The brain has many strengths, but Jacob Goldstein has looked at why some of these strengths can also be weaknesses at times.
1) Our memory is rigged: Do we just remember what we want to remember?
2) We see patterns where there is only randomness: Does everything really have to be explained by some pattern or theory?
3) We overestimate the importance of whatever we think about: Do we really need that house and those 5 cars to live happily?
Philosophical Engineering Design Point:
Recognition of your memory (what is it that you really remember? was it really their fault or yours?), pattern making (do you always look for a ‘formula’?), and labeling of what is important to you (what are the things that really make you happy, are they cars and big houses?) allows you to see your strengths and weaknesses in your thoughts. How important are the patterns that you remember?
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