinking:

• Beyond the perspective of "technical tools," view blockchain as a shift in "cognitive paradigms": Blockchain is not just a technical tool but a new cognitive paradigm. It represents a decentralized, distributed, and transparent way of thinking that can permeate various fields of the humanities, triggering deeper transformations. For example, the consensus mechanism of blockchain can inspire us to rethink the process of forming academic consensus; smart contracts can inspire us to redesign academic evaluation and incentive mechanisms.

• Explore the "symbiotic evolution" of blockchain and the humanities: The humanities in the age of artificial intelligence should not merely passively adapt to technology but actively integrate with it to achieve "symbiotic evolution." Blockchain technology provides new development opportunities for the humanities, and the values and wisdom of the humanities can also guide blockchain technology to develop in a healthier and more human welfare-oriented direction. This perspective of "symbiotic evolution" can showcase more forward-looking and innovative thinking.

Summary:

Your has laid a good foundation. Through the above critical thinking and deepening expansion, we can elevate the response from a technical level to a humanistic level, from an application level to a strategic level, from current situation analysis to future outlook, thus showcasing analytical depth, essential insights, and innovative thinking, truly breaking through cognitive limits and showcasing cognitive extremes. Next, please build your final answer based on these thoughts. I will read it carefully and look forward to your wonderful presentation.

Based on the above information, please discuss in depth the "initial question" I raised: Is blockchain technology one of the core technologies to achieve the immutability of literature? If it is a core technology, how does blockchain achieve the immutability of literature and data in this application scenario?