Skip to main content

Problem-Solving --- Unusual Tips

 

Problem-Solving --- Unusual Tips

These tips were written for problem-solving across disciplines. They are for general application to big problems. Yet, they are not found as a collection. In fact, except for the ones attributed to Sir Isaac Newton and Leonardo da Vinci, they are nowhere to be found.

-------------------

  1. Before you start thinking outside the box, you should know what’s inside the box. The solution might be right there.
  2. Solving problems: Real-life problems are rarely multiple-choice.
  3. Sentio, ergo est. (I feel it, therefore it is.) Bad for science. Bad for problem-solving. Bad for politics.
  4. When solving a problem, it is often helpful to transform it into alternate but equivalent forms.
  5. Often the first step of understanding is via the analogy. Basically, you learn something new by comparison to something old that you do know.
  6. How and why are often miles apart. Know what you’re looking for.  The how requires innovation; the why requires imagination.
  7. One of the greatest unknowns about the truly intelligent is the sheer speed with which they can reject bad ideas.
  8. Understanding how something works may not convey any understanding of why it works. Understanding why something works by no means implies you can build it.
  9. Understanding the problem is not unlike understanding a pocket watch. First, you learn its shape and scope. Second, you learn what it’s about, i.e. it tells time. Then, looking inside you figure out its parts and how they work. Now, you’re ready to solve it. Don’t skip steps.
  10. When solving a difficult problem, obsession can help. That is, you must internalize the problem and dedicate your every effort to solving it. You become temporarily obsessed.
  11. “If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been due more to patient attention, than to any other talent.” --- Sir Isaac Newton
  12. The greatest deception faced when solving problems is one’s own opinions. – paraphrased from Leonardo da Vinci.
  13. Keep your mind open at all times. You never know when something interesting will get through.


Note. Some of these may have an attribution. If you know of any, please let me know.



©2024 G Donald Allen

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Please Comment.

Popular posts from this blog

UNCERTAINTY IS CERTAIN

  Uncertainty is Certain G. Donald Allen 12/12/2024 1.       Introduction . This short essay is about uncertainty in people from both secular and nonsecular viewpoints. One point that will emerge is that randomly based uncertainty can be a driver for religious structure. Many groups facing uncertainty about their future are deeply religious or rely on faith as a source of comfort, resilience, and guidance. The intersection of uncertainty and religiosity often stems from the human need to find meaning, hope, and stability in the face of unpredictable or challenging circumstances. We first take up the connections of uncertainty to religion for the first real profession, farming, noting that hunting has many similar uncertainties. Below are groups that commonly lean on religious beliefs amidst uncertainty.   This short essay is a follow-up to a previous piece on certainty (https://used-ideas.blogspot.com/2024/12/certainty-is-also-emotion.html). U...
Post a Comment
Read more

CERTAINTY IS ALSO AN EMOTION

  Certainty is also a Feeling Certainty is often viewed as a mental state tied to knowledge and confidence, but it also functions as a feeling with distinct emotional and physiological components. While it arises from cognitive processes, certainty also has a subjective and emotional quality that makes it more than just a rational judgment. It provides a sense of assurance and security that shapes human experience in profound ways. Emotional Dimension . At its core, certainty evokes emotions that influence how we perceive and interact with the world. When someone feels certain, they often experience relief, comfort, or empowerment. These emotions are particularly strong when uncertainty or doubt is resolved, offering a sense of closure. For example, solving a complex problem or having a belief validated by evidence brings not just intellectual satisfaction but also emotional reassurance. Subjectivity. Certainty is inherently personal and subjective. It depends on individual...
Post a Comment
Read more

Lies, Deceit, and the National Agenda

The world you grew up in is no more.  The world of reasonable honesty and reasonable lies has been replaced by abject dishonesty and blatant lies. Lies.  Yes. People have always told them.  You have told them; so have I.   We need lies; they are a foundational structure of social living.  They both deceive and protect.  Children tell them to their parents to avoid consequences, like punishment.  Adults tell them to their bosses, to enhance their position and/or avoid consequences of poor performance.  Our bosses tell them to their boards to suggest business is good, the project is on target, or the detractors are wrong.  The boards tell them to shareholders to protect their own credibility and most importantly, stock values.   Our politicians tell lies to their constituents, though sometimes innocently with them not actually knowing much more than they've been told.  They enhance their positio...
2 comments
Read more