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Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character in a fictional world - as we all know. But there are many articles written as if Holmes is a real person, such that we
by feral 14y ago
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character in a fictional world - as we all know.
But there are many articles written as if Holmes is a real person, such that we could extract valuable life lessons by studying how Holmes solved problems - on the implicit basis that it worked out well for Holmes.
That a particular way of thinking worked for Holmes doesn't mean anything.
At best, you are hoping that Arthur Conan Doyle had a particularly good model of the world, as reflected in his fiction, that is worth studying.
Finally, the advice in that particular article seems contradictory, to me. E.g:
“I make it a practice not to judge someone before I speak with them and get to know them. But can I tell you who someone is by looking at cuff links? No.”
Which is the article saying we are supposed to do?
Wait for someone to speak before judging them? Or make educated guesses, based on prior knowledge of the world, and observations such as the cuff links they wear?
- mistercow 14y agoRelated: http://lesswrong.com/lw/k9/the_logical_fallacy_of_generalization_from/ http://lesswrong.com/lw/k9/the_logical_fallacy_of_generaliza...
- loup-vaillant 14y agoYet, I don't think this is what's happening here. Well it is happening, but only to get attention. The actual advice seems based on sound science. Like: mindfulness is good (meditation sure is), multitasking is bad (we can't do it anyway), and some mnemonic techniques work better than others (music, writing) —don't know of any study on that one, though there probably are. While we're at it, we don't want to imitate Holmes on everything. The guy was a cocaine user, for one.
- b0rsuk 14y agoIncidentally, there's a chapter in the first Sherlock Holmes novel where he does exactly that. When Watson meets Holmes, he boasts about his reasoning skills by showing people walking on the street and saying who they are.
- MaysonL 14y agoOf course, Sherlock Holmes was based on a real person, who was extremely observant, and very good at deduction, especially as applied to his profession of medicine. See: http://www.diogenes-club.com/joebell.htm http://www.diogenes-club.com/joebell.htm
- jeremyarussell 14y agoI like how people forget to check that when saying. "This argument is invalid, it's main support is a fictional character". Obviously the adventures were not real, but the person was. And the advice given, pay attention and be mindful, keep your mind organized, etc. are all good pieces of advice.
- adeaver 14y agoFor the record, that isn't advice. It is the authors (of the book) response to the article writers question of whether doing research for the book has taught her to "think like Holmes". And she isn't saying she is making educated guesses but rather that she isn't able to but has learned not to make snap judgements.
- dhimes 14y agoPeople make the same mental error with Ayn Rand's work.
- kelvin0 14y agoCould explain what you mean? I have read Atlas Shrugged and hated it. I also don't care much for the philosophy put forth in that book. How is the description of the expertise of Sherlock, and Ayn Rand's book related as you seem to infer? I am genuinely curious and would appreciate your feedback...
- dhimes 14y agoI should have been clearer- sorry. But there are many articles written as if Holmes is a real person, such that we could extract valuable life lessons by studying how Holmes solved problems - on the implicit basis that it worked out well for Holmes. This is the line to which I was specifically referring. In the case of Rand, some people look at her works of fiction and argue for her philosophy based on the novel.
- kelvin0 14y agoOK, thanks for the details. However, I do think there is still a key importance: Ayn Rand was using her books to dispense a specific philosophy and this has been clear both by interviews given by Rand and by the content of at least one of her books (I've only read one). The books were a means to that end. In the case of Sherlock, this is a work of fiction and as far as I know, no specific philosophy is the framework of any of the Sherlock stories.
- dhimes 14y agoOh, I completely agree. I am merely speaking of the response: "Do $X- it works in the book"
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]