FAQ: Genius and Creativity

22/2/2015
FAQ:GeniusandCreativity
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FAQ:Geniusandcreativity
Thefollowingquestionshavebeenaskedinreferenceto"Therootsofcreativityandgenius":
Whatmakesagenius?
Educationasaformulaforgeniusrequiresappropriatesocialandeconomicalmedium
Educationistargetedatproblemsolving
Problemsolvingmayinvolveavaryingdegreeofcreativity
Geniusescreateforaliving
Effectiveworkdoesnothavetoimplythelossofthejoyoflife
Acomputermetaphorseemstobethesimplestwayofexplainingthebraintonontechnicalpeople
Allmodelsaresubjecttomisuse,whichshouldnotpreventmodeling
Giftednessisnotapreconditionofgenius
Sexandracedonotmattermuchforgeniusaccomplishment
Multipleintelligencescanbedescribedwiththecomputermetaphoraswell
Differencesinpersonalityunderliemanycorrelationsbetweensociopsychologicalvariables
ChildrenwithDownSyndromehavelowerIQ
WhatistheIQofthegreatestgeniuses
IQof120isenoughforaNobelPrize
Positiveemotionsdonothavetobepleasant
Delayedgratificationskillsdevelopslowlyandarenotadefinitepredictorofintellectual
development
Brainstormingdoesnothavetodisrupttheschedule
Greatbreakthroughsareoftenbasedonsimpleassociations
Does1969matter?
Canpeoplebeintelligentandnotcreative?
Anideadoesnothavetobeimplementedtotestifytocreativity
Sheldonexperimentisthestateoftheartintheareaofunderstandinghumanneeds
Youshouldnotlosesleepoverunavoidablelimitations
Chessgrandmastersusedifferentareasoftheirbraintoplanchessmoves
Polgarexperimentshouldratherbeunderstoodasacasestudy
Geniusescanbefoundeverywhere
Individualgeniusisnotthebestpredictorofsuccessincollectiveleadership
Knowledgeofidiomsisnotareliablepredictorofapotentialforintellectualgrowth
SuperMemocanbeusedforgeneratingandorganizingnewideas
Beingpoliticallycorrect
Thestressofselfdisciplinecanbeovercome.
Educationisindeedtargetedatproblemsolving
Question:
Ithinkthatthepurposeofeducationisnottoimproveourproblemsolvingability,buttoimproveour
abilitytofunctioninsociety.Howcanslappingachildwhowantstoeatacakebeforedinnerenhanceits
problemsolving?
http://www.supermemo.com/help/faq/genius.htm
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Answer:
Problemsolvingisunderstoodherestrictlyincomputationalterms.Everytaskcanberepresentedasa
computationalproblem.Allourlifeisbasedoncomputing"Whattodonext?".Ifyoucompareachild's
braintoacomputer,theactofslappingcanbecomparedtoaddinganewrule"Nocakebeforedinner".
Inthefuture,thisrulecanbechangedtoamoresophisticatedform(e.g."Foodsofhighglycemicindex
arenotrecommendedbeforethemainmealdueto...",etc.).Thisrulecanbeusedinproblemsolving.
Forexample,themoststraightforwardproblemcouldbe"ShallIeatthiscakenow?",andamore
sophisticatedproblemcouldbe"WhichrestaurantshouldIchoosetonight?".Inthelattercase,thesame
rulewouldbeevokedtosolvetheproblem.Answeringmoralquestionscanalsoberepresentedinterms
ofproblemsolving.Wefunctionwellinthesocietyifourcomputingbrainisgoodatsolvingpuzzles
relevantinsocialsituations,andnotonly
Problemsolvingmayinvolveavaryingdegreeofcreativity
Question:
Whatisthedifferencebetweenproblemsolvingandcreativity?Thosetermsareusedoftenbutwere
neverclearlydefined
Answer:
Imaginealabyrinth.Inproblemsolving,youknowexactlywhereyouwanttoget.Youwillapplyrules
storedinyourmemorytonavigatethroughthelabyrinthwithanefforttoreachthepredetermined
destination.Inpurecreativity,youdonotknowwhatyouwanttoaccomplishorwhereyouwanttoget.
Youmayjuststraythroughthelabyrinthinhopeoffindingsomethingvaluable.Inreallife,problem
solvingwillinvolveadegreeofcreativitywhichisproportionaltoindeterminacyofthereasoningpath
(i.e.thedegreeofyourderivationorapplicationofinferencerulesbeingnondeterministic).Ifyouhave
toanswerthequestion:Whatisthevalueof6x7?,youwilldeterministicallyretrieveafactfromyour
memory:6x7=42.Thisisapurerecall(orfactbasedproblemsolving).Ifyouhavetoanswer:Whatis
thevalueof16x17?,youwilldeterministicallyretrievefacts(e.g.6x7=42).Thenyouwill
deterministicallyretrievesimplemultiplicationandadditionrulestoconcludethat160+70+42=272.
Thisisrulebasedproblemsolving.Ifyouhavetosolveadifferentialequation,youwill
deterministicallyretrievetherulesandthenyoumaystartnondeterministicallytraversingthedecision
tree:youmayhavemorethanonepathtotraverse.Solvingsuchnondeterministicproblemsrequires
creativity(i.e.trickstoefficientlymoveinsidethelabyrinth).Thisiscreativeproblemsolving.Ifyou
havetoinventanewmarketingsloganforyourcompany,thedegreeofcreativitywillincreasefurther.
Yoursearchspacewillbenearlyinfinite.Luckily,yourassociativebrainwillquicklyfindacoupleof
plausibleassociationsandyoumay"create"theanswerinseconds.Thenyoucanfurtheriterateover
variousbranchesofyoursearchtreeortryfarreaching"jumps"viaassociation(see:Ideafisherand
incrementalreading).Thepowerofknowledgeinproblemsolvingisthatthemoreknowledgeyou
have,thelesscreativityyouneed,butthemorecreativityyouareabletoapply
IQofthegreatestgeniuses
Question:
WhatisJuditPolgar'sIQ?Howaboutothergeniuses?
Answer:
SeveralsourcesindicatethatJuditPolgar'sIQmightbearound170,butIQdataarenotoriously
misquotedandmisleading.Seealso:
http://www.surfonby.com/iqtest/iqfacts.html
http://home8.swipnet.se/~w80790/Q&A/Q&A_2.htm
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Multipleintelligencescanbedescribedwiththecomputermetaphoraswell(#5795)
Question:
YoucompletelyignoreDr.HowardGardner'smultipleintelligencesandputemphasisononlytwotypes
ofintelligence:linguisticandlogical
Answer:
Themodelofabrainstoringfactsandrulesusedinproblemsolvingencompassesmostofmultiple
intelligences.ThisgoesfarbeyondthestandardIQwhichindeedhasalinguisticandlogicalbias.The
interestofeducatorsshouldfocusonintelligenceenhancedbyexpertise(Definition1).Thevarietyof
classesofexpertiseislargeenoughfortheneedtoextractcommonfactorsthatmaketrainingefficient.
Spatialintelligenceistologicalintelligenceasgeometryistologic.Itsimplyreferstoadifferent
substance(differentfactsandrules)withoutchangingtherulesofengagement:trainingenhancesskillsin
allformsofhumanactivity.Kinestheticintelligencemayhaveastronggeneticunderpinningsbut
kinesthetictrainingwillalsodevelopasetofnewrulesencodedintheneuralnetworkofthemotor
system.Thefactthattheserulescannotbeverbalizeddoesnotdetractfromtheapplicabilityofthe
computermetaphorandbrain'sprogrammability.Interpersonalintelligence,herereferredtoassocial
skillsisacombinationofanemotionalprofileofanindividual(EmotionalIQ)andsocialexpertise(facts
andrulesofefficientsocialconduct).Musicalexpertisewillcombine"musicalintelligence"or"talent"
andabatteryofproceduralanddeclarativerulesdevelopedinthecourseofmusicaltraining,etc.The
formulabasedonstoringnewfactsandrulesinmemoryviatrainingisuniversal
Sexandracedonotmattermuchforgeniusaccomplishment
Question:
Whatisthelinkbetweensex,raceandgenius?
Answer:
IQtests,personalitytests,SATscores,etc.,inevitablyshowdifferencesbetweenrace,ethnicity,family
background,childcare,sex,andevenreligiousbeliefsinthefamily.However,theprescriptionfor
accomplishinggeniusisthesame(see:GeniusChecklist).Consequently,thedifferencesmaybe
importanttopsychologists,evolutionarybiologists,ethnographers,etc.Toayoungbrightmind,the
differencesareoflittleconcernanddonotaffecthisorherstrategyforcreativelife
Geniusescreateforaliving
Question:
WhatdoesGeniusdoforliving?
Answer:
Creativityisnaturallythemostdesirablewayforgeniusestomaketheirliving.DuringtheGreat
Depression,eventhebrightestmindsfounditdifficulttogetthemostmenialwork.InMiddleAges,few
couldliveofcreativity.Today,eveninlesserdevelopedcountries,geniusescanfindgreatoutletsfor
theircreativityonthenet.Theclaim"donotoptimizeforfinancialgain"mustexcludecaseswherea
geniussuffersbynothavinganythingtoputonthedinnertable.However,itisgettingeasierandeasier
witheverypassingdaytoforgofinancialconcernsforpeoplewhoarewellendowedintellectually.
Creativejobsaboundandmaybefoundhalfaglobeaway.Theearlieryoumanagetodoafullsteam
creativeworkforaliving,thefasteryourwillfreeyourgeniusmindfromnumerouslimitationsofthe
presentworld
ChildrenwithDownSyndromehavelowerIQ
Question:
WhatistheIQofpeopleaffectedwithDownSyndrome?
Answer:
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ThedistributionofIQamongDownSyndromepatientsissimilarinitsbellshapetothenormal
populationhowever,theaverageisshiftedby50pointsdownward(inpureformsofDownSyndrome).
ArelativeDownSyndromegeniuscanpasstheborderlineretardedrangeandmatchthelowaverageIQ
range.However,educatorsdealingwithDownSyndromekidsstressthatIQisnotagoodmeasureof
mentalperformanceamongthesechildren
Brainstormingdoesnothavetodisruptyourschedule
Question:
Howdoyoureconcilethepropositionofsociallybasedbrainstormingononehand,withtheasocialcall
toscheduleandprioritize(includingtheuseofemailinsteadofaphone,etc.)?
Answer:
Duetoaneverincreasingintellectualcompetition,futuregeniuseswillprobablyhavetodrivetheirtime
managementskillstoperfection.Thiswillrequirecarefulscheduling,prioritizationandminimum
disruption.However,brainstormingmayalsobesubjecttoplanning.Itsonlylimitationisthecoincidence
ofneeds.Simplyput,itishardertodosynchronousplanningforagroupofindividuals.Simple
techniquesusedforschedulingatennismatchcanbeusedforschedulingabrainstormingsession.
Technologycanalsocomeinhandy,inabrainstorminggroup,individualsreadyforintensenetmeeting
exchangecansetupareadinessflag,andawaitthemomentwhentheirreadinesscoincideswithothersin
thesamegroup.Lastbutnotleast,"slowbrainstorming"overemailisalsoextremelypowerful
Beingpoliticallycorrect
Question:
JobssimplysuckedWozniak'sblood
VisiCalcwasnotthefirstspreadsheet
Edisonwasathiefofpatents
BillGatesisnogenius
Evolutionisjustatheory
Antiglobalizationsupportersareidiots
Brainisfarmorethananexpertsystem
Youshouldavoidusingthewordholocaust
Turing'shomosexualityhadnorelevanceetc.
Answer:
Intentionally,thisFAQwillavoidadebateonpoliticalcorrectnessand/ormatterofopinion.Ifyou
believesomehistoricfactshavebeenmisrepresented,theywillbecorrectedoralternativelinksprovided.
Otherwise,allsidelinestoriesshouldserveonlyasexamplesorillustrationsthathelppropthemain
thesesofthearticle.Theexamplesarenotessentialtotheproofandassuchwillbeleftforotherforums
tobedebated
Effectiveworkdoesnothavetoimplylosingthejoyoflife(justtheopposite)
Question:
Ononehandyouinsistthatthereasonmusttakereinovertheweakbody,butinanotherplaceyou
encouragemusic,art,movies,sports,andreligionbecausetheyareenjoyable!Thisiscontradictory
Answer:
Asalways,thekeytoresolvingmulticriterialoptimizationisbalanceofproportions.Youneedtobalance
learningwithcreativework.Specialistwithgeneralknowledge.Workandtimeforsleeporsports.Work
andfamily,etc.Optimally,youshouldfindmaximumjoyinthingsyoumustdoratherthandothings
becausetheyareenjoyable.However,youcannothopoveryourphysiologicalandpsychoemotional
limitations.Letusconsideranexample:letusassumeyourdaystartswithabreakfastduringwhichyou
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watchyesterday'sCBSNews,andyoufollowthatwithrepetitionsinSuperMemo.Letussayyourtime
allocationforbothactivitiesis80minutes.Youmaybetemptedtogoformaximumwork(repetitions)
andminimumrelaxation(breakfast).However,youwillquicklydiscoverthatthereisanoptimum
allocationofresourcesthatmaximizesyouroutput.Ifyourushthrougha5min.breakfastandinterrupt
watchingthenewsinsomeinterestingpoint,yourenthusiasmforrepetitionsmaybelessandultimately
yourlearningresultslessimpressive.If,ontheotherhand,youletthebreakfastraisetheglucoselevelin
yourblood,letthecaffeineofyourmorningcoffeekickin,andletaninspiringpieceofsciencenewsget
youhungryfornewknowledge,25min.allocationforbreakfastmayappearmoreefficientoverall.
Enjoyabilityisyourguidancehere.Thisexampleshowsthatyoumaybeunabletoovercomesuch
limitationsasthespeedoffoodabsorptionorevenmoremalleablefactorssuchaspsychogenic
motivation.Yougottolistentoyourbodycarefully.AllworkandnoplaymakesJackadullboysimply
statesthatpsychophysiologicalneedshavetobetakenintoaccountwhenmanagingyourlifeand
productivity.Doingthingsyouloveisoneofthesimplesttricksyoucanusetoincreaseproductivity
withoutdamagingyourhealth.Withtime,itislikelythatyouwillfindmoreandmorejoyinyourwork,
andthebordersbetweenwork,play,andrelaxationwillblend
Polgarexperimentshouldratherbeunderstoodasacasestudy
Question:
IdonotthinkPolgarexperimentwasanscientificexperiment.CanLaszloPolgarreproducehisresults?
Whatarethecontrolvariables?
Answer:
Naturally,"Polgarexperiment"doesnotmeetstrictlaboratorysciencestandards.Itshouldratherbe
understoodasacasestudy.Mostofourknowledgeofbreedinggeniusisbasedoncasestudies.Wecan
studyIQanditscorrelationsbutitisverydifficulttomeasurehumangeniusthatgoesfarbeyonddryIQ
measurements.Thisiswhyitisdifficulttodesignexperiments,andthisiswhythereissomuchart
mixedwithscience.Studyingpastandpresentgeniusesisstilloneofthebestwaysofunderstanding
greatminds
Positiveemotionsdonothavetobepleasant
Question:
Somenegativeemotionsmayhaveapositiveeffect.Forexample,feelingguiltyafterdoingsomething
wrong
Answer:
Allemotionswithapositiveeffectshouldbecalledpositive.Thisdoesnothavetoimplytheyshouldbe
pleasurable.Feelingofguiltmayresultinabehavioralorattitudinalcorrection.Itmaybeunpleasantbut
itislikelytoproduceapositiveoutcome.Wewillthenclassifyguiltasapositiveemotion.Naturally,an
individualwithasturdyhierarchyofvalueandhighselfdisciplinewillrarelyexperienceguiltorother
punishingemotions.Thisisalsowhytheattitude,philosophicaloutlook,andselfdisciplineareso
importantindevelopingaharmoniousmind
Acomputermetaphorseemstobethesimplestwayofexplainingthebraintonontechnicalpeople
Question:
Everychildknowsthatthebrainoperatesasaneuralnetworknotasaserialdigitalcomputeryour
computermetaphorcanleadtowrongconclusions!
Answer:
30yearsago,itwouldbeverydifficulttoexplainthewaythebrainworkstoanindividualwithlittle
knowledgeofneuroscienceorcomputingsciences.Today,mostpeopleseemtounderstandtheconcepts
ofhardwareandsoftware.Thisopensasimpleavenuetowardsexplainingthebraintoanaveragemanin
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thestreet.Thecomputermetaphorpartlysolvestheproblemoftherepresentationofageniusbraininan
averagemind.AballandstickmodeloftheSolarSystemcannotbeusedtoencompassallpropertiesof
theplanets(e.g.theirsize),butitcanexcellentlyillustrateotherproperties(e.g.planetary
configurations).Similarly,thecomputermetaphorofthebraincannotbeusedtoillustratememory
formation(weallwishwecouldloadmemorieslikeweloadsoftware),butitexcellentlyillustrates
brain'sprogrammabilityanditslimitations
Giftednessisnotapreconditionofgenius
Question:
DrEllenWinnerclearlystatesthatnotallchildrenaregifted:"Giftedchildrenarebiologicallydifferent.
Ifyoudoubtit,trytoraisesomeone's90IQto150"
Answer:
Giftednessisstronglycorrelatedwiththeragetomasterandyoungman'searlyIQ.However,itonly
makesdevelopinggeniuseasier.Itisnotapreconditionofgenius.IQscoresarerelativetotherestofthe
populationandshouldnotbeusedasameasureofthepotentialtoachieve.Thisisalsowhytherearenot
easilyimprovedviatraining.Theformulaforgeniusincludesknowledge,itsuseandemotionalIQ.
ManypastgeniusessuchasEdisonorEinsteinwouldnothavepassedtoday'sgiftednesscriteria.Others
wouldhaveimmediatelyfallenintoADHDcategoryandbeprescribedRitalin(e.g.Teslaisacompelling
case).SeeminglyoppositeviewsofDrWinnerandDrAndersEricssonofFloridaStateUniversityare
justtwopolesofthenaturevs.nurturedebate.Bothareconsistentwiththethesespresentedin"The
rootsofgeniusandcreativity"
Differencesinpersonalityunderliemanycorrelationsbetweensociopsychologicalvariables
Question:
Youwritethatdestructivepersonalityfactorsarehighlycorrelatedwitheachother,andthatnonvirgin
girlsare6timesmorelikelytoattemptsuicideordrinkalcohol.Doyouthinkthatbeinganonvirgin
conditionsthesefacts?Let'slookatthelogic:A>Bbutitdoesn'tmeanthatB>A.Ithinkthatinthe
caseaboveitisquitetheopposite,agirlpracticesteenagesexduetofamilyproblems,nottheotherway
around
Answer:
Factorssuchasearlypregnancy,alcoholismandsuicidearestronglycorrelated.Thisstatementdoesnot
predicateontheactualcausality,whichisalwayscomplexandsubjecttolengthydisputesamong
sociopsychologists.Onecausemustbestressedthough:geneticallydeterminedneurohormonalprofileof
anindividual.Thisiswhypersonalityfactorplayssuchadecisiveroleindevelopinggenius.Low
serotoninindividualsaremorelikelytosufferfromdepression,drugaddition,boutsofviolence,etc.This
makesforapowerfulfactorthatcanunderliethisandsimilarcorrelations
Delayedgratificationskillsdevelopslowlyandarenotadefinitepredictorofintellectual
development
Question:
Yourstatementsontheimportanceofdelayedgratificationdoesnotseemtoapplytome.Iwasanawful
child.IfIwantedatoyIwouldlieonthestreetandscreamasloudasIcoulduntilIgotit.Todaysome
peoplecallmeagenius.AmIanexceptiontotherule?
Answer:
Delayedgratificationskillsdevelopveryslowly.Inveryyoungkids,theyarealmostnonexistent.They
arestronglycorrelatedwithintellectualdevelopment.Yourabilitytoputupafightforthetoymight
actuallybeanindicatorofstronglydevelopedmotivationalcircuits.Thiscouldproduceawelcomerage
tomaster.Later,yourrationalbrainprobablytookreignoverthesemotivationalcircuitstohelpyou
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persevereinwhateverobstacleslifethrowsatyou.Yellingandscreamingforatoyclearlyisn'tareason
forworryaslongasitisgraduallyreplacedwithmoreefficientbehavioralstrategies
Geniusescanbefoundeverywhere
Question:
Inwhatprofessionscanyoufindgenius?Canagarbagecollectorbeagenius?
Answer:
Geniusesareeverywhere.Naturallytheytendtogravitatetowardsscienceandotherintellectually
satisfyingoccupations.However,younggeniusesinanumberofcountriesaresimplylockedina
struggleforsurvival,whichnaturallylimitstheirchancesforfulldevelopment.Sometendtowithdraw
fromsociallife(cf.W.J.Sidis)andprefertodolowlyjobstofreetheirmindsfromthelimitsoftherat
race.Othersfindexcellentcreativerefugeinundemandingjobsandquietoffices.Ifyoumeeta
shoeshineboy,housewife,patentclerk,orashopassistant,donotjumptotheconclusions!
Sheldonexperimentisthestateoftheartintheareaofunderstandinghumanneeds
Question:
Sheldonexperimentisflawed:Thestudentsansweredinsociallyacceptedways.Icanimaginetheywere
afraidtoadmittoderivingsatisfactionfrommoney
Answer:
SheldonexperimenthasbeenpublishedinthereputableJournalofPersonalityandSocialPsychology
publishedbytheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation,whichisthelargestscientificandprofessional
associationrepresentingpsychologyintheworld.Flawedexperimentationcouldnotpassthe
impermeablepeerreviewbarrierofthisjournal.Sheldonusesstateoftheartmethodologyintermsof
theoreticalbackground,datagathering,statisticalanalysisandtheassessmentofexperimental
limitations.SheldonadmitsthatstudentsofpsychologyintheUSandKoreaarenotrepresentativetothe
entirepopulation.Healsoadmitsthatfactoranalysisonthesameemotionalcomponentsinreferenceto
eventsspanningthelifetimemightproduceadifferentresult.HebuildsonMaslow'stheoriesandother
soundtheoriesofhumanneeds,butpropshisargumentupbyasolidexperimentonarelativelylarge
sample(severalhundredstudents).Inconclusion,Sheldon'sstatementsonwhatmakespeoplehappycan
beconsideredthestateofartinthisfieldofpsychology.Theoriginalarticle(includingalltablesand
figures)isavailablefromtheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationwebsite:
http://www.apa.org/journals/psp/psp802325.html
Anideadoesnothavetobeimplementedtotestifytocreativity
Question:
Yourusabilitycriterionforcreativityisquestionable.TheworksofBabbagewereprovenworkable
today,butathistimetheywereuseless.DoesitmeanBabbagewasnotcreative?Thesamereferstothe
laterdiscoveredTuring'sworkonparallelism
Answer:
Thepresenteddefinitionofcreativityincludestheusabilitycriterion.Thisreferstotheidea,nottoits
implementation.Babbage'sideaswerehighlycreativeandthefactthathewasnotabletoimplement
themdoesnotdetractfromtheirusability.
Allmodelsaresubjecttomisuse,whichshouldnotpreventmodeling
Question:
IreadRodBrookssay(BrooksisdirectoroftheAILabatMIT):Thefactthatweusethetechnologyasa
metaphorforourselvesreallylocksusintothewaywethink.Wethinkabouthumanintelligenceasthese
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neuronswiththeseelectricalsignals.WhenIwasakidthebrainwasatelephoneswitchingnetwork,
thenitbecameadigitalcomputer,thenitbecameamassivelyparalleldigitalcomputer.I'msurethere's
abookouttherenowforkidsthatsaysthebrainistheWorldWideWeb,andeverything'scrosslinked
Answer:
Modelsmaylockusinthewaywethink,buttheirmainpurposeisjusttheopposite:tobroadenour
abstractreasoning.Untilabetterpopularscientificexplanatorymodelisfound,thecomputermetaphor
makeswondersinexplainingthebrain,e.g.inreferencetotheconceptofworkingoutgeniusand
creativity.Brooksspokeaboutthevalueofsuchametaphorforbuildingartificiallyintelligentsystems,
notforexplainingthebraintonontechnicalfolks
Greatbreakthroughsareoftenbasedonsimpleassociations
Question:
Yougotyourfactswrongbywriting"itwasnothardforWoztoenvisageasimplecomputer:the
keyboardwouldworklikeatypewriter.ThemessageswouldbedisplayedonaTVlikemonitor".What
Wozdidforvideodisplaywasrevolutionary!
Answer:
ThisparagraphshouldbynomeansdiminishWoz'escontribution.Itissupposedtoemphasizethat
geniusescanchangetheworldintheirlifetime,yetindividualbreakthroughsthatleadtogreattheories
andnewinventionsareallbasedonverysimpleassociations.Oneofthosesimpleassociationswasto
combineatypewriter,TVandaprocessor.Wozhasputasimplecomputerbasedontheseprinciplesas
earlyasin1970.Naturally,thewholestringofminortechnicalimprovementscomingfroma
knowledgeableandprolificmind,ultimatelyleadstomultiplebreakthroughs,newtechnologies,new
trends,andwholenewindustries.IndividualstepscanbeassimpleasE=mc2,yetthespeedandthe
varietyofsplutteringnewcreativeassociationsmakesgeniusmindschangehistory
Youshouldnotlosesleepoverunavoidablelimitations
Question:
Inhislongevitybooks,brainexpertDrRestaklistsanimportantfactorofahealthybrain:accept
unavoidablelimitations.Howdoesitsquarewithyourformulaforgenius?Whatifmybraindoesnot
liveuptomydreams?
Dr.Restak'stenfactorsforhealthybrainfunctioningare:1)education,2)curiosity,3)energy,4)keeping
busy,5)regularexercise,6)acceptanceofunavoidablelimitations,7)theneedfordiversityandnovelty,8)
psychologicalcontinuityoverthelifespan,9)themaintenanceoffriendsandsocialnetworks,and10)the
establishmentandfosteringoflinkswithyoungerpeople
Answer:
InNegativeandpositiveemotions,hintstooptimism,patienceandstoicphilosophyencompassthis
importantphilosophicalapproach:acceptingunavoidableinternalandexternallimitations.Thisbelongs
tohighlyeffectivetechniquesforeliminatingstress.Whateveryoucannotchangeshouldnotleaveany
worryingmarkonyourmind.Unsolvableproblemsshouldnottakeuptheprocessortime.Allbrainsare
inherentlydifferentintheirabilitytodevelopgenius,butthemainthesisofthearticleisthatitdoesnot
affecttheoptimumstrategy:lifelonglearning.Whateveryourstartingpoint,thestrategyisthesame:go
ahead.Theonlytimementallimitationsbecomehighlyrelevantiswhenweidentifyaproblemand
techniquesthatcouldbeusedtoaddressit.Inotherwords,limitationsbecomeveryrelevantoncethey
canbecircumvented
Individualgeniusisnotthebestpredictorofsuccessincollectiveleadership
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Question:
YourBushFallacyiserroneous.ThefactisthatBushisindeednotdoingwell.Hemayhaveknowledge
inotherareastocompensate(e.g.social,political,etc.),butifitisso,itisnotshowingup.Insteadheis
makingonediplomaticmistakeafteranother.Itseemstobethecaseof"atfirstIdidnotlikehim,butit
wasonlybecauseofprejudice.Now,withmuchmoreknowledgeabouthim,Istilldonotlikehim...but
formanyotherreasons!"
Answer:
ThefallacyisnotaproBushargumentindisguise.Itisimportanttoknowthatinteamwork,some
qualitiesthatmakeforanindividualgeniusmayactuallybeahindrance.Thegreatestgeniusesin
historyoftenshowedsubstantialdifficultyfittingintotheirsurroundingandlackedteamworkskills.
TeslaEdisoncomparisonwastoamplifythispoint.Chesschampionsarenotoriouslyerraticinsocial
contacts(takeBobbyFischerasanexcellentexample).W.J.Sidisisprobablythemostdramaticcaseof
all.TheerrormanypeoplemakeistopredictleadershipqualitiesonthegroundsofIQorplainexpertise.
Bush'spresentandfuturerecordisirrelevantforthisfallacytoholdtrue.Similarpredictionsweremade
inreferencetoaBmovieactorRonaldReaganwhenhebeatbrainyCarter.Today,mostRepublicans
wouldarguewithsatisfactionthatpredictionsentirelymissedthemark
Educationasaformulaforgeniusrequiresappropriatesocialandeconomicalmedium
Question:
Yourstatementthat"amajorityofpopulationcanreachtoday'sstandardsofgenius"isveryencouraging
fortheopening.However,Ifeelthatthereisalargenumberofourglobalcommunitywhomtheodds
againstachievinganystandardsisveryslimunderourpresentsystems,policiesandattitudestowards
education,socialinclusionandfairnessforall.Forexample,inthemostrecentUnitedNationsHuman
DevelopmentReportpublishedrecently,Ifoundthatof17Westerncountriessurveyed,Irelandhadthe
secondhighestrateofpoverty(15.3%,oroverhalfamillionpeople).TheonlyWesterncountrythatis
worsethanIrelandistheU.S.(16.5%livinginpoverty).Britaincomesin15th,thetableisheadedby
Swedenwitharatingof6.8%.Onemajorcontributortopovertyisthehighlevelsoffunctionalilliteracy.
Almost23%oftheIrishpopulationisilliteratewhileinBritainthefigureis20%.Andthisisbasic
literacytaskssuchasreadingabustimetable.Anothergroupofpeopleinthepovertytraparethosewith
physicaldisabilitiesunabletofindemploymentduetodiscriminationbyemployersandcompanies
failingtoprovideadequatefacilities.Thefigureforunemploymentamongpeoplewithdisabilitiesis70%
inIreland.ThesesamplefiguresareshamefulandsurelyunacceptableintheInformationAge.Isuggest
thatcreativeimaginativethinkingisrequired,startingfromthebottomup.Outdatedantiquatedthinking
mustbeplacedintheannalsofhistoryandfreshallencompassingsolutionsbefound.Thebigger
dilemmaisforthepeopleofthethirdworldwhomustendureabsolutepoverty,childrenforcedinto
slavery,armies,etc.
Answer:
Youareabsolutelyright.ThisisexactlywhatworriedBorisSidisacenturyago.Theformulaforgenius
viatrainingnaturallyinvolvesanumberofpreconditionsthataredifficulttomeetformostofthe
population(peace,employment,accesstoeducation,accesstohealthcare,housing,accesstothe
Internet,etc).Forreasonsofthissite'sfocus,thearticlefocusesoninternal(ormental)barrierstowards
highintellectualachievement.Thereisnodoubtthatexternalbarriersarebyfarmoreformidable.
Superficially,wecouldconcludethatnothing'schangedsinceBorisSidis'stime.However,several
powerfulforceshavecometoplayonlyrecentlythatbodewellforanaccelerationofpositivechange.
Thiscenturywasacenturyofdemocracywithonlysixnationsintheclubin1900.Withtheamazing
liberationofAfricainthe1960sandEasternEuropeinthe1990s,selfdeterminationand,inpart,
democracyhavetakenirreversibleroot.TheotherfactoristheInternet.Itwillsprawlalongthe
continentsandcontributetoeducatingtheIsraelisaboutthePalestiniansandviceversa.Insummer2000,
thefirstInternetcafeopenedinBaghdad.China'sInternetuseisexploding.Forcesofhistorytake
decadestomoldtheplanet,butweliveintimeswhenitnolongertakesalifetimetoseetangible
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progress.Wearebombardeddailywithsignsofchangewhichisoverwhelminglypositive.TheLong
BoomarticlefromWiredisarecommendedreadinginthiscontext
IQof120isenoughforaNobelPrize
Question:
IhaveanIQof120.Thatisnotbadbut...doyoureallybelieveIcangoontogeniusachievement?
Answer:
Whynot?NobelPrizewinnerRichardFeynman'sIQwas122.Yetheisconsideredoneofthegreatest
physicistsintheUShistory
Question:
Exceptfortheorizing,introspectionandanecdote,istherereallyascientificevidencethatgreatchess
players"memorize"chesspositionsinsteadofjustusingtheirbestintuitiontomakegoodguesses?
Answer:
Yes.Grandmastersdouseheuristics("intuition")topickthebestrulestoapplytothecurrent
configurationofpieces.However,brainimagingshowsthattheyusetheirfrontalandparietalcortex
moreextensivelythanamateurplayerswhoratherusemedialtemporalcortexinvolvedwithnew
associationsandworkingmemory.Inotherwords,brainscansindeedshowthatgrandmasters'planning
ismoreofaretrievalprocessthanitisthecasewithamateurswhosweatthroughworkinganalysisof
possiblemovecombinations
Canpeoplebeintelligentandnotcreative?
Question:
Accordingtoyourdefinitions,canpeoplebeintelligentandnotcreative?
Answer:
Intelligenceequatedwiththeproblemsolvingcapacity(i.e.notplainIQ)willrequireahighdegreeof
creativepower.Inotherwords,abilitytoquicklyproducerichabstractassociationsispartoftheproblem
solvingpower.Thelesscreativeyouare,thelessyourintelligence.However,creativityisnottheonly
componentinproblemsolving.Ifyouwanttoefficientlymultiplymultipledigitnumbersinyour
memory,thereisnobranchinginthementalderivation.Consequently,ordinaryIQtestswillbeapoor
measureofcreativity.Hereanattentiondeficitpersonalitywillbelessefficientinreachingthegoal.In
short,creativityisavitalbutnottheonlycomponentofintelligence
Whatmakesagenius?
Question:
Iwanttoknowwherethegeniusbeginsfrompersontoperson,insidethewomb,genesinvolved,blood
types,etc.
Answer:
Geniusistoocomplextolistallcontributingfactors.Someofthesearegenetic,somearerelatedtothe
personality,someareunknownyet,andsomecomefromtheenvironmentandtraining.Naturallywe
havelittleimpactonthegeneticcomponent.Itisalsoverydifficulttoshapethepersonality.However,a
conduciveenvironmentandyearstrainingcanliftaseeminglyaveragepersontoamazinglevelsofskill
orexpertise.See:GeniusChecklist:toseesomefactorsthatcanbeinfluencedtoenhancegenius
Knowledgeofidiomsisnotareliablepredictorofapotentialforintellectualgrowth
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(Victor,Sunday,August21,20056:55AM)
Question:
Shoulda15yearold10thgradestudentbeexpectedto,usinghisintuitiveandanalyticalfaculties,
understandandinterpretidiomaticexpressionssuchas"everycloudhasasilverlining"and"putaspoke
inthewheel",withouthavingeverheardthembefore,andwithouthearingtheminapropercontext?
Ionlyaskbecause,whenIwas15yearsold(Iamnow23y/o),myschoolhadsentmetoayouth
counselor(fordisciplinaryreasons),andthecounselorhadaskedmetointerpretalistofidiomatic
expressions,afewofwhichIhadneverheardbeforeandhadtroubleunderstanding(Iunderstandthem
allnow,and,inretrospect,itseemsabitfunnytomethatIactuallyhaddifficultyunderstandingthemat
all).ButIguesswhatI'maskingis,didmyfailuretounderstandthemreflectalargerlearningdisability?
ShouldIhaveknownthem?IsitnormalthatIhadsomedifficultywiththem?Weremyanswerstosuch
questionssupposedtopredictordeterminemyfutureintellectualability?Doesthisactuallyevenfall
under"logical/analytical"thinking?Isunderstandingsuchexpressionsamatterofsimplyreadingmore
amatterofbroaderexposureorisitinnate?Doesdifficultyunderstandingthemsimplyreflectlackof
reading(whichcaneasilyberemediedbymorereading),ordoesitreflectinherentability?Canone
reallyunderstand"anaxetogrind"withouthearingitinacontext,ormustonelearnitasawholeunitof
vocabulary,asonemightlookupaword?
Needlesstosay,IamveryfamiliarwithalloftheseidiomsnowandIdon'tquiterememberhowand
whereIlearnedthem.
EventhoughIsuspectIknowtheanswerstosuchquestions,IthinkIstillneedsomevalidation.Inthe
eightyearsthathaveelapsedsincemysessionswiththatcounselor,Ineveroncegaveanythoughtto
themuntiltheothernight,when,outoftheblue,theyjustpoppedintomyheadwhileIwasreading.Iam
nowincollege,andthisrecalledmemoryhasbeenmentallyandintellectuallyparalyzing.Ithascaused
metopondermanyunsettlingquestions.EventhoughIdogreatinschool,I'veneverbeenonetoplace
muchstockingradesIsomehowalwaysfearthatmyprofessorsmadeamistake.AndnomatterwhatI
getonanexamortermpaper,Ialwaysquestionmyability,andIamneversatisfied.Iamanenthusiastic
mathmajor,andnowIfindmyselfwonderingifmyeffortsareallfornaughtallbecauseofafew
questions.ItisthesequestionsthathaveplungedmeintoacrisisofconfidenceasIbegintoquestion
everythingaboutmyself,andmymindtendstolatchontothemorenegativethoughts.AmImakingtoo
bigadealoutofnothing?
Answer:
Understandingidiomaticexpressionisareflectionoftheamountofpastcontactwithaqualitylanguage
(esp.qualityreading).Toaretentivemind,lessreadingwillbeneededtocapturethemeaningofidioms,
butreading,listening,conversation,etc.arealwaystheprimarysourcesofsuchknowledge.Inother
words,ifa15yearolddoesnotknowtheseexpressions,itspeaksofthevolumeofpreviousreading,yet
predicateslittleontheactualmentalfacultiesorthepotentialforintellectualgrowth.Afterall,most
idiomscannotbeinanywaydecodedandunderstoodwithoutpriorexplanationorwithoutcontext.
Tosumitup:yes,youdomaketoobigadealofit.Ifyourmathematicalskillshavebeennoticed,you
shouldnotbeinhibitedinpursuingacareerinthefield.Youhavealready,oryouwillpolishyour
knowledgeofidioms.Moreover,therearemanysciencegeniuseswhocontinuallyneglecttheirprose
reading.Mostlikely,someNobelprizewinnersdonotknowsomebasicidiomseither.Beliefinyour
mentalpowersandyourgrowthpotentialareessentialforyourfurtherprogress.Lackofitisa
powerfulinhibitor.Forthatreason,thefasteryoustopponderingovertheissue,thebetter.
Incidentally,everycouldhasasilverliningisfarmorepopularthanputaspokeinthewheel(e.g.100
timeshigherGooglecount).Inotherwords,theyshouldbeappliedtoquitedifferentlevelsoflinguistic
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proficiency.Bothseemquitehardtotestona15yearold.Knowledgeoftheseexpressionsmightbean
optimisticindicatorforayoungster.However,lackofthisidiomaticinsightsaysverylittleofthe
individualatthisage.
Does1969matter?
(ChrisK.,Monday,October23,200011:24PM)
Question:
Youseemtovalueefficiency.That'sthewholepointofSuperMemo.That'sthesellingpointof
SuperMemo.Idon'tseehowlearningtriviapresentedinyourarticlescontributetoefficiency.What'sthe
importanceofmemorizingthefactthattheInternetstartedin1969?
Answer:
Usingthesamereasoningyoumightinsistthatmemorizing7x7=49isequallytrivial.Yetthe
multiplicationtablemakesiteasiertogothroughalgebra.Andotherbranchesofmathematics.And
engineering.Andultimately,7x7helpsyouinyourrocketsciencepursuits.1969isjustahookpointin
thehistoryoftechnology.Ifsimilarreferencepointsweretobeconsideredunimportant,youwouldhave
togiveuptheentiretechnologytimeline.Thiswayyouwouldlosetheabilitytoprojectthetechnological
developmentintothefuture.Youwouldweakenyourpredictivepower.Consequently,youwillnotbe
abletoseethedirectionsandtrendswithpropheticclarity.Intheneweconomy,yourpositionwouldbe
severelyweakened,esp.ifyouplantostayonthecuttingedge.Itisnocoincidencethatalltechnological
visionariesfrequentlyquotecasesfromthehistoryoftechnology.Theyuseitasthegroundworkfor
buildingtheirownvisions.Whydokidslearnhistory?Ifdatesweretrivia,theymightputHomoerectus
afterthepyramids,orNewtonaheadofCopernicus.ThatwouldmakeithardertodiscountAtlantisor
understandrelativity.Kidslearnhistorysoasnottorepeatit.Theylearnittobuildabetterfuture
Question:
Exceptfortheorizing,introspectionandanecdote,istherereallyascientificevidencethatgreatchess
players"memorize"chesspositionsinsteadofjustusingtheirbestintuitiontomakegoodguesses?
Answer:
Yes.Grandmastersdouseheuristics("intuition")topickthebestrulestoapplytothecurrent
configurationofpieces.However,brainimagingshowsthattheyusetheirfrontalandparietalcortex
moreextensivelythanamateurplayerswhoratherusemedialtemporalcortexinvolvedwithnew
associationsandworkingmemory.Inotherwords,brainscansindeedshowthatgrandmasters'planning
ismoreofaretrievalprocessthanitisthecasewithamateurswhosweatthroughworkinganalysisof
possiblemovecombinations
SuperMemocanbeusedforgeneratingandorganizingnewideas(#17778)
(MarkZebitz,Denmark,Saturday,June21,20039:43AM)
Question:
IsitpossibletouseSuperMemoasanIdeagenerator?
Answer:
Yes.Alittleknownandascantlypublicizedvalueofincrementalreadingisitspowertocombine
unrelatedpiecesofinformationinthelearn&reviewprocess.Asthecreativeprocessisstronglyrootedin
remoteassociations,incrementalreadingcanmakeapowerfulcontributiontoformingnewideas.This
willworklesseffectivelyifyoutrytocomeupwithanewadvertisingslogan.Thismaynotworkatallif
youareacomposer.However,incrementalreadingmaybeanexcellenttoolinbuildingscientific
models.Ononehanditwillhelpyoubuilduponyourownideas,ontheother,itcanbeusedtoresolve
contradictionsinlargebodiesofdata.
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TouseSuperMemoasanideageneratorusethefollowingsteps:
1. learnthebasicsofincrementalreading
2. describeyourpresentknowledgeandideasinSuperMemoinasmuchdetailaspossible
3. importrelatedpiecesofknowledgethatwillserveasaknowledgeframeworkorsupplementary
inspiration
4. processthismaterialusingthetoolsofincrementalreading
5. eachtimeyouhituponanewidea,describeitindetail(trytodocumentthereasoningpath,
associationsandthedatestobeabletobacktrackonthecreativeprocess)
6. ifyouproducemorematerialthanyoucanprocess,userandomizedreview(e.g.Randomize
Repetitions),subsetreview(SearchandReview)andsubsetpostpone(SearchandPostpone)
ClassicalbrainstormingscoringtechniquescanbereplacedwiththeuseofAFactorsthatdeterminethe
priorityofindividualpiecesofinformationinincrementalreading.Youcanalsousetheforgettingindex
toprioritizegeneratedclozedeletions.
Remembertocapitalizeonyourownphysiology.Youneedtounderstandthementalstatesfavoringthe
creativeprocess.Youmaygetexcellentresultsafteryourmorningcoffee.Theexactlysameprocedure
appliedwhenyouaredrowsymayproducenothing.See:GeniusandCreativity.Sadly,acreative
personalityandexcellentcommandofincrementalreadingaretwoimportantsinequanonsofsuccess
thatmaymakethisadvicehardtofollow
YoucanlearnmathematicsandproblemsolvingwithSuperMemo(#27294)
(SRD,WedAug11,200410:32pm)
Question:
Mathematicsisafieldwherethemethodsoptimalforlearningarewellknown,andprovideabasisfor
generalizingtootherfields.Yousaythatmathematicsisanexceptionbecauseofitsdeductivecharacter.
Tolearnmathematics,repetitivepracticeisessential.Butthepracticeisinsolvingproblems,notreciting
answers.
Answer:
MATHEMATICSISNOTANEXCEPTION:AmongstareasofapplicationforSuperMemo,
mathematicsisnotexactlyanexception.Itisratherusedasanexampleofadomainwhereinferential
knowledgedominatesoverfactualknowledge.Inthecontinuousspectrumofapplicabilitythatrunsfrom
(1)fieldsthatleavelessroomforSuperMemo(nonneurallearning,procedurallearning,etc.)to(2)
fieldswhereSuperMemoshines(learninglanguages,medicalsciences,etc.),mathematicslies
somewhereinthemiddle.SuperMemowillbehelpfulforamathematician,butitwillnotbeasmission
criticalasitisforamedicalstudent.Whatmakesmathematicsspecialisitspowerofabstraction.Wecan
useittomodelreasoning,problemsolving,creativity,etc.Wecanalsomodelthelearningprocessthat
leadstodevelopingamindarmedwithpowerfulproblemsolvingcapability.
MODELINGAMATHEMATICIAN:Wecanuseasimplifiedmodelofa"mathematician"thatshows
whereSuperMemoisnotapplicable.Imagineanindividualwhosesolejobinlifeissolvinginstancesof
TowersofHanoifedtohisroomalongsomehelpingoffood.Hisjobisentirelyalgorithmic.Hewilluse
3algorithmicrulestosolveinstancesoftheproblem.HewillnotneedSuperMemotokeeptherulesin
memorybecausehewillapplythemhundredsoftimesperday.Allfactsthatheneedstokeepinhis
memoryareinstantaneousdescriptionsoftheproblemcurrentlybeingsolved.Workingmemoryisallhe
needstokeepfacts.OurmathematiciandoesnotneedSuperMemoforneitherfactsnorrules.However,
oncethejobofthemathematicianbecomesmorecomplex,onceheneedsmorerules,oncetherearerules
classifiedas"youneverknowmightbeneeded",oncethenumberofrecognitionpatternsincreases,
oncethederivationtreesneedtobestoredlongterminmemoryforbacktracking(beitbrainorpaper),
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theroomforspacedrepetitionincreases.Lastbutnotleast,mathematiciansdonotsolelylivebyproblem
solving.Theyneedtorememberfacesandnames.Thenneedtounderstandbasicrulesforstayingfitand
healthy.Theyneedtounderstandthepoliticsofthedepartment,whichinturnwilldemandsome
psychology,sociology,oreconomics.Theywilloftenseekinspirationinfactrichhistoryof
mathematics.Theywillwanttounderstandtheirplaceandcontextinthecommunity,nation,planetand
theuniverse.Eveniftheirfieldispurelyinferentialandtheyreuseasimplesetofrulesonadailybasis,
thereisstillaworldofthingstheywouldliketounderstandandremember.
LEARNINGBYDOINGISCOSTLY:Everyoneknowsthatsolvinginstancesofproblemsisavery
powerfulwayoflearningtousetherulesinpractise.Nothingensurescorrectrulepatternmatchingbetter
thandetectingthepatterninasetofcamouflagedconditionswheretheruleisapplicable.Thatcomes
fromthedefinitionofneuralnetworks.However,patterninstantiationandproblemsolvingarecostlyin
termsoftime.Youwilldefinitelywanttotestandapplymostcriticalrulesthatdetermineyoursuccessin
thefield.However,retainingaformulainSuperMemomaycostyouaslittleas1minuteperlifetime.
Usingthesameformulainapracticalapplicationmaytakefarmore.Derivingtheformulaonyourown
maytakeadayoraweekorayear.Itisnotpracticaltotest,letalonederive,allrulesyouconsider
valuable.Thisisthematterofbenefittocostratio.Attimes,youwilltaketheriskoffailingtomatchthe
pattern,forthesimplesakeofsavingtime.Youwillcounterbalancetheriskoffailingamatchonone
rule,byarmingyourmindwithmorerulesapplicabletothesamesituation,orapplicableinanentirely
differentfield.Example:Fewpeopleactuallyusequadraticequationsinpractise.Yetfewwouldforgo
thisprimaryschoolknowledgeifallittooktoretainitwas13minutesoftheirlives.Fewwillfindit
necessarytopractisesolvingquadraticequationstoensuretheapplicabilityoftheformulas.Yetfewer
wouldbeabletoaffordtimeforpracticing.Thenetresult:mostpeoplewouldsimplymemorizethe
formulasandproceedtomoreapplicableareasofknowledge.Learningbydoingispowerful.Yetitis
expensive.Ifyoudivideyourdayintoportionsdevotedtolearningandportionsdevotedtodoing(i.e.
productionorcreativity),youmayintimediscoverthatSuperMemoprovidesaverygoodreturnon
investmentinyourlearningslot,while"learningbydoing"shouldbestbereservedforyour"production"
slot,i.e.whereyouapplythepowerofknowledgeinpractiseforgeneratingvalue.
REASONITOUT:Itistruethatmemorizinganswerstoproblemsisrarelysensible.Primarily,we
wouldliketoremembertherules(e.g.mathematicalformulas).Itistherulesthatunderlietheinferential
powerofthemind.However,therearemanywaysinwhichyoucanboostyourmathematicalpowers
throughmemorization.Youmaywanttolearnfacts,rules,derivationsandinrareinstances,alsoliteral
solutions.Hereisthelistwithshortexamples:
LEARNINGRULES:(1)formulaforchangingthelogarithmbasedemandslittlepractiseasthe
applicationconditionsareobviousandtheuseoftheformulaistrivialhowever,(2)thesetof
inferencerulesforderivationsinmathematicallogicisusuallybesttrainedbyprovingacoupleof
propositions
LEARNINGFACTS:thedefinitionofthePvalueinstatistics,theeconstantis2.72,caloric
contentsofapples(foryourappliedmathematicsofweightloss)
LEARNINGDERIVATIONS:youwilllearnderivationsonlywherederivationsmatter(which
maybequiteoftenifyouareindeedamathematician).Fortheunderstandingofdynamicprocesses
ineconomicsorbiology,youwilllearntosolveadifferentialequationandderiveasigmoid
function.Forthesakeofunderstandingphysics,youmaylearnthederivationoftheformulafor
theamountofheatreleasedunderconstantpressurefromthefirstlawofthermodynamics.Forthe
sakeofenrichingyourmathematicaltrickbag,youcanlearnthederivationofthepartition
functioninstatisticalmechanics.Youwillsoonfindoutthatlearningderivationsishighly
inspirationalbutalsoveryexpensivetimewise
LEARNINGDETERMINISTICSOLUTIONS:howmuchis1minuteofyourtimeworth?how
muchtimeareyouwillingtodevoteforthegainof$1?,whenyouneedanswersinstantlyandthere
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islittletimeforderivation,onrareoccasions,youmayprefertoremembertheliteralanswerrather
thantoderiveit
LEARNINGALGORITHMICSOLUTIONS:yourquestionmaybeamathematicalproblemto
solve.Forexample:whatistheprobabilityofthreeATMsbeingdowngiventhethreeprobabilities
ofeachbeingdown.Youranswermaybeformulatedsimplyasthesolutiontotheproblem(herea
singlenumber)however,atrepetitions,youderivethesolutionratherthanreciteitfrommemory.
Whenyoutryitout,youwillseethatinmostcasesderivationissimplerthanrecitationandthe
dangersofthisapproacharelittleevenifyourselfdisciplinefails.Yourlearningmaterialmay
appearasadumbcollectionofsolutions,buttheeffectofrepetitiononyourmemorywilldepend
onhowconsistentlyyouproduceanswersthroughderivation(itis"learningbydoing"the
SuperMemoway)
LEARNINGPATTERNS:learningtodistinguishtheconditionsforapplyinginferencerules.For
example,youmaywanttolearnchesspatternsinadditiontolearningchessrules.Chessplayers
useaspecificmentalrepresentationofthechessboardandtheirownpersonspecificmnemonic
languagetothinkofchesspositionsandmoves.Whereverconditionsforruleapplicationarenon
trivial,youmaywanttolearnpatternmatchingtoo
MIXEDSTRATEGIES:whilelearningthevalueof16x16,youmayusethemultiplication
algorithm(asinmostcasesoflearningamultidigitmultiplicationtable),youmayusethebinary
algorithm(wheninstantlynoticingthat16isapoweroftwo),oryoumaysimplyrememberthat
16x16is256.Youmaydecidethatitisnotimportantwhichmethodyouusetoderivetheanswer,
oryoumayformulatethreeseparaterepetitivetaskslabeled:multiply,binaryandrecall(obviously
thethirdapproachisnotrecommendedunlessoccurringnaturally,i.e.youdoindeed
spontaneouslyrecalltheanswerwithoutplayingnumbersinyourmind)
LEARNINGBYDOING:ifyoustillbelieveintheirreducibilityoflearningbydoingtodistilled
factsandrules,youcanstoreinSuperMemothenameofthebookandthenumberofachapter
withmathematicalproblemstosolve.Ateachrepetition,youcanrandomlypickaninstanceofa
problemtosolveandlearnagivenrulebyapplyingitinpractise.Thusyouwilldelegateto
SuperMemoonlythecareaboutrefreshingrelevantmemorytracesunderlyingtheleastcommon
neuraldenominatoroftheproblemtosolve
Thereareneuralnetworksyoucannoteasilyreach,therearememorystatesthatarenoteasytoevoke,
thereispatternmatchingthatrequiresinstantiation(learningbyexample),thereareexpertbehaviorsthat
aredifficulttoformalizehowever,SuperMemo,introspectionandlearningbytrialanderrorshouldbe
yourpowerfulalliesinunderstandingthebasisofmentalprocessesunderlyingproblemsolvingand
creativity
Thestressofselfdisciplinecanbeovercome.
(DarienChen,Thursday,November17,201118:24PM)
Question:
Itisratherunambiguousthatselfdisciplineisnecessaryformaximalutilityandcontributionofvalue
fromlearning.However,anotheradviceyougiveistominimizestress.
Isselfdisciplineinherentlystressful?Delayinggratification,productivity,efficiency,andwhatnot:aren't
thesetaxingonthebody?Whatisyouradviceonsurmountingthis?Thishasbeenbotheringme
Answer:
Selfdisciplinecanbestressful.Oneofthetricksyoucanemployistograduallyimposeharderand
harderconditionsonyourperformance.Itisalwaysbettertostartslowandeasy.Millionsofpeoplefail
theirNewYearresolutionsbecausetheyaimtoohighandstarttoohard.Theyoptforadifference
betweenDec31andJan1thatissimplyjusttoolargetobearinthelongrun.Ifyoudecidetodaythat
youwilllearnSpanish10min.perdayandeveryday,youaremorelikelytosucceedforawhile.Ifyou
surviveaweek,youcouldmakeit12minandbeboostedbytheresultsofthefirstweekandyour
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successinpersistinginyourownresolutions.After23weeks,youwillbetemptedtoaddanother
resolution,e.g.10min.ofeveningexercise,oramorningjoggingaroundtheblock,etc.Youcankeep
expandingthelisteachtimeyouknowallyourweaknessesandstrenghtsinexecutingthepreviouslistof
resolutions.Ifyoufail,youwillknowyouaskedfortoomuch.Youcanstartagainwithmoremodest
goals.Yourbiologyandpsychologycannotbeignored.Youcannotjumpovercertainbiological
obstacles.Itmaytakeyearstoreachyourmaximumpotential.Youwillneedtofigureoutmanythings
aboutyourhealth,yoursleep,yourpsychology,yourrhythms,yourabilitytocombatdisruptions,your
abilitytotakeitonthechin,etc.Withknowledgeandexperience,thestressfactorwillbereplacedwith
thehappysenseofproducitivity.Thekeyistoprogressgraduallyandneverstoplearning(incl.learning
aboutyourself)
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