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Mental Models: The Best Way to Make Intelligent Decisions (113 Models Explained)

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Re: Mental Models: The Best Way to Make Intelligent Decisions (113 Models Explained)

#31

Post by perseusprime11 »

falcolas wrote: post #21
perseusprime11 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To understand meditation, one has to understand how our brain works. Once you fully understand the brain, it's a no-brainer to meditate regularly. If you are game, I recommend everyone read the Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt.

> To understand meditation, one has to understand how our brain works. I'm fairly sure we're still decades if not centuries away from this. We barely understand the broadest strokes of the brain, and can only really treat its deficiencies by bathing the entire thing in chemicals.

I did not mean from a comprehensive understanding but there are things we can understand such as left vs. right brain, role of our limbic system, role of emotion when it comes to reason and decision making, etc. These concepts will give us a window into how our brains work and the need to train it using techniques such as meditation. Sorry, I was cryptic in my earlier comment.

Re: Mental Models: The Best Way to Make Intelligent Decisions (113 Models Explained)

#32

Post by Infernal »

yigitdemirag wrote: post #13

I wonder what could be added to this list from models explained in Eliezer Yudkowsky's Rationality: From AI to Zombies book (which is available online: https://intelligence.org/rationality-ai-zombies/ ) PS: Created an OPML file for 113 models with explanations: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ba4zvf626zpqz57/mental%20models.op...

Do you (or anyone else) have recommendations for applications to view OPML files on macOS?

Re: Mental Models: The Best Way to Make Intelligent Decisions (113 Models Explained)

#33

Post by d0lph »

thisoneworks wrote: post #25

> Most rational people.. one of the finest thinkers in the world.. Is this advice coming from a professor/scientist/philosopher? No, they are the investors who make the most money. In a neo-liberal society, the richest people get the intellectual authority to tell us how to make intelligent decisions. Incredible! /s

This is basically an ad hominem attack.

Re: Mental Models: The Best Way to Make Intelligent Decisions (113 Models Explained)

#34

Post by tw1010 »

In psychology there's this concept called body mirroring. Monkeys do it, as does humans. It's the idea that the subordinate ape tends to mirror the posture of the dominant one. Mental models are obviously a useful tool, but I always found it funny that people who write posts about it keep reusing the phrase "latticework", as if it has any useful meaning, instead of just removing it to make the content more concise. I think of it as a linguistic version of body mirroring.

Re: Mental Models: The Best Way to Make Intelligent Decisions (113 Models Explained)

#36

Post by MarkMc »

tw1010 wrote: post #34

In psychology there's this concept called body mirroring . Monkeys do it, as does humans. It's the idea that the subordinate ape tends to mirror the posture of the dominant one. Mental models are obviously a useful tool, but I always found it funny that people who write posts about it keep reusing the phrase "latticework", as if it has any useful meaning, instead of just removing it to make the content more concise.…

I disagree with the idea that 'latticework' has no useful meaning. Here's the way Munger uses the term:

You've got to have models in your head. And you've got to array your experience both vicarious and direct on this latticework of models. You may have noticed students who just try to remember and pound back what is remembered. Well, they fail in school and in life. You've got to hang experience on a latticework of models in your head.

To me, 'latticework of models' onto which one hooks examples and personal experience is a rather neat analogy.

Re: Mental Models: The Best Way to Make Intelligent Decisions (113 Models Explained)

#37

Post by thisoneworks »

d0lph wrote: post #33
thisoneworks wrote: post #25

> Most rational people.. one of the finest thinkers in the world.. Is this advice coming from a professor/scientist/philosopher? No, they are the investors who make the most money. In a neo-liberal society, the richest people get the intellectual authority to tell us how to make intelligent decisions. Incredible! /s

This is basically an ad hominem attack.

Allow me to change your view. What irks me are sentences like these

> The great investor and teacher Benjamin Graham..

> Smart people like Charlie Munger..

> Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and one of the finest thinkers in the world..

There is no mention in the article as to why I should believe they are as smart as the author believes them to be. (Hint: They made a lot of money and their advice seems rational, so they should be smart?). No doubt they are great investors (they made a lot of money), and I would follow their advice in money matters. But I question their credibility as extraordinary thinkers.

Notice how this type of content is marketed and perceived. Specifically, any advice by investors/CEO/Entrepreneur (or other individuals whose primary experience has been in making money/increasing market value) being touted as general success mantras (including in your personal life). Principles by Ray Dalio being a recent example. And as I mentioned, I believe this is a product of the neo-liberal ideology that has taken over our society.

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