Ep. 27 - Awakening from the Meaning Crisis - Problem Formulation

In episode 27 of "Awakening from the Meaning Crisis," Dr. John Vervaeke delves into cognitive science, emphasizing synoptic integration to address fragmentation in understanding the mind. He proposes exploring intelligence as a cognitive agent's capacity, cautioning against equivocation and focusing on the process of knowledge acquisition rather than its products. Referencing the work of Vinay, Simon, and Newell, Vervaeke defines intelligence as general problem-solving ability, dissecting problem-solving into initial and goal states, operations, and path constraints. He highlights the concept of combinatorial explosion, using chess as an example, to illustrate how humans intelligently narrow down the problem space through relevance realization, contrasting this with the limitations of algorithmic certainty and logic. Vervaeke critiques Newell and Simon's approach, pointing out their assumption that all problems are essentially the same and distinguishing between well-defined and ill-defined problems, ultimately emphasizing the crucial role of problem formulation and insight in intelligent behavior.