I think the standard font-size on LessWrong is smaller. Most people would prefer it if you used that.
Apologies for the font size, I was editing in Google Docs rather than the post editor...
As I say above, this is really just a terminological difference, but I think that making it will clarify some of the ideas in the post. In particular, I think that the main content of the post (the seven ways of improving our heuristic judgements), is really useful instrumental rationality, but that the introduction and conclusion hide it in poorly backed up statements about how reducing bias is less important than using good heuristics. I find it strange that these things are even presented in contrast; the techniques you give for improving intuition are techniques for reducing bias. The intuitive judgements become more accurate (i.e. less biased) than they were before.
I admit, terminology is an issue. I perhaps bit off a bit more than I can chew for a first post. I’ll try to fix that.
One final thought: Do the seven methods really focus on System 1 only? Many of them seem like general purpose techniques, an in particular I think that 4, 5, 6,and 7 are actually more System 2.
From the way Klein describes them, they are meant to accelerate expertise. If my interpretation is correct, they are using system 2 to develop system1 for the next scenario. I think part of the problem with how I’m describing this is that experience, which is instrumental in developing expertise, develops intuition. Intuition can either help or hurt. Sometimes we won’t know which until after a decision has been made, other times we might be able to prevent mistakes by running through a checklist of cognitive biases. In the former case, the methods should help next time. In the latter case, you need something (from system 1 for example) to run through the checklist. The checklist on its own isn’t very useful.
Thanks for the comments, criticism is welcomed.
Apologies for the font size, I was editing in Google Docs rather than the post editor...
I admit, terminology is an issue. I perhaps bit off a bit more than I can chew for a first post. I’ll try to fix that.
From the way Klein describes them, they are meant to accelerate expertise. If my interpretation is correct, they are using system 2 to develop system1 for the next scenario. I think part of the problem with how I’m describing this is that experience, which is instrumental in developing expertise, develops intuition. Intuition can either help or hurt. Sometimes we won’t know which until after a decision has been made, other times we might be able to prevent mistakes by running through a checklist of cognitive biases. In the former case, the methods should help next time. In the latter case, you need something (from system 1 for example) to run through the checklist. The checklist on its own isn’t very useful.
Again, thanks for the feedback.
Good point.