Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » Illusion of Explanatory Depth

November 17, 2006

Illusion of Explanatory Depth

The “Illusion of Explanatory Depth”: How Much Do We Know About What We Know?

Often (more often than I’d like to admit), my son (Darth Vader over there on the left) will ask me a question about how something works, or why something happens the way it does, and I’ll begin to answer, initially confident in my knowledge, only to discover that I’m entirely clueless. I’m then embarrassed by my ignorance of my own ignorance.
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I wouldn’t be surprised, however, if it turns out that the illusion of explanatory depth leads many researchers down the wrong path, because they think they understand something that lies outside of their expertise when they don’t.

Great stuff. It took me a lot longer to stop asking why, why, why than most kids. I only gave up after years of repeated obvious clues that I was not suppose to ask why (once I aged past 5 or 8 or something - I actually have no idea when it is no longer desired). But most days I, curious cat, want to ask how does that work, why do we do that, why can’t we… I just stop myself. But it does mean I asked myself and realized I don’t really know. So I am at least more aware how little I really know, I think I am anyway.

The internet is a great thing. Google doesn’t mind if you ask as many questions as you want.

by curiouscat Tags: Health Care, Students
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4 Responses to “Illusion of Explanatory Depth”

Curious Cat Management Improvement Blog » The Illusion of Understanding Says:
November 25th, 2006 at 5:04 pm
It is important to understand the systemic weaknesses in how we think in order to improve our thought process. We must question (more often than we believe we need to) especially when looking to improve on how things are done…
Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » Sarah, aged 3, Learns About Soap Says:
January 4th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
[...] Great. I remember such discussions with Dad (Chemical Engineering professor). The only danger I saw was him getting tied of -why, why?, why? (when I was older). And sometimes giving me answers the teacher didn’t like (a way of doing math problems that wasn’t the way my teacher was teaching). [...]
Brent Hoff Says:
March 11th, 2008 at 1:56 am
Very interesting question, John. I have two kids and ask me all the time how stuff works. I really thought I knew more than I actually know.
Forecasting Oil Prices at Curious Cat Investing and Economics Blog Says:
July 17th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
This is another example of how tricky it is to predict financial markets. I am a bit surprised for relatively longer periods (like a year) the professionals do so poorly.,,