Model 2: The Clock of Theory

The Clock of Theory: The Core of Cognition

In thinking models, the Clock of Theory is an important concept that helps us understand the essence of cognition. This model primarily answers two questions: What is a problem? And what standards should a good model have?

Core Idea of the Clock of Theory

The Clock of Theory emphasizes that the standards of high cognition include:

1. Foresight (Seeing Far): A person with high cognition can foresee long-term trends, not just short-term phenomena.
2. Comprehensive Understanding (Seeing All): Able to have a comprehensive understanding of the situation, but not necessarily able to predict every detail.
3. Imprecision in Detail (Not Seeing Accurately): Even with foresight and comprehensive understanding, it is impossible to accurately predict the specific timing and details of events.

This view reflects the non-intuitive nature of cognition. Many people believe that high or low cognition depends on whether one can accurately predict the future. However, in reality, the core of cognition lies in grasping future trends, not in the accuracy of details.

Characteristics of a Model

A good cognitive model should have the following three characteristics:

1. Generality: The model should have broad applicability. For example, Newton’s Third Law is a theory with broad applicability.
2. Simplicity: The model should be as simple as possible for easy understanding and application. For example, judging something as “expensive” or “cheap” only focuses on price, neglecting other factors.
3. Accuracy: The accuracy of a model is often mutually exclusive with its generality and simplicity. A model that simultaneously possesses generality and simplicity often struggles to be precise in specific details.

The Clock of Theory and Managing Upwards

In practical applications, such as managing upwards (i.e., communicating with your boss), the Clock of Theory can help us understand how to adjust communication strategies. For example, if the first communication with the boss is unsuccessful, you should continue to adjust methods and try more times, rather than simply denying the model or giving up. A highly cognitive approach involves continuous practice and adjustment, not seeking a one-time solution.

Practice and Exercise

In practice, when facing tasks or challenges, a sense of practice is very important. Someone with a sense of practice will constantly try and adjust, rather than relying solely on one success or failure. The key to high cognition lies in improving one’s abilities through continuous attempts and optimization, not expecting a single set of models to easily solve all problems.

Summary

The Clock of Theory reminds us that high cognition is not just about precisely grasping details, but about a deep understanding of trends and a comprehensive grasp of problems. An effective model should possess generality and simplicity, while individuals need to continuously adjust and optimize in practice to improve the effectiveness of practical application.