Problem Solving With Mental Models
Mental models are thinking tools that help guide and shape our perceptions of the world. They simplify complexity so we can understand life better, make decisions confidently, and solve problems.
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occam’s razor
The simplest explanation is probably correct.
Why Use It
For every accurate explanation of something, there is an infinite number of more complex and incorrect possibilities.
When confronted with competing solutions for the same thing, the simplest is likely the correct one.
When to Use It
Best suited for rapid decision-making when you’re missing data.
How to Use It
The razor is a great way to one-up that gut check, identify a possible solution by stripping away false ones, and have more confidence in its validity.
How to Misuse It
Reducing something to its simplest form isn’t always the answer. Sometimes it will miss on a more complicated truth.
Next Step
Take a solution to the next level by developing a way to test the assumption. Choosing a path will lessen the load of testing many separate ideas that do not merit investigation.
Where it Came From
Occam’s razor, aka Ockham’s razor, aka the law of economy, aka the law of parsimony, was developed by the Scholastic philosopher William of Ockham sometime between 1285–1347.
While Durandus of Saint-Pourçain coined the principle before him, Ockham used it more frequently and pointedly to win arguments.
Why mental models are important
When approaching a problem, it’s not one size fits all. It’s better to have a lot of different thinking methods so you can choose the right framework. In life, we tend to hone our skills in a specific field. As such, we rely on what we’ve learned and how those experiences have led us to think, but counterintuitively, specialization can cause blind spots.
It’s not so different from using a hammer to nail everything, and discovering a screwdriver can screw things in better than a hammer ever could. The more tools you have at your disposal, the more capable you are of choosing the correct one. In a mental model’s case, the benefit of selecting correctly is the ability to see clearly.
Why mental models are important
When approaching a problem, it’s not one size fits all. It’s better to have a lot of different thinking methods so you can choose the right framework. In life, we tend to hone our skills in a specific field. As such, we rely on what we’ve learned and how those experiences have led us to think, but counterintuitively, specialization can cause blind spots.
It’s not so different from using a hammer to nail everything, and discovering a screwdriver can screw things in better than a hammer ever could. The more tools you have at your disposal, the more capable you are of choosing the correct one. In a mental model’s case, the benefit of selecting correctly is the ability to see clearly.
