I think "overlearning" is not a good term (edit: it is quite accurate, though), because it tend to suggest the worst solution of all: that we refrain from learn

I think "overlearning" is not a good term (edit: it is quite accurate, though), because it tend to suggest the worst solution of all: that we refrain from learning. I prefer "lost purposes"[1]. The primary purpose of a game is generally to Have Fun. This purpose is lost if you have "solved" the game. The stated purpose of patents is to foster innovation. However it doesn't work[2]. The purpose of schools is learning. However its methods are flawed [3,4]. And so on. The trick is to know your goals, and then find out means to best achieve them. The author said: > But, in real life, we need to keep "playing the game": we need to have elections, and protections for inventors, and laws that govern society, and a market where companies can raise money. But the actual goals are different: We don't need election, we need a working democratic system (which may, or may not, mandate elections). We don't need protections for inventors, we need innovations. We don't need laws, we need a fair and working society. We don't need a market where companies can raise money, we need a working economy. Well, I could attempt recurse further up until pure morality, but that would be intractable. But at least you get the idea. If something looks broken, think about its ultimate purpose before you try to fix it. [1]: http://lesswrong.com/lw/le/lost_purposes/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/le/lost_purposes/ [2]: http://www.dklevine.com/general/intellectual/against.htm http://www.dklevine.com/general/intellectual/against.htm [3]: http://vimeo.com/5513063 http://vimeo.com/5513063 (Dr Tae) [4]: http://www.khanacademy.org/ http://www.khanacademy.org/