Interesting quote about wrong thinking

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the psychological pitfalls of overconfidence in one's understanding, particularly in complex subjects like quantum mechanics. A quote from John Lennon and Paul McCartney highlights the theme of misjudgment, emphasizing the danger of believing oneself to be correct without verification. The author shares a personal experience of misunderstanding the commutator laws, illustrating the frustration that arises from such errors. The conversation seeks strategies to mitigate this internal sabotage, suggesting systematic approaches to learning and problem-solving.

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  • Understanding of quantum mechanics principles
  • Familiarity with commutator laws in quantum physics
  • Knowledge of cognitive biases, particularly overconfidence
  • Experience with systematic problem-solving techniques
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  • Research cognitive biases and their impact on learning
  • Study systematic approaches to problem-solving in physics
  • Learn about effective study techniques for complex subjects
  • Explore methods for self-assessment and verification of understanding
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Students of physics, educators in scientific disciplines, and anyone interested in improving their critical thinking and learning strategies.

Mosis
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"Think of what you're saying, you can get it wrong and still think that it's all right."

from some song by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

anyway, this got me thinking about how many times I've though I've really understood something, or was absolutely sure that I was correct about something when it turns out that I had it completely backwards or I was thinking pure garbage. This is incredibly frustrating and dangerous. It's one thing to know you're in the wrong - at least you know you have to keep searching for the correct understanding or solution. However, when you're damned sure you're absolutely correct, you can't pick up on your mistake.

worst case for me was when I got the commutator laws completely wrong on a quantum mechanics test, but was so sure of myself that I didn't bother to check.

how do you guard against this sort of internal sabotage?
 
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Be very systematic?
 
Mosis said:
how do you guard against this sort of internal sabotage?

Do your homework problems religiously?
 

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