That said, I don’t typically ask myself this question. Is this a question you routinely ask yourself? If so, do you find that it’s actually helpful to ask it, as distinct from the benefits you would get from e.g. a general cue like “think harder about this problem”?
Noticing is one of the basic skills of rationality, though not much mentioned here, other than the mantra, “I notice that I am confused.” Noticing things both outside you, and inside you. You cannot update on evidence you have not noticed, search for evidence you have not noticed you need, think about what you have not noticed you need to think about, examine beliefs you have not noticed you are holding, or resolve a confusion you have not noticed you are in.
It is a useful question to ask from time to time, and especially when experiencing any perplexity.
Noticing is one of the basic skills of rationality, though not much mentioned here, other than the mantra, “I notice that I am confused.” Noticing things both outside you, and inside you. You cannot update on evidence you have not noticed, search for evidence you have not noticed you need, think about what you have not noticed you need to think about, examine beliefs you have not noticed you are holding, or resolve a confusion you have not noticed you are in.
It is a useful question to ask from time to time, and especially when experiencing any perplexity.