Why logic is useless

I started living with a roomate. Naturally, she has her bunch of stories, reflections, etc.

Naturally (....) I am having y analysis, advice and words of wisdom.

I realized that many times, while logically, philosophically, and intellectually brilliant, I am entirely useless and out of hte point. Thanks god I am holding my tounge at times.

We can frame the world people, experiences, etc. in endless ways. Every way does have some merit. But what coutns is relevance in context (is your comment going to provide your freind with fun and future useful understanding, or it is a useless pain in the ass?).

Logic is not handling context at all. It just follows the given question.

The main issue in real life is what is the right question, and with which glasses to look at things and issues. Logic is useless in this. (aside from that it is very easy to fall prey to it. Because it is flawless)

calibration is useless and dangerous

We have a tendency to want to know exactly. What is the exact value of this action? how much effort is too much for this end etc.
Even in feelings. How much do I want to care on X? etc.

Usually we have quite an idea about the amount more or less, but then some tend to want to know exactly.

Yet knowuing exactly is usually impossible. Because of hte complexity of things and so on.

Moreover, the utility of finding out the exact is deteriorating, while the cost of finding the exact go up.


PS. there is another cost of closing the mind with having a clear cut number. Also, see Jon Elster about people preferring to rely on rationality.

No single solution for life

There is an utopic fantasy that a single formula/trick solution/ approach will make life good and all will be fine and dandy.

This is not going to work in real life.

There are multiple aspcts to life and endless challenges.

Some good ideas will be useful. Maybe even very useful. But there is no such a thing as a single idea that will solve everything and let you not think, not fight and not make effort. There will always be the need for ad-hoc thinking. For looking at what happens and attend to the various aspects and challenges that come throught.

Fine distinctions

What we consider bluntness/stupidity is sometimes a rough optimum.

Without delicate distinctions it is sometimes better to go by the blunt rule.

Delicate distinctions allow for flexible behavior and thinkuing. SOmetimes you do that way sometimes opposite.

It is a good rule to be nice. If this is a single rule for social interactins it is good. If you are more astute, you know when to be nice and when to be strong. Even more: to be nice and strong together.

But if you do not have the ability to distinguish, you maybe actually be better off with a blunt generaliation.

There are always advatages of the blunt and simple. Less effort (unless it is easier for you to handle the effortful interesting over the boring). Simplicity has its virtues. You will also be able to act more automatically that way. Mauybe the saved attention can be used for more useful things.

Keep the fun

our level of fun and interest in activities changes for many reasons.

If you find yourself enjoying something, keep going. Give up anything else if you get now enough fun.

We tend to think that "enough is enough" etc. but if you really enjoy something there is no reason in the world to stop. Keep going.

Got the idea from Nassim Taleb's stuff.