Problems(2) Types and solving
I categorize three different types of problems - active, passive, and unsolvable.
It is possible to solve a problem, to wait until time makes the problem irrelevant, to lessen it's effects, or to ignore it. If the problem is where to go out this evening, we can wait until the evening is over. We take medicine not only to cure an illness, but also to lessen the effects. We can ignore a chess problem. All of these are included in my category of an active solution.
If we think that a problem is too big for us to solve we can join an organization like a political party, or a non profit association and hope that it will solve the problem. I call this the passive solution
It is important to recognize problems that are unsolvable. The best example is 1/0. This problem has no answer, and so adding machines return "error" when someone puts in this calculation. When encountering a problem of this kind it shojuld be ignored. There are many other examples of the non-solvable problems The most common is if a god exists.
In my paper "The problems of life" I listed 13 steps to actually solve problems that we want to solve. Some problems don't need all 13 steps and some do need them.
1. The first step is the most important one. We should feel that something is wrong or that a problem needs to be solved. We couldn't try to solve the problem of the climate until we recognized that there IS a problem.
2. We have to WANT to solve it.
3. We have to guess what the problem is, for example to realize that fever is a symptom of a problem, not the problem itself.
4. We need an estimation of the time, resources, and effort needed .
5. Then we are ready to do research. At this stage we might see that the problem is different than what we originally thought or that our estimation of time, resources, and efforts was off. Either we decide to continue or we stop.
6. We should look for the solutions of previous problems like this one. Most of education is just that - learning how things were done in the past.
7. Whenever possible we should look at diferent solutions. This is where creativity and orignaility are needed.
8. Detailed alternate plans are necessary.
9. What are the side effects?
10. Creating a working model.
11. Execution of the chosen solution.
12. Inspection
13. Needed changes.
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