Wikipedia:Get to Philosophy

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The object of this game is to click on the first link in an article and repeat the process. About 93% of all articles seem to lead eventually to the article Philosophy. The rest get stuck in two-article loops. Now, isn't that fascinating? If you want to add some more chains, feel free. The current ones will also need updating as people change the links.

The question of why everything goes to philosophy is probably very deep. Here are some selected chains for your perusal.

Contents

[edit] Rules

  • Chains are defined as ending either when Philosophy is reached or you get stuck in a loop.
  • Red links and links to Wiktionary don't count
  • Disambiguation headers etc. don't count; however, seemingly 'trivial' links such as people's date of birth and Latin definitions do.
  • No changing the first links of the articles in the chain yourself!

[edit] Variants

The 50th Wikipedia Weekly podcast discussion on this topic used a variant rule which excluded 'trivial' links at the beginning of articles such as the Latin definitions. Following this rule, fewer articles 'get to philosophy', but most still do, although by different routes. All the chains below use the original rules. Mark J (talk) 14:48, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

Stricter variant: skip Latin. It's nice to think that the articles tend to proceed up to higher and higher levels of generality and abstraction. Unfortunately, a lot of it is simply seems to be going through the Latin article via that little bracketed etymology blurb at the start of many articles. Kindof takes some of the magic out of it if it's just an artifact of the particular way we structure ledes. Either way though, I'd like to see a vector-ish visualization of the lede link structure. I don't doubt it would funnel somewhat, and philosophy does seem like an apt attractor. Nonplus (talk) 02:40, 1 June 2008 (UTC)
If you do that, the top 5 get stuck in a loop at Sociology (if not before).--HereToHelp (talk to me) 02:43, 1 June 2008 (UTC)
Right. Sociology > Social contact > Social actions > Sociology.Nonplus (talk) 02:52, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Chains

The record for the longest chain so far is Super Mario Bros. 3, with 30 links. Would be nice if you could put the number of links in the chain in at the beginning when you make one, cheers.

[edit] Top 5

1. (30): Super Mario Bros. 3 Mario (series) Platform game Video game genres Video game Game Happiness Emotion Quality of life Standard of living Economic inequality Economy Economic system Social organisation Social position Individual Vernacular First language Sociolinguistics Society Group (sociology) Sociology Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy - The Longest one thus far! by Imaginary Pi Slicer

2. (tie) (29): (Random article) Starscape Space combat simulator Space flight simulator game Video game Game Happiness Emotion Quality of life Standard of living Economic inequality Economy Economic system Social organisation Social position Individual Vernacular First language Sociolinguistics Society Group (sociology) Sociology Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy by Chris Mason

2. (tie) (29): (Random article) Heroes Chronicles, Heroes of Might and Magic III, Turn-based strategy, Strategy game, Game, Happiness, Emotion, Quality of life, Standard of living, Economic inequality, Economy, Economic system, Social organization, Social position, Individual, Vernacular, First language, Sociolinguistics, Society, Group (sociology), Sociology, Latin, Indo-European languages, Language family, Language, Symbol, Object, Object (philosophy), Philosophy by EdiOnjales

3. (tie) (28): (Random article) DragonSpires Massively multiplayer online game Video game Game Happiness Emotion Quality of life Standard of living Economic inequality Economy Economic system Social organisation Social position Individual Vernacular First language Sociolinguistics Society Group (sociology) Sociology Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy by Chris Mason

3. (tie) (28): Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Computer role-playing game, Video game, Game, Happiness, Emotion, Quality of life, Standard of living, Economic inequality, Economy, Economic system, Social organization, Social position, Individual, Vernacular, First language, Sociolinguistics, Society, Group (sociology), Sociology, Latin, Indo-European languages, Language family, Language, Symbol, Object, Object (philosophy), Philosophy by CF90

4. (26): (Random article) Disney's Party, Game, Happiness, Emotion, Quality of life, Standard of living, Economic inequality, Economy, Economic system, Social organization, Social position, Individual, Vernacular, First language, Sociolinguistics, Society, Group (sociology), Sociology, Latin, Indo-European languages, Language family, Language, Symbol, Object, Object (philosophy), Philosophy by EdiOnjales

5. (25): iPod, Portable media player, Consumer electronics, Entertainment, Relaxation, Recreation, body, organism, Biology, Greek language, List of languages by first written accounts, Writing, Media (arts), Art, The arts, Culture, Latin, Indo-European languages, Language family, Language, Symbol, Object, Object (philosophy), Philosophy--HereToHelp (talk to me) 02:11, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Others

(in descending numerical order, and then alphabetically within number)

(26) (Random article) Chemin de fer Châtel-St-Denis-Bulle-Montbovon, Chemin de fer Châtel-St-Denis-Palézieux, Narrow gauge railway, Rail transport, Passenger, Vehicle, Mode of transport, Transport, Travel—see note below—Location (geography), Geography, Greek language, List of languages by first written accounts, Writing, Media (arts), Art, The arts, Culture, Latin, Indo-European languages, Language family, Language, Symbol, Object, Object (philosophy), Philosophy by Waltham, The Duke of

I am not listing this in the top five due to concerns about the legitimacy of the edit breaking the "Transport–Travel" loop. Should this entry be deemed unsuitable, I'd have no problem removing it. Waltham, The Duke of 23:20, 30 May 2008 (UTC)
Someone edited the Travel article with edit summary of "added punctuation" while changing the link. lol, sneaky. Chris M. (talk) 06:01, 31 May 2008 (UTC)
Dang I was just about to post Blue Grotto onward for 21 links, yours is better :P Enoktalk 18:56, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

(24) Uniform (disambiguation) Uniform Clothing Human body Human Bipedalism Terrestrial locomotion Evolution Biology Greek language List of languages by first written accounts Writing Media (arts) Art The arts Culture Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy by HereToHelp

(22) Arkansas Highway 3 Magnolia, Arkansas Columbia County, Arkansas County Count Nobility Hereditary title Title Affix Morpheme Morpheme-based morphology Morphology (linguistics) Linguistics Science Latin - as usual... - Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy

(22) (Random article) Kieran Suckling Center for Biological Diversity Tucson, Arizona Pima County, Arizona County (United States) U.S. State State (administrative division) Country Political geography Human geography Geography Earth Planet 2006 definition of planet International Astronomical Union Astronomy Science Physical Entity Distinction Abstraction Philosophy (woo!)

  • For the purposes of this chain I skipped Latin and Greek as well as other links within the etymology - if you don't do this then you'll get a different result.

(22) National gliding associations, gliding, Recreation, body, organism, Biology, Greek language, List of languages by first written accounts, Writing, Media (arts), Art, The arts, Culture, Latin, Indo-European languages, Language family, Language, Symbol, Object, Object (philosophy), Philosophy

(22) Ulugh Muztagh Tibet Tibetan Plateau Plateau Geology Logos Ancient Greek Greek language - deja vu! List of languages by first written accounts Writing Media (arts) Art The arts Culture Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy)] Philosophy

(19) BTG1 Gene Genome Biology Greek language List of languages by first written accounts Writing Media (arts) Art The arts Culture Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy

(19) (Random article) 4Frontiers Corporation Space Universe Everything World Earth Planet 2006 definition of planet International Astronomical Union Astronomy Science Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy

(19) (Random article) Navaikulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Malayalam language, States and territories of India, India, Hindi, Devanagari, Abugida, Ge'ez language, Transliteration, Transcription (linguistics), Spoken language, Natural language, Philosophy of language, Language, Symbol, Object, Object (philosophy), Philosophy by Waltham, The Duke of

I find this one interesting in that it skates through several different languages, and passes from Philosophy of language without finding a direct link to philosophy. Also, the starting point is an orphan. Waltham, The Duke of 02:39, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

(19) SAT Standardized test Test (student assessment) Assessment Institutional research United States Department of Education United States Cabinet Executive (government) Political science Social sciences Science Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy

(19) A film that works! Star Wars Epic film film genre Film Theory Film Film industry Production company Performing arts Art The arts Culture Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy by HereToHelp

(18) Chronology of the Doctor Who universe Doctor Who United Kingdom Sovereignty Right Entitlement Law Institution Social structure Sociology Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy

(18) Cuthwine House of Wessex Monarchy Greek language List of languages by first written accounts Writing Media (arts) Art The arts Culture Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy Latin is probably a very common 1st link in an article but there you go!

(18) (Random article) Three Valleys Les Trois Vallées Savoie Franco-Provençal language Vernacular First language Sociolinguistics Society Group (sociology) Sociology Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy

Prize for a chain above 50 links. I mean that one.

(17) Main Page Wikipedia Free content Work of art Fine art Visual arts Art The arts Culture Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy they all end up here eventually!

(17) Nintendo Entertainment System 8-bit Computer architecture Computer engineering Electrical engineering Engineering Discipline Disciple Disciple (Christianity) Christianity. OK, this is a weird one. Who thought the NES would go through Christianity? Monotheism Theology Religion Reality Being Ontology Philosophy

(17) United Methodist Youth of the North Carolina Conference North Carolina Annual Conference Annual Conference United Methodist Church Methodism Protestantism Christian Christianity Monotheism Theology Religion Reality Being (you missed the link in Reality which is the word "is", and goes to Being) Ontology Philosophy Ethics Philosophy - User:Kevin

(16) Airline codes-P- IATA- International- Nations- Imagined communities- Benedict Anderson- 26 August- Leap year- Lunisolar calendar- Calendar- Time- Religion- Reality- Being- Ontology- Philosophy

(16) Israel laad, Income inequality metrics, Income, Public finance, Public good, Economics, Social sciences, Science, Latin, Indo-European languages, Language family, Language, Symbol, Object, Object (philosophy), Philosophy

(16) (Random article) Maharashtra cricket team, India, Hindi, Devanagari, Abugida, Ge'ez language, Transliteration, Transcription (linguistics), Spoken language, Natural language, Philosophy of language, Language, Symbol, Object (disambiguation), Object (philosophy), Philosophy

(16) Mark (given name) Roman naming conventions Roman Republic Ancient Rome Civilization Society Group (sociology) Sociology Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy

(16) (Random article) Meet the Quagmires Fox Broadcasting Company Television network Television Telecommunication Transmission (telecommunications) Twisted pair Cable Wire Cylinder (geometry) Surface Mathematics Quantity Quality Pragmatism (non-technical usage) Philosophy And again.

(16) Observation Sapience Wisdom Knowledge Oxford English Dictionary Oxford University Press Publishing Literature Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy

(14) Bosstown, Wisconsin Unincorporated area Law Institution Social structure Sociology Latin Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy Wow.

(14) Exercise ball, Elastomer, Polymer, Molecule, Chemistry, Egyptian language, Afro-Asiatic languages, SIL International, United States, Constitutional republic, Republic, State, Social contract, Philosophy

(14) Ultimate (sport) Flying disc Plastic Polymerization Polymer chemistry Science Latin Indo-European language Language family Languages Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy very neat

(13) Flash memory Non-volatile memory Random access memory Acronym and initialism Abbreviation Latin - and I thought this was going somewhere! Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy

(12) Crinkle Crags Fell Old Norse North Germanic languages Germanic languages Indo-European languages Language family Language Symbol Object Object (philosophy) Philosophy

(11) A841 road Great Britain road numbering scheme Numbering scheme Nominal number Numeral system Mathematical notation Mathematics Quantity Quality Pragmatism (non-technical usage) Philosophy GORDON BENNETT!!!

(11) Barack Obama (or any other biography), August 4 (or whatever day for someone else), Leap year (If before Feb. 29, go to Gregorian calendar, then calendar), Lunisolar calendar, Calendar, Time, Religion, Reality, Being, Ontology, Philosophy --HereToHelp (talk to me) 22:54, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

(11) Gregory of Tours November 30 Leap year Lunisolar calendar Calendar Time Religion Reality Being Ontology Philosophy

(10) Abraham England Liberal Party (UK) Labour Party (UK) Political party Political organisation Politics Government State Social contract Philosophy

(10) Billinge Hospital National Health Service National Health Service (England) Socialized medicine United States Constitutional republic Republic State Social contract Philosophy

(9) (Random article) Butry-sur-Oise Commune Administrative division Political division Government State Association Social Contract Philosophy

(9) (Random article) West Ecclesfield, Districts of Sheffield, Sheffield, City status in the United Kingdom, Monarchy of the United Kingdom, Government, State, Social contract, Philosophy

(8) UEFA Champions League 2007-08 UEFA Association football Team sport Sport Activity Action (philosophy) Philosophy - Everything goes to philosophy. Philosophy unites everything!

(7) Barack Obama United States Senate Upper house Bicameralism Government State Social contract Philosophy Had to try this one.

Shouldn't you use his birth day? That yields (11) (see listed under 11 above)

(7) (Random article) Wedaustadion Stadium Sport Activity Action Action (philosophy) Philosophy

(6) Cadet grades and insignia of the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Uniformed services State Social contract Philosophy

(6) Lindsay Lohan American Constitutional Republic State Social contract Philosophy Lindsay Lohan to Philosophy in six easy steps. How unlikely.

(6) (Random article) Legendre polynomials Mathematics Quantity Quality Pragmatism (non-technical usage) Philosophy

(FAIL) Beer Alcoholic beverage Drink Liquid States of matter Bose-Einstein condensate State of matter

(FAIL) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 2008 in film Rambo (film) 2008 in film LOL

(FAIL) List of peaks by prominence Mountain Landform Geomorphology Landform DARN CIRCULAR LOGIC

(FAIL) Naruto (as attempted on the podcast) Romanization of Japanese Latin alphabet Alphabet Letter (alphabet) Alphabet - DARN LOOPS

(FAIL) Phoenix (spacecraft) Robotic spacecraft Spacecraft Vehicle Mode of transport Transport Travel Transport WHO THINKS THESE THINGS UP ANYWAY?

[edit] Strategy

A few notes about strategy seem appropriate here.

For starters, any article about a person will get to Philosophy in 10 or 11 links, because the first link in nearly everyone's biography is their birth date, and the first link in any article about a day will by Leap year, or Gregorian calendar, both of which arrive shortly at Calendar. The chain then goes quickly through Time and Religion to Philosophy.

Other topics which link quickly to Philosophy are Mathematics (through quality, oddly), Religion and Sport (through Action).

Many countries, as well as place names, and Government, go to the word State, which after Social Contract goes straight to Philosophy

The most common method of getting to Philosophy is through a Latin definition. A lot of articles begin with an etymology, which has a link to Latin (or, on occasion, Greek, which ends up at Latin after going through Writing and Art). The topics of Science (which many topics, such as Astronomy, Politics and Linguistics go to), Sociology, Literature and Culture all have Latin as their first link. Articles such as Monarchy and Biology lead straight to Greek. The path from Latin to Philosophy is only 7 links long and goes from Language through Symbol.

Some connections are decidedly unusual. For example, engineering leads through Christianity and most TV shows will go through telecommunication and then mathematics.

Some closely related articles have wildly differing paths. Economics has a path length of 11 whereas Economy has 19.

The subject of video games seems to be the best candidate for a slow burn. Most articles on video games go through Game, which after passing through Happiness and Standard of Living leads on to Economy. From here it's a long haul through sociological topics to Sociology which leads in to the "Latin coda".

[edit] Articles likely to loop instead of going to Philosophy

  • Many vehicles or transport-related articles get stuck in Transport, Travel, Transport. Changed.
  • Any article about a film will go to "XXXX in film", which will go to the first film in that list, which will go straight back to XXXX in film again.
  • Landform and Geomorphology provide a loop hole for many geographical articles.
  • Alphabet and Letter. A lot of Japanese articles end up here after passing through "Romanisation of the Japanese alphabet".
  • Anything related to brands and perhaps companies will get stuck in the Advertising loop: Advertising Internet marketing Marketing Advertising.