3 ms·

My pet theory is that this is closely related to the "two cultures" in mathematics with "problem solvers" vs "theory builders": is it easier for you to put more

My pet theory is that this is closely related to the "two cultures" in mathematics with "problem solvers" vs "theory builders": is it easier for you to put more strain on your working memory to solve a problem, or would you rather put in more up-front conceptual effort to reduce that strain? I'm not a mathematician, but I've seen a similar bifurcation in programming styles and preferences: something like "debuggers" vs "abstraction builders". Would you rather have less to learn up front at the expense of needing to track more details as you're working, or would you rather spend time learning or developing a conceptual foundation to reduce ongoing pressure on your working memory? I figure this is why discussions about keeping programming "simple" are so unproductive: people end up talking past each other because one camp values reducing up-front complexity, the other reducing ongoing complexity, but everybody talks about it as if there's only one simple–complex dimension.

growingkittens 3y ago
A distinction you might find interesting: Systemic thinking - considering the system as a whole. Systematic thinking - considering the components of a system step-by-step.
hgsgm 3y ago
It's not that people disagree about which approach is more effective, it's about whether the person cares more about theory or practice (or in what balance, people are not binary). The theory hat doesn't like practice, and says "theory improves practice" as a fig leaf. The practice hat doesn't like theory, and says "practice improves theory" as a fig leaf. Of course both are important at a global scale. But one person can focus on one side and make an contribution.
hawski 3y ago
I think I am almost grasping what you are saying, but am not sure. Those short memory people (who I think I may be among) that GP said about relate to which group of mathematicians and programmers? I am one of those that prefer to reduce complexity and prefer lower level programming. I think that such a type of person likes C for example.
- hgsgm 3y ago
  Ah, I am one of those the tprefer to reduce complexity and prefer higher level programming. Such a person likes Python, for example :-)

growingkittens 3y ago

A distinction you might find interesting: Systemic thinking - considering the system as a whole. Systematic thinking - considering the components of a system step-by-step.

hgsgm 3y ago

It's not that people disagree about which approach is more effective, it's about whether the person cares more about theory or practice (or in what balance, people are not binary). The theory hat doesn't like practice, and says "theory improves practice" as a fig leaf. The practice hat doesn't like theory, and says "practice improves theory" as a fig leaf. Of course both are important at a global scale. But one person can focus on one side and make an contribution.

hawski 3y ago

I think I am almost grasping what you are saying, but am not sure. Those short memory people (who I think I may be among) that GP said about relate to which group of mathematicians and programmers? I am one of those that prefer to reduce complexity and prefer lower level programming. I think that such a type of person likes C for example.

hgsgm 3y ago
Ah, I am one of those the tprefer to reduce complexity and prefer higher level programming. Such a person likes Python, for example :-)