Conversation

* Memory isn't a high-order bit for creative work, complex insight, etc. * Explicit learning activities of any kind are a dead-end; we just need to figure out how to design implicit learning environments well. * My work disregards the social experience. * Where's the poetry?

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#1 is the biggest reason I haven't adopted Anki or something similar yet. Have any references you could send as counter-arguments for this criticism?

Andy Matuschak

@andy_matuschak

It’s clearly not completely true: how could you possibly notice an unusual connection, say, unless you’ve already internalized the referents? So the more generative q is: what is the role of memory in various contexts? More on the basics in this section: numinous.productions/ttft/#how-impo

I'd read TTFT six months ago, but that section really pops in light of the more generative q you posed: what's the role of memory in various contexts? As a software engineer w/ 20 yrs experience, I've definitely moved to the level of recognizing patterns, a la chess.

I'm agreed on the value of memorizing the basic referents of a field, but having trouble with the "writing good cards" aspect of Anki. Starting to think that the deep, conceptual understanding is actually a prereq to writing good cards to assist with memory. 🔁

6:09 PM · Apr 19, 2021TweetDeck

I have much less trouble writing good cards in an area where I have a thorough, top-down understanding. But that suggests that I will struggle to apply spaced repetition to new fields. Or maybe try out cards, and iterate on them as I update my understanding of the field.

Replying to

and

Yes, that resonates. IME the role of the cards in this context can be to help “lever” yourself into a deeper understanding more rapidly. Iteration’s essential! You might enjoy: cognitivemedium.com/srs-mathematics

Replying to

and

I’m really excited about the design space around iteration. Existing systems don’t take it seriously at all, but it’s clearly super important.