Problem Solving

On the topic of problem solving, I try to mix three key ingredients: philosophy, science, and engineering. These three things correspond to an ability to reason about the problem I’m trying to solve, formulate a hypothesis and test it, and then apply my solution to the real world.

In practice, these are characteristics of principled problem solving, for each of the respective areas.

Philosophy

• Define what is (and is not) in scope.
• Determine the bounds of the domain.
• Articulate the problem, goals.
• Understanding constraints.

Science

• Establish measurements, metrics.
• Understand correlation, causation.
• Refute the null hypothesis.
• Establish hypothesis.

Engineering

• Apply your solutions to the real world.
• Understand architecture, people.
• Optimize and scale.

Practicing philosophy, science, and engineering in your daily life makes you a principled problem solver!

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