Comments on: Go And Reasoning: An Interview With Milton Bradley http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/02/go-reasoning-milton-bradley/ Personal Development for Polymaths Wed, 16 May 2012 19:19:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Ian Coburn http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/02/go-reasoning-milton-bradley/comment-page-1/#comment-41014 Ian Coburn Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:04:05 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1879#comment-41014 Totally agree w/Milt that we are never taught how to make good decisions and the lack thereof is responsible for the world's biggest problems; however, it's not because it's overlooked. It's because no one really has a set system for making good decisions. Even people regarded as being experts on the subject often simply speak in generalities--"examine all input, think about the issues..." Okay, great... and then what? In the end, decisions often come from opinion instead of solid reasoning and that's where we get into trouble. By implementing a tangible decision-making system, we can eliminate this poor, inefficient practice. For example, if we asked the following 5 simple questions of laws in the U.S., how many would be shown to be laws of opinion, going against the very ideologies the nation? What is the law? Define it. Why is it a law? Have circumstances changed since it became a law? Is it effective? Does it comply with your responsibilities (in the U.S. to serve and protect your citizens, legal residents, and legal visitors)? If the answer to either of the last two questions is "no," the law is a law of opinion and needs to go. It's not easy to remove opinion, especially without following a system. I also suggest reading "blink - The Power of Thinking Without Thinking." I finished it the other day and found it to be quite intriguing and insightful. As for games, I prefer the Japanese game Shogi to all other strategy games and find it to be the most intellectually demanding. That being said, I haven't played Go much and it's been a long time, so I'll check into it. The problem is it's hard to find people who play these games, you know? It's too bad because they really do make you think more in other aspects of your daily life. Totally agree w/Milt that we are never taught how to make good decisions and the lack thereof is responsible for the world’s biggest problems; however, it’s not because it’s overlooked. It’s because no one really has a set system for making good decisions. Even people regarded as being experts on the subject often simply speak in generalities–”examine all input, think about the issues…” Okay, great… and then what? In the end, decisions often come from opinion instead of solid reasoning and that’s where we get into trouble. By implementing a tangible decision-making system, we can eliminate this poor, inefficient practice. For example, if we asked the following 5 simple questions of laws in the U.S., how many would be shown to be laws of opinion, going against the very ideologies the nation?

What is the law? Define it.
Why is it a law?
Have circumstances changed since it became a law?
Is it effective?
Does it comply with your responsibilities (in the U.S. to serve and protect your citizens, legal residents, and legal visitors)?

If the answer to either of the last two questions is “no,” the law is a law of opinion and needs to go. It’s not easy to remove opinion, especially without following a system.

I also suggest reading “blink – The Power of Thinking Without Thinking.” I finished it the other day and found it to be quite intriguing and insightful. As for games, I prefer the Japanese game Shogi to all other strategy games and find it to be the most intellectually demanding. That being said, I haven’t played Go much and it’s been a long time, so I’ll check into it. The problem is it’s hard to find people who play these games, you know? It’s too bad because they really do make you think more in other aspects of your daily life.

]]> By: Farouk http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/02/go-reasoning-milton-bradley/comment-page-1/#comment-40950 Farouk Sat, 13 Feb 2010 09:42:43 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1879#comment-40950 that was useful, thanks for your effort :) that was useful, thanks for your effort :)

]]> By: J.D. Meier http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/02/go-reasoning-milton-bradley/comment-page-1/#comment-40844 J.D. Meier Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:31:45 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1879#comment-40844 I'm a fan of building argumentation skills. I'm also a fan of combining it with Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats -- I think it's a simple way to treat emotions as input. The most practical way I've found to use reasoning is to: - ask better questions - watch out for common logic flaws - walk the six thinking hats - walk an argument -- the issues, the claims, the warrants, the inferences ... and evaluate the sources and types of evidence. What I'm not a fan of is reasoning with language to the point where nothing is knowable and key points turn into nothing more than airy pontification. In other words, I like to use argumentation to explore concepts in discussions vs. turn it into dialogue or debate too quickly. I do think "So-crates" and others had some mad skills and I do like an intellectual romper-room now and then. I’m a fan of building argumentation skills. I’m also a fan of combining it with Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats — I think it’s a simple way to treat emotions as input.

The most practical way I’ve found to use reasoning is to:
- ask better questions
- watch out for common logic flaws
- walk the six thinking hats
- walk an argument — the issues, the claims, the warrants, the inferences … and evaluate the sources and types of evidence.

What I’m not a fan of is reasoning with language to the point where nothing is knowable and key points turn into nothing more than airy pontification. In other words, I like to use argumentation to explore concepts in discussions vs. turn it into dialogue or debate too quickly.

I do think “So-crates” and others had some mad skills and I do like an intellectual romper-room now and then.

]]> By: Hunter Nuttall http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/02/go-reasoning-milton-bradley/comment-page-1/#comment-40668 Hunter Nuttall Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:44:50 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1879#comment-40668 @ Akemi, I think I heard that 10% of Japanese people play Go seriously, so it doesn't sound that unusual that none of your relatives play. Maybe your reasoning skills are good enough already. :) @ BTA, they definitely don't teach philosophy, except possibly in college. And if someone becomes a philosophy major, they're taking a significant career risk. @ Akemi, I think I heard that 10% of Japanese people play Go seriously, so it doesn’t sound that unusual that none of your relatives play. Maybe your reasoning skills are good enough already. :)

@ BTA, they definitely don’t teach philosophy, except possibly in college. And if someone becomes a philosophy major, they’re taking a significant career risk.

]]> By: brain training advocate http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/02/go-reasoning-milton-bradley/comment-page-1/#comment-40460 brain training advocate Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:03:48 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1879#comment-40460 Not only do schools not teach reasoning, but they don't teach philosophy at all. This is a huge gap in the education of our children. Logic and reason are the cornerstones of rational thought. The absence of truth-seeking in our society is clear and lamentable. Politics, consumerism, and personal engagement all suffer because people replace or mistake truth with belief and opinion. Not only do schools not teach reasoning, but they don’t teach philosophy at all. This is a huge gap in the education of our children. Logic and reason are the cornerstones of rational thought. The absence of truth-seeking in our society is clear and lamentable. Politics, consumerism, and personal engagement all suffer because people replace or mistake truth with belief and opinion.

]]> By: Akemi - Yes to Me http://hunternuttall.com/blog/2010/02/go-reasoning-milton-bradley/comment-page-1/#comment-40451 Akemi - Yes to Me Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:47:27 +0000 http://hunternuttall.com/blog/?p=1879#comment-40451 Hi, I think he is spot on that schools don't teach reasoning. Even math and science is taught as a set of theory to be memorized, not as a method to seek truth. Also I think the popularity of go is decreasing in Japan, especially among young people. It's considered an old men's board game. None of my family or relatives play -- oh, maybe this explains I lack in reasoning skills ;) Akemi Hi,

I think he is spot on that schools don’t teach reasoning. Even math and science is taught as a set of theory to be memorized, not as a method to seek truth.

Also I think the popularity of go is decreasing in Japan, especially among young people. It’s considered an old men’s board game. None of my family or relatives play — oh, maybe this explains I lack in reasoning skills ;)

Akemi

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