Laugh-Out-Loud Cats #2254

In theory, it’s simple.

  1. Identify problem.
  2. Identify tools available to fix problem.
  3. Apply tools to problem, fixing it (sometimes, if lucky).

In practice, however, I have a persistent habit of following this procedure:

  1. Become aware of a cool new tool.
  2. Apply tool to nothing, noodling around.
  3. Identify problem solved by tool (sometimes, if lucky).

I’m not the only one with this problem, of course. Indeed, the difference between human intelligence and machine intelligence is that humans have the ability to not just solve a problem but create new problems to solve. One can hardly imagine a history of music that doesn’t start with kids noodling on guitars and only occasionally becoming fortunate enough to turn into the Ramones or whatever. Still, in philosophy it can be particularly dangerous: “Here’s a wonderfully elegant theory. Let’s mutilate reality until it fits the theory!