Comments on: The guessing trick http://charbonniers.org/2009/07/13/the-guessing-trick/ A blog on consciousness by Janet Kwasniak Tue, 22 May 2012 03:38:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: daedalus2u http://charbonniers.org/2009/07/13/the-guessing-trick/#comment-709 daedalus2u Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:34:15 +0000 http://charbonniers.org/2009/07/13/the-guessing-trick/#comment-709 I think that the brain works this way because using algorithms to decide things is too slow. You can't wait for an algorithm to give you an answer while you are running from a bear, so the default has to be non-algorithmic and quick. After you have made your decision and implemented it, then in hindsight you can look back on it and see if it was a good decision or not, and modify the non-algorithmic decision generating process accordingly (or not). I think that the brain works this way because using algorithms to decide things is too slow. You can’t wait for an algorithm to give you an answer while you are running from a bear, so the default has to be non-algorithmic and quick.

After you have made your decision and implemented it, then in hindsight you can look back on it and see if it was a good decision or not, and modify the non-algorithmic decision generating process accordingly (or not).

]]> By: daedalus2u http://charbonniers.org/2009/07/13/the-guessing-trick/#comment-708 daedalus2u Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:32:57 +0000 http://charbonniers.org/2009/07/13/the-guessing-trick/#comment-708 <p>I don't think the decision is made by "guessing", but rather by a non-algorithmic process (which can be opaque to algorithmic analysis). I think that is what intuition is, a non-algorithmic process, for example estimating a quantity instead of counting. The counting algorithm is much more accurate, but takes much longer.</p> JanetK: Thanks daedalus2u. I agree that guessing may be a word with a lot of baggage. What I mean is something very much like you describe. The thing I was trying to get across is that I have no direct knowledge of my motivation but my intuition of what motivates me is pretty good. I certainly agree about the importance of non-algorithmic processes. I don’t think the decision is made by “guessing”, but rather by a non-algorithmic process (which can be opaque to algorithmic analysis). I think that is what intuition is, a non-algorithmic process, for example estimating a quantity instead of counting. The counting algorithm is much more accurate, but takes much longer.

JanetK: Thanks daedalus2u. I agree that guessing may be a word with a lot of baggage. What I mean is something very much like you describe. The thing I was trying to get across is that I have no direct knowledge of my motivation but my intuition of what motivates me is pretty good. I certainly agree about the importance of non-algorithmic processes.

]]> By: mariana http://charbonniers.org/2009/07/13/the-guessing-trick/#comment-666 mariana Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:08:25 +0000 http://charbonniers.org/2009/07/13/the-guessing-trick/#comment-666 <p>I have always been puzzled about why is it that it is very likely that the brain first takes the decition about somethig by guessing, and then justifies it rationaly. the brain cheat us in not letting us this, it makes us think we infered to decide. Now it seems the same kind of mechanism happens with us while judging other people, Maybe this guess mechanisms (may be related to intuition), are indeed the main and principal decision takers and judgers we have, probably they are use more than half of the time and the rest might be done by a more rational method.</p> JanetK: Thanks Mariana. Maybe we put guessed motivations on our actions because we need a useful narrative in our memories. I have always been puzzled about why is it that it is very likely that the brain first takes the decition about somethig by guessing, and then justifies it rationaly. the brain cheat us in not letting us this, it makes us think we infered to decide. Now it seems the same kind of mechanism happens with us while judging other people, Maybe this guess mechanisms (may be related to intuition), are indeed the main and principal decision takers and judgers we have, probably they are use more than half of the time and the rest might be done by a more rational method.

JanetK: Thanks Mariana. Maybe we put guessed motivations on our actions because we need a useful narrative in our memories.

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