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This captures so much! My work tends to improve when I remember this (and let go of fake problems, solutions-in-search-of-problems, concerns about abstract "quality" or "output")… and to fail when I forget (and pursue same). I constantly struggle with maintaining this mindset.

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Lulie

@reasonisfun

· Apr 13, 2021

You will make good things if you're engaged in a problem.

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10:16 PM · Apr 13, 2021Twitter Web App

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if you wanted to dissolve a problem tho you also have to disengage with it to ask what else could be changed so the problem wouldn't exist

Andy Matuschak

@andy_matuschak

Apr 13, 2021

Yes; I really enjoy weird sun Twitter oblique strategies like “have you tried making the problem worse”; “have you tried reframing the problem not to exist” etc

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Does it need to be contradictory though? :) Solutions-in-search-of-problems, may capture some intuitive problem you're grappling with, which is underlying the "surface level" actions.

Andy Matuschak

@andy_matuschak

Apr 13, 2021

Yes, this is right, but I don’t understand it. I have this vague notion of an “idea armory”… I cobble together sketchy solutions-in-search-of-problems “on spec” which can be deployed when a suitable problem emerges. This seems to be a good thing to do—sometimes!

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I think being engaged solving a problem forces us to find the right path and ask the right questions. While navigating through concepts we collect new ones or touch the old ones and connect the dots in a way that make more sense.

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Do you have a framework for defining "problem" and "good"? Genuine question, not trolling–I struggle with these definitions. I'm totally on board with the sentiment, but applying it is hard.

Andy Matuschak

@andy_matuschak

Apr 15, 2021

Closest I have is Deutsch’s heuristic of explanatory power. But I’m hesitant to systematize here.

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Abstract is have no solution but there is a answer that so difficult to find either how good you are in calculating it if you don't know the process you are useless