Chapter 5 - Uncertainty

Portent

There is tension between observation and abstraction. Which one should dominant depends on where one is along the historical arc of a technical field. Sometimes more is less - and in perfect symmetry - sometimes less is more.

Primary Docs

Paradigm Discourse:
Open the Ignoring discourse in the next tab

Technical Chapter:
Open the Uncertainty chapter in the next tab

Significance

Too much information can create a mental box from which it is very hard to escape. An abundance of observations can obscure patterns. Too many facts can bury hidden assumptions even deeper.

The major takeaway: a paradigm shift may depend more on ignoring (abstracting away all the dross) than on observation.

Optional Instrument — Red Herrings

There are many good sites that explore red herrings and lateral-thinking puzzles. Questioning hidden assumptions is a learnable skill.

This optional instrument offers short diversions that train exactly that ability.
Open the Red Herrings guide in the next tab