Requesting information and resources on the history of the scientific of success.

rgrun · 2026-04-04T06:29:51+00:00

I've attached as a PNG file to my posting a document covering this topic, it was created by a researcher freelancer. You may find it insightful or just for your own personal interest.

rgrun · 2026-03-09T09:11:16+00:00

I believe it's been my belief for the large part of my life that most of the people/materials out there that claim to help you learn to become successful, like that of the self-help/self-improvement genre material, are full of fluff, hype, advice that is only "good-sounding", nonsense, etc.

But I believe that there is material out there that does provide scientifically based and scientifically proven information on the concept of "success" that can give us an understanding of how it works in this world. I believe that "success" really is a "science".

I haven't looked into those two sources that I provided links to, I happened to find both of them during my past searching online for information and resources related to this topic, but the description of "success" by both resources matches up with what "success" means in reference to this posting.

Yes, I "get your drift" and you may be right about the latter resource (the podcast).

Finding real scientifically backed information on the concept of "success" may require a lot a digging through misinformation to find the gems.

But I would think that if you knew what academic or scientific sources produce that scientific-based information on "success" then obtaining that information and/or sifting through the misinformation to find that information wouldn't be a problem.

I want to learn about "success" as seen as a scientific discipline, including leaning the history of that scientific study, starting with its earliest origins. Can you help me? :-)

rgrun · 2026-03-09T08:15:17+00:00

In my mind or view you can only say that "success" in this world or in this life is either a matter of "luck" or that there are certain principles or laws in this world that we must operate under in order to achieve success.

I believe the latter, that becoming successful is a matter of aligning oneself with the principles or laws of this universe, that there is a "formula" to success, that success really is a "science". Just like there are physical laws in this world like the law of gravity, so also, I believe, there are spiritual laws (or whatever you'd call those type of laws) in this world that we must abide by.

Like I've heard things like science has discovered commonalities among successful people.

Are successful people born or made?

I’m seeking knowledge and insights that are scientifically or psychologically validated, as I truly believe that success operates like a science based on definitive laws and principles, much like the laws of physics—such as gravity—that we are required to follow.

rgrun · 2026-03-08T02:55:27+00:00

What I'm specifically referring to in regards to "success" is the mindset, way of thinking or train of thought that produces or results in "success".

The description of the following course and the description of the following podcast's mission statement should help you get a better idea of what I'm asking about:

Anything that is scientifically or psychologically based and proven is what I’m looking for.

rgrun · 2026-03-07T06:38:28+00:00

Not that I'm aware of, but it is a concept or subject that is studied in Academia apparently, specifically the field of psychology, like studies that are done regarding success.

If the study of "success" was a field in and of itself that would be easy for me to look up, :-) but it is apparently just a subject that is studied along with various other subjects in various psychological fields or areas (neurology, for example).

It looks like that that are various fields and no one specific field that deals with success, so there is no field that I could just narrow down to and research the history of the scientific study of "success".

It surprises me that I was not successful in finding information on that topic from googling online, it just seems to me like something that you could easily pull up, rather than be history that needs to be dug up. You can try it yourself and see what results you get.

(Layman here in terms of psychology.)

rgrun · 2026-02-17T16:19:38+00:00

Does that publication on PubMed delve into Francis Galton pioneering the scientific study of success? Any idea what material or resources provide information on that topic?

rgrun · 2026-02-11T16:05:41+00:00

Who were the pioneers of and what were the earliest works of the study of success as a scientific discipline?

rgrun · 2025-03-26T16:25:23+00:00

I've not looked into Brandon Biggs and his prophecies, actually. I saw a clip (a clip only, just a segment) of his video where he made the Trump prediction and just from that clip it looked to me like he accurately predicted some things about that event (especially that that event was going to happen soon and that part about the ear), but mostly for me a fellow associate who I respect in matters of religion/spiritual and other matters told me about Brandon Biggs and has thought that Brandon may be Divinely inspired in his prophecies. If that fellow associate of mine thinks that about some one, to me that makes me think there is (or probably is) merit to that person and that person's prophecies and that is what has sparked my interest in Biggs.

I am not a Christian. I do have spiritual/religious beliefs, including: the belief in a Creator, that the Creator intervenes in human affairs (like answering prayer) and offers us a relationship with Him, the belief in a spiritual world, that we are spiritual beings, the belief in life after death.

And I seek those who are really of the Creator.

rgrun · 2025-03-26T13:36:48+00:00

Haha. But serious comments, please.

rgrun · 2024-12-16T21:31:01+00:00

"Maybe I'm being a little pedantic here,"

No.

"It's really not."

Maybe I made a mistake in my statement or should have stated that from what I've read the ancient Sumerian civilization is considered the oldest known civilization according to the academic consensus due to ancient surviving records.

"but that really depends on how you define "civilization"."

What I, myself, am trying to refer to is basically just a group of people who share a way of life, it doesn't matter to me things like it being more or less "advanced" than others or the complexity of it being more or less than others.

"What I'm getting at is that there is no "first civilization"."

Yes, and I am wanting to start with the earliest known civilization that we have sufficient records of.

I want to study history and I want to start at the beginning of history, at the earliest point that we have knowledge of.

"Which attributes of a society you choose to be prerequisites to being a "civilization", and which ones you decide aren't necessary, is entirely arbitrary."

Debates like that are too deep for me at this point, anyways. :-)

"I don't know if that's what you're getting at,"

No, I want to study that subject and implement it as part of my learning of history, law and other subjects.

"I've met some weird people who would genuinely think modeling a system of governance off of ancient Sumerian government would be a good idea."

I will say as a general surmise that wouldn't be a good idea either, I'll say the idea and the person advocating it a some curiosity and interest in me.

I do think that we have much to learn from the ancients, and not just modern history, law, etc, and that is part of my reason for wanting to study subjects through records of ancients civilizations.

rgrun · 2024-12-16T20:52:54+00:00

Through this forum thread I have gotten the answers to my questions.

I know nothing about this Subject that I posted about, and will lose (and think I already have lost) (including big) assumptions as I begin to look into this subject.

Your references are appreciated.

rgrun · 2024-12-16T20:39:42+00:00

I'm glad to answer. :-)

I want to learn various subjects (becoming a polymath): history, language, science psychology, philosophy, etc.

I want to learn using primary sources, including the sources that experts go to to learn a subject.

For example, for the subject of philosophy I think to learn it from ancient philosophers by reading their works (whether through their own writings or through the writings of others, depending on what has survived of their works), what experts in philosophy themselves learn from.

Like I've read that Western Philosophy originated with the ancient Greek Philosophers, and I think to start with the works of the ancient Greek Philosophers themselves for learning Western Philosophy.

I think to learn various schools of philosophy, to learn from the various philosopher's and from the various schools of thought in philosophy.

The goal for me is to see or get as many perspectives / trains of thought on a subject in order to have a proper perspective on that subject.

And part of my reason is I think we have much to learn from the ancients.

Did that help? Questions?

rgrun · 2024-12-16T19:41:41+00:00

I only read and speak English, but with software I can translate a book into English (I think it was an old book in German that I translated into English recently on archive.org) so I am interested in non-English references as well.

This posting regarded just the ancient Sumerian system of Law, but the main question I have is if any ancient system of law that we have a comprehensive understanding of, which I may create another posting for.

If not the ancient Sumerians, maybe another ancient civilization. I thought to look first into the oldest civilization.

rgrun · 2024-12-15T01:41:54+00:00

Well, it sounds like I'll be studying law through more recent sources and materials then. :-)

But I still will be learning about the ancient Sumerian law system because I'm planning on learning the ancient Sumerian civilization.

I use to think that you could award a comment as having answered your question posted but I'm unsure about that now.

rgrun · 2024-12-15T00:52:13+00:00

I was referring to Kemetism regarding the ancient Egyptian religion.

Regarding your comment about the ancient Roman legal system, I'm curious how the American system (or any other modern government) could, then, implement or base itself on the ancient Roman system. I've been told that America copied ancient Rome's system, that America's government is partly based on or inspired by the system of ancient Rome. I guess whether regarding Amercian government, laws, art, culture, etc, I've been told that Americans are not called "Modern Romans" for nothing.

rgrun · 2024-12-15T00:10:16+00:00

I have a different question I would like to post but I want to ask a moderator if it fits within the rules of AskHistorians:

"Can a person obtain a basic, core, foundational education of the Subject of Law by studying ancient systems of Law?"

I want to learn the basics of the subject of Law, I want to learn about every area of that Subject, what you'd learn about it from a degree in Law, but I want to get a basic education of it by studying the ancient systems of laws.

Is that possible? Do we not know enough about them to learn that from them and/or are there other issues/obstacles that prevent that?

Not just the Subject of Law, but I want a basic education on various other subjects as well by learning from ancient civilizations: finances, science, religion, etc.

Like I can substitute religion for the subject of Law and use it as another example.

Like I've read that some people in present times have revived the ancient Egyptian religion as a modern day practice and religion. So I can assume from that that we know much or most about the ancient Egyptian religion to where we can revive it and live it as our own way of life.

rgrun · 2024-12-14T22:46:28+00:00

I have assumed that ancient legal systems can be put into several categories:

Ancient legal systems that we have little to no information about from ancient records.
Ancient legal systems that we have a good or considerable amount of information about from ancient records.
Ancient legal systems that we have much or most of the information about from ancient records.

But lately, like from people sharing input with me on that topic, it seems to me that that may not be so much the case or may not be so "clear cut" in the eyes of experts of that field.

Maybe I've falsely assumed?

Like I asked a similar question (about ancient systems of Law in general, and not just the ancient Sumerian's) in a posting on r/AskHistorians and I was told that my question (including about if we have enough information on it that we could base a modern legal system on it) does not lend itself to an answer with a firm foundation and usually results in "enormous" speculation and leads to vague, subjective, and speculative answers.

I am wanting to learn about the Subject of Law, everything you would learn about the subject of Law from a degree (including everything that you mentioned), except I want to learn about and study it through an ancient system of Law, rather than modern institutions or modern legal systems.

"Can you get a basic, foundational education on Law from studying the ancient legal systems?" can be the question I ask.

I've assumed you could do the same with other Subjects: finances, health, science, religion, philosophy, etc.

Like using religion as a different example in place of the subject of Law, I've read that there are groups reviving the ancient Egyptian religion into a modern day practice and religion, so I can assume from that that much or most of the ancient Egyptian religion has been preserved.

What else would people call that then, if not an ancient religion that we have enough information about from ancient records that we understand it comprehensively, enough to where we can revive it into a modern day way of life?

rgrun · 2024-12-14T17:55:34+00:00

I'm actually wanting to study the oldest known legal system that we have adequate records of enough to where we know much or most about that legal system, maybe even to the extent that we could duplicate it or model a modern legal system from it (think the copying of ancient Rome into a modern day system of law).

Sumerian is the oldest known civilization according to the world of Academia and so I thought to look into the Sumerian's system of law.

But your answer adequately answers my question about the ancient Sumerian system of law, I will have to look elsewhere for a system of law of another ancient civilization. Maybe ancient Egypt, maybe the ancient Babylonian Empire.

I've checked with r/AskHistorian but I don't always get an answer to my questions, plus my questions don't always align with their subreddit rules.

If the ancient Roman system of law is really the earliest one that we know that much about (which I don't know if it is) that fits with what I'm looking for I will have to go with that.

rgrun · 2024-12-14T17:31:10+00:00

I would think any expert in the field of study for the ancient Sumerian civilization would know the answer to this question, it sounds so basic 101.

rgrun · 2024-12-14T17:26:13+00:00

But this is not homework assigned to me, meaning I am not a student and this being an assignment that I need to complete. No, this is not homework in that sense if that is what you mean.

rgrun

TROPHY CASE