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General problem solving and critical thinking is good mental training. Timed arithmetic drills are neither, and I really should hope that arithmetic doesn't cou
by j2kun 12y ago
General problem solving and critical thinking is good mental training. Timed arithmetic drills are neither, and I really should hope that arithmetic doesn't count as "critical thinking" for the majority of the audience on HN.
- Qwertious 12y agoI have to agree - for all the talk of "mental training", is there any actual evidence that arithmetic drills will actually help with problem-solving and critical-thinking?
- ajkjk 12y agoMy point in the parent post was that I have a lot of anecdotal reason to believe this. Enough to be pretty confident I could find actual evidence, but I haven't looked very hard.
- ajkjk 12y agoNo one has claimed that arithmetic trains you at critical thinking. It trains you at a certain kind of abstract thought, and I'm specifically stating that I have found that very valuable.