Hm. Yes, rationality gave us such timeless techniques like “think about the problem for at least 5 minutes by the clock”, but I’m saying that nothing in the LW canon helps you make sure that what you come up with in those 5 minutes will be useful.
Not to mention, this sounds to me like “trying to solve the problem” rather than “solving the problem” (more precisely, “acting out the role of someone making a dutiful attempt to solve the problem”, I’m sure there’s a Sequence post about this). I feel like people who want to do X (in the sense of the word “want” where it’s an actual desire, no Elephant-in-the-brain bullshit) do X, so they don’t have time to set timers to think about how to do X.
What I’m saying here about rationality is that it doesn’t help you figure out, on your own, unprompted, whether what you’re doing is acting out a role to yourself rather than taking action. (Meditation helps, just in case anyone thought I would ever shut up about meditation.)
But rationality does help you to swallow your pride and listen when someone else points it out to you, prompts you to think about it, which is why I think rationality is very useful.
I don’t think you can devise a system for yourself which prompts you in this way, because the prompt must come from someone who sees the additional dimension of the solution space. They must point you to the additional dimension. That might be hard. Like explaining 3D to a 2-dimensional being.
On the other hand, pointing out when you’re shooting yourself in the foot (e.g. eating unhealthy, not working out, spending money on bullshit) is easy for other people and rationality gives you the tools to listen and consider. Hence, rationality protects you against shooting yourself in the foot, because the information about health etc. is out there in abundance, most people just don’t use their ears.
I might be just repeating myself over and over again, I don’t know, anyway, these are the things that splosh around in my head.
I feel like people who want to do X (in the sense of the word “want” where it’s an actual desire, no Elephant-in-the-brain bullshit) do X, so they don’t have time to set timers to think about how to do X.
Yeah. When someone does not do X, they probably have a psychological problem, most likely involving lying to themselves. Setting up the timer won’t make the problem go away. (The rebelling part of the brain will find a way to undermine the progress.) See a therapist instead, or change your peer group.
The proper moment to go meta is when you are already doing X, already achieving some outcomes, and your question is how to make the already existing process more efficient. Then, 5 minutes of thinking can make you realize e.g. that some parts of the process can be outsourced or done differently or skipped completely. Which can translate to immediate gains.
In other words, you should not go meta to skip doing your ABC, but rather to progress from ABC to D.
If instead you believe that by enough armchair thinking you can skip directly to Z, you are using “rationality” as a substitute for prayer. Also, as another excuse for why you are not moving your ass.
Hm. Yes, rationality gave us such timeless techniques like “think about the problem for at least 5 minutes by the clock”, but I’m saying that nothing in the LW canon helps you make sure that what you come up with in those 5 minutes will be useful.
Not to mention, this sounds to me like “trying to solve the problem” rather than “solving the problem” (more precisely, “acting out the role of someone making a dutiful attempt to solve the problem”, I’m sure there’s a Sequence post about this). I feel like people who want to do X (in the sense of the word “want” where it’s an actual desire, no Elephant-in-the-brain bullshit) do X, so they don’t have time to set timers to think about how to do X.
What I’m saying here about rationality is that it doesn’t help you figure out, on your own, unprompted, whether what you’re doing is acting out a role to yourself rather than taking action. (Meditation helps, just in case anyone thought I would ever shut up about meditation.)
But rationality does help you to swallow your pride and listen when someone else points it out to you, prompts you to think about it, which is why I think rationality is very useful.
I don’t think you can devise a system for yourself which prompts you in this way, because the prompt must come from someone who sees the additional dimension of the solution space. They must point you to the additional dimension. That might be hard. Like explaining 3D to a 2-dimensional being.
On the other hand, pointing out when you’re shooting yourself in the foot (e.g. eating unhealthy, not working out, spending money on bullshit) is easy for other people and rationality gives you the tools to listen and consider. Hence, rationality protects you against shooting yourself in the foot, because the information about health etc. is out there in abundance, most people just don’t use their ears.
I might be just repeating myself over and over again, I don’t know, anyway, these are the things that splosh around in my head.
Yeah. When someone does not do X, they probably have a psychological problem, most likely involving lying to themselves. Setting up the timer won’t make the problem go away. (The rebelling part of the brain will find a way to undermine the progress.) See a therapist instead, or change your peer group.
The proper moment to go meta is when you are already doing X, already achieving some outcomes, and your question is how to make the already existing process more efficient. Then, 5 minutes of thinking can make you realize e.g. that some parts of the process can be outsourced or done differently or skipped completely. Which can translate to immediate gains.
In other words, you should not go meta to skip doing your ABC, but rather to progress from ABC to D.
If instead you believe that by enough armchair thinking you can skip directly to Z, you are using “rationality” as a substitute for prayer. Also, as another excuse for why you are not moving your ass.