The Science of Thinking
Veritasium・11 minutes read
People tend to avoid thinking because it is uncomfortable, leading to common thinking errors. The brain functions with two systems: one quick and automatic (Gun) and one slower but more careful (Drew) that can be improved through deliberate practice.
Insights
- The text emphasizes that people tend to avoid thinking due to its unpleasant nature, leading to common thinking errors and a reluctance to check answers.
- It introduces the concept of two brain systems, System One (Gun) and System Two (Drew), where Gun operates automatically from long-term memory, while Drew engages in slower, more careful thinking within working memory, highlighting the importance of deliberate practice to develop automatic skills and overcome working memory limitations.
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Recent questions
Why do people avoid thinking?
Due to the discomfort associated with it.
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Summary
00:00
"Thinking Errors and Overcoming Memory Limits"
- People generally find thinking unpleasant and tend to avoid it.
- Examples of common thinking errors are provided, such as the misconception about the Earth's rotation around the Sun and the toy bat and ball cost puzzle.
- The discomfort of thinking is highlighted as the reason why people often don't check their answers.
- The brain is described as having two systems: System One (Gun) and System Two (Drew), with Gun being quick and automatic, while Drew is slower but more careful.
- Gun's automatic responses are linked to long-term memory, while Drew operates within working memory, which has limited capacity.
- Chunking, the process of grouping information together based on prior knowledge, is explained as a way to overcome working memory limitations.
- Learning is depicted as the process of building larger chunks of information in long-term memory through active engagement and repetition.
- The importance of deliberate practice in developing automatic skills, like muscle memory in musicians and athletes, is emphasized.
- The Add One task is used to demonstrate how Drew's effortful thinking can be observed through physiological responses like pupil dilation, indicating mental strain.
