We waste an enormous amount of energy trying to distinguish between things we must accept and things we should change. Traditional philosophy calls this the "dichotomy of control," but it rarely tells you how to tell the difference between gravity (which you can't change) and tax policy (which you can). The result is a kind … Continue reading Deferential Realism: Core Concept
Tag: mental models
Why Fish Don’t Know They’re Wet
You know that David Foster Wallace speech about fish? Two young fish swimming along, older fish passes and says "Morning boys, how's the water?" The young fish swim on, then one turns to the other: "What the hell is water?" That's the point. We don't notice what we're swimming in. The Furniture We Sit In … Continue reading Why Fish Don’t Know They’re Wet
The Power of Compounding
"Things add up. You learn one skill. Then another. You finish one project. Then another. Over time, your accomplishments add up to form an impressive feat.This is especially true for money. Most people earned their money over time. Few people make a big financial splash. Forget about the Conor McGregors and Evan Spiegels of this … Continue reading The Power of Compounding
The Big Here Quiz
30 questions to elevate your awareness (and literacy) of the greater place in which you live:1) Point north.2) What time is sunset today?3) Trace the water you drink from rainfall to your tap.4) When you flush, where do the solids go? What happens to the waste water?5) How many feet (meters) above sea level are … Continue reading The Big Here Quiz
The Understructure of Thought
Language imposes limitations. When we reason, we use language, whether symbolic or natural. But, our understanding, or, perhaps it is better to talk about it as an intuition, runs deeper than our reason. A common example can be found in a terms like "creepy", "janky", etc. We use these terms when there is uncertainty, when … Continue reading The Understructure of Thought
The Four Reading Levels
Elementary: What does the text say? Literacy.Inspectual: What is this article/book about? Superficial, skimming.Analytical: Is the information / argument good? Meaning, perspective and use.Synoptic: Comparative. Trying to incorporate multiple points of view into our own view. Nothing I want to quote from the article by Bruno Boksic on this topic. But, I thought it was … Continue reading The Four Reading Levels
Metaphor as Mental Model
"In 2011, Stanford researchers Paul Thibodeau and Lera Boroditsky published research that showed how the way we talk about crime changes our ideas about what to do about it. They asked two groups of students to read reports about crime in their area - one using a metaphor of crime as a ‘beast’ that was … Continue reading Metaphor as Mental Model
Nothing’s More Practical Theory
"If we want to learn to use a system, part of that is speeding up this process of operant conditioning - learning what's safe, and what to avoid. Having an adequate mental model of the system seems to be a key part of that, because it lets you figure out this mapping of action to … Continue reading Nothing’s More Practical Theory
It Sounds Convincing, But What Am I Missing?
In the digital age, all information is misinformation. No universal ever fits the particulars. Maps and simulations are conjured whole from minds. If you think you understand something, you don't.
Resolution of the Mirage
"As explained by Lisa Feldman Barrett, a professor of psychology at Northeastern University, emotions take form as we interpret events and our physiological states. The richer the repertoire of emotional concepts we have to draw on, the more precisely we can name our feelings. This articulation shapes our experience of the world: The more precisely … Continue reading Resolution of the Mirage
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