Economics Dictionary of ArgumentsHome![]() | |||
| |||
Problem solving: Problem solving is a cognitive skill that involves identifying and analyzing problems, developing and evaluating potential solutions, and implementing the best solution. See also Planning, Actions, Information processing, Cognition, Thinking, Knowledge._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
Author | Concept | Summary/Quotes | Sources |
---|---|---|---|
Marvin Minsky on Problem Solving - Dictionary of Arguments
I 74 Problem Solving/Minsky: In principle, we can use the generate and test method - that is, trial and error - to solve any problem whose solution we can recognize. But in practice, it can take too long for even the most powerful computer to test enough possible solutions. Solution: The Progress Principle: Any process of exhaustive search can be greatly reduced if we possess some way to detect when progress has been made. Then we can trace a path toward a solution (...).Many easy problems can be solved this way, but for a hard problem, it may be almost as difficult to recognize progress as to solve the problem itself. Solution: [identify] goals and subgoal[s]. [And use] knowledge. It often turned out easier to program machines to solve specialized problems that educated people considered hard - such as playing chess or proving theorems about logic or geometry - than to make machines do things that most people considered easy (...). >Learning/Minsky._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Minsky I Marvin Minsky The Society of Mind New York 1985 Minsky II Marvin Minsky Semantic Information Processing Cambridge, MA 2003 |