The Usefulness of Factual vs Explanatory Knowledge — Drawing from David Deutsch

The Fun Criterion, Inner Conflicts, and How the Self Resolves Them — David Deutsch

David Deutsch—physicist, pioneer of quantum computation, and author of The Beginning of Infinity and The Fabric of Reality—joins me to discuss fun, learning, and how minds create knowledge. We explore the Fun Criterion: why a sense of “no fun” is best treated as criticism, a signal that something needs improvement, rather than a stop rule or a feeling to chase. Deutsch unpacks conflicts between explicit, inexplicit, and unconscious ideas, and how problems get worked on through conjecture and criticism across different modes of thought and learning. We then zoom out to how ideas “evolve together” inside a mind and why biological evolution is less understood than people often assume. The discussion also touches on focus and attention—whether they’re better seen as a trainable skill, a resource constraint, or both. Finally, we unpack the self as the collective term for the institutions of consent among the multiple strands of creativity and criticism that constitute a mind. 📚 Mentioned Resources The Beginning of Infinity — David Deutsch [https://www.thebeginningofinfinity.com/] The Fabric of Reality — David Deutsch [https://www.daviddeutsch.org.uk/books/the-fabric-of-reality/] My upcoming book — The 4 Acts [https://edwindoit.com/4acts] ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 — Intro 01:21 — Can we measure Fun? 04:31 — Thwarting creativity 06:01 — Can mundanity be Fun? 07:58 — What does “follow the Fun” mean? 10:28 — Fun and inner alignment 12:20 — Resolving conflicts 15:47 — Must ideas align? 17:39 — Are all thoughts creative? 21:25 — Different modes of creativity & learning 28:22 — Evolution of ideas in the mind 33:58 — How (poorly) we understand biological evolution 37:41 — Creating knowledge vs. learning knowledge 40:42 — Knowledge is information with causal power 43:06 — The Self and how the parts of the mind are organized 51:15 — Focus and attention 53:37 — The roots of inexplicit knowledge 57:15 — Physical sensations vs. emotions 01:00:36 — David's upcoming book 01:02:29 — Outro 🧠 More from me Book [https://edwindoit.com/4acts] Website [https://edwindoit.com] Newsletter [https://edwindoit.substack.com] Productivity blog [https://medium.com/@edwindoit] X [https://x.com/Edwindoit]

Discipline and Fun, Compression and Creativity, Emotion and Consciousness — Dirk Meulenbelt

Dirk Meulenbelt, AI graduate, co-founder of based.guide, digital nomad, and organizer of CR events—joins me for a wide-ranging conversation at the edges of critical rationalism. We explore discipline and the Fun Criterion, creativity as compression, the construction of emotion, and the role of consciousness in grounding agency and judgment. Along the way, we dig into epistemology: the distinctions between explicit and inexplicit knowledge, expressible versus inexpressible understanding, and what it really means for knowledge to be explanatory.📚 Mentioned ResourcesLisa Feldman Barrett - How Emotions Are Made - https://amzn.to/3Lcq8bG [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVlNcDJjNDF0VzgyRUR4d0hZNEJ2TVhlZGJZUXxBQ3Jtc0tsQW1JanJ3ZGZ4WS0tY2RzS1NxSU1pQ3AwcmlQWEZ1eUYyMjV2Q19LeXJUNEl2SVVfZF91NEZsVDlPRVlLb2kxVkJIbDNiYUx1LVpVUWlVd1FpcGJEb1dxMlJlWTZYOU5PVW5fTVltRnpqUnVoVEJLQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F3Lcq8bG&v=P9O4fXvek8k] James Russell's Circumplex Model of Affect -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotion... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3p0V3pabHpwZGNsVUxtcm83eDZKRW9NR1pkUXxBQ3Jtc0trLWFZS1kxZC1pbE12V2hIdXZEbk9CRDdTNG9lQm13RTJqM1laTWhZQ0VGYlVwSVgtTWg1SFIxTHBjMUFGRWxYdDdvd0g5a3kyTU5DeU1lTGM4Q3BhYnY5UUNHWEdCdHZMY3hFWExVVmZ2R2tQWGMyRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FEmotion_classification%23Circumplex_model&v=P9O4fXvek8k]What is the 'Fun Criterion'? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idvGl... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idvGlr0aT3c]Edwin's essay on Fun - https://edwindoit.com/fun [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVNwZnU1YjlnNzBHQ0RsYzRYNjM2N3FVOE1vUXxBQ3Jtc0tuVTZwR1RGaUY5X1ZfMzdMWG9tTHNmR2c2UTEzY3o4UHQzVGdaWlIyRmJHSFJQR1BabDRSc09sLVlROTlMSmNLMVd0OFJTcDRVOXFpMDJRbTl6RjNLbzhxOUtqbFhjOUdTd01LTGNFNWtURkd2QVU4NA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fedwindoit.com%2Ffun&v=P9O4fXvek8k]Brett Hall on the unknowns in evolution - https://bretthall.substack.com/p/know... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbGFQTktNbmZCUjVVaDhXRDlkbGRCa3dLNkF6UXxBQ3Jtc0tuUENFaEt3NHJudVJ5SnNhV2VXcG9UNE1pZ1JIYngxZGhoWXUySjdoWnVJRWtodUpDbE0zenQ4TGtvX1VWaHBUZlpCc2RCUy1rUHhTNl81VHhvLUQ4SmlLOHJ4bk9sZTlYUlZmVnVxODhRWTBzUUxGRQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fbretthall.substack.com%2Fp%2Fknown-unknowns&v=P9O4fXvek8k]Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman - https://amzn.to/4jolfst [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVBONmc2eTBoTUFiNTExWFlfMUZ1dDNuRUxNd3xBQ3Jtc0tsTXF6cFZyQW1ZNDhVRlhnbE9sRjFwWkZubHpGM0xjVk41c1JMcnJzSGRzSGVHTzAxNmp2cDhaMW1LMXRYS1VydWdRWFhRSlc0dFB0QVc4cjJoZDRuMGNVd0tpbVR5S2tiX056cThmVnVQZG10WHc0WQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F4jolfst&v=P9O4fXvek8k]David Chalmer's hard and easy problem of consciousness - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_pr... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmJsQVlhYU9OaS1aREg1OFgxbE5sRTVCQTFFZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuNXhjLUtkaV9NNG44c2QwNlpsczNUbXhIVkhZa2xGLXJiY1pKU09Tak8wSjJMRzhNUV8wRjlKUnE1ZjV0M3ZhWlR3TnRfSVRodlo4SmMya2lsZ3lYc0pxNDRDZGx5WmZkRndST1EtNHk5LWNJZlRhWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FHard_problem_of_consciousness&v=P9O4fXvek8k] Lobotomy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobotomy [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVBPM243NUh2ejl1SVBHWXFxSTRtcEZZQkctUXxBQ3Jtc0tsOXJwQmtueXJjMEVhcFZ0UXhIeGN2SG96aDRnWnBHUkNKMU5ReHM5LWRPSmhMQTNJV3RFS2FqS0FVTkhOVXJHY1hjdmt4VXFfbFpNUVVja2xQdWFndFE5dHhZZ29xbkxzU3NtOGJzZXRUakZFZUMtQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FLobotomy&v=P9O4fXvek8k]Descartes' Error by Antonio Damasio featuring the story of "Elliot" - https://amzn.to/4psBdmZ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbTN3dmVZb25DM01pZmtwdW5ZMGRtYXdqcFpxUXxBQ3Jtc0trNnZVTGNTZzNOZlF1NVFBdUQ4N3E4dy1mTlJ6SWZJSml5cU9CX1lOOGtFTHBpN0ZfdUZiV2FjMHF0bjZVeGlFdzV2aEFjejF2ZmNpQzh4cUJyYWxmUkZsTEQ5bWZHbFA5SERQZU11aTY2TmhzYzJQUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F4psBdmZ&v=P9O4fXvek8k]Richard Byrne, ‘Imitation as Behaviour Parsing’ - https://pages.ucsd.edu/~johnson/COGS2... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3JIUlR6MGRNOTNFZ3VNc05meFpvWkxiV04zUXxBQ3Jtc0trUlFya1VtVC0xc1hZU3dkM29sQzM3RU05YlVkLVlzTFBWWDlyWXVOVm80QnYxUml4blVYMEZSb0RBNU42X1BVcW1hLWV1dkxId1VUd3JSLXY5NFotRWNwcEFlWktWTEpnYmJ0MXpkQ21oVkQtWUVtcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fpages.ucsd.edu%2F%7Ejohnson%2FCOGS260%2FByrne2003.pdf&v=P9O4fXvek8k]Range by David Epstein - https://amzn.to/3MVzOId [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEJUUjVORkJjdWg5elgxUm1qN2FBTXpZbDNoUXxBQ3Jtc0ttdFVfV2Zlak5HYkRGTVVIVGphME5Ball3WGdiOWlBLVF6dzJURUF3QWdqYjN6czJ2c2R2T0pRRFR0T0ZqZ203QVhXTTNKdGh5a05Bc0ppV0xQNnF4YzlSUlFzb2NmelBQRWVVYmtSZVpOaVZOckZsOA&q=https%3A%2F%2Famzn.to%2F3MVzOId&v=P9O4fXvek8k]Industry challenge board https://www.innocentive.com/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEhjT05uR0kzM0xjUWhpUVlyMkUyTl9acEdoUXxBQ3Jtc0tsdUs4MFB1cEFpaTBuVjc4bFZmdk4tM0x1aEhfQk5UOUxidWRUQndVU2lnNFRPNXFNUGp1bk5kZUc1aDJWMmwtQVlRUkYwWHVQb0wtZ1dPNzBpTkdtaU9KQUxqVHVPRUJmc1ExdVNmWFUyMGVkNkk5QQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.innocentive.com%2F&v=P9O4fXvek8k]⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9O4fXvek8k] Intro01:08 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9O4fXvek8k&t=68s] Emotions11:10 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9O4fXvek8k&t=670s] Discipline25:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9O4fXvek8k&t=1530s] Open-questions with the Fun Criterion31:31 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9O4fXvek8k&t=1891s] The role of constraints in knowledge-creation38:08 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9O4fXvek8k&t=2288s] Non-randomness of creativity42:27 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9O4fXvek8k&t=2547s] Explanatory, explicit and inexplicit knowledge01:06:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9O4fXvek8k&t=4019s] Proto-creativity01:28:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9O4fXvek8k&t=5297s] Invention & functional ignorance01:36:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9O4fXvek8k&t=5819s] Consciousness: the easy vs. hard problem01:50:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9O4fXvek8k&t=6659s] Critical rationalism events01:55:10 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9O4fXvek8k&t=6910s] Outro🧠 More from meBook: https://edwindoit.com/4acts [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0otRVFrRmRtbnAxQ3RUV3pMZVBSTEl0dWdyZ3xBQ3Jtc0tralNNSmp3Zl9JYU13OG44WFlhTkhuODd1THpQdWFyNm80ZS14aXRWazROYjcwUGRSaFlFUDNFTTR6Sjc1ckZLZV81VEJ4VGllaldSMWhWb0hZcDZuNnpLNExobXpCWEUxVXlSNHNxRFZxYkxtRHpQcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fedwindoit.com%2F4acts&v=P9O4fXvek8k]Website: https://edwindoit.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHpBTFQzX0xwUEdoMW1vanZPaDI3R0E1REVNd3xBQ3Jtc0tudHN3SnpqUFlMVk5fWFJVQ2QwMnpjVjRzQjl6YWhjbDZIN216TEJIUF9lMlZvTWMzY0x0cHphdFZtbjFXTTBjRTctWWJWWUVGX05jTjhjOTd3M254eGx4TENwUTBTWlIxXzNqZHFFM19idElxZzY4UQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fedwindoit.com%2F&v=P9O4fXvek8k]Newsletter: https://edwindoit.substack.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVUxSy1FZmF6Zl9BdUtCYUJ6S2t1UHFMc3g5UXxBQ3Jtc0trZFdobHFoVHpOaDdlLV9VM1pybnFnbE9GRXgzTWJId0hQMzZuSGVPaUNPcFFCSUNaNVFnU0JmU2dKVHViRk5uRGpCT3RIeUlfYkU4WmVERTJqS0g4RTYtblBNd2VDY19pOU9aWENLNEg2Snc3UHh2UQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fedwindoit.substack.com%2F&v=P9O4fXvek8k]Productivity blog: https://medium.com/@edwindoit [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3JwMktXN29KMHJCMW5tTzdTRHJLSFAwcS1vUXxBQ3Jtc0tuX0VmeXV3czhodHVkczBiMjRHeVAyTUFGUGowM2JaeGpYMjRLRG8taUdxV0JjdmlFbkRJZVlYY3lLUi1JLTk5eXVkX09qdGVUUF9fUFR5d0hJZFF3bTFaS2hueWlzM2RDbGJSRkFUXzZkZFJyRmt0QQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F%40edwindoit&v=P9O4fXvek8k]X: https://x.com/Edwindoit [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWRQb2dRdFl3c1pXWEp0TFh3c2hRNy1hdEMzZ3xBQ3Jtc0trMWhFVU1JWmMweWhmZ1Fxbmo1eUVWQnJwcE4wb0hqQzhZeG9ON3lTNXF0WVVKSzlQRFFkVHhmU09wNmlmdmRDUDB2OUNicnI2WXZESE1kVDgxdnVSTUR2c0JaTk1EeVdBQUVuRUZHSDlJZ0RjM01EMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FEdwindoit&v=P9O4fXvek8k]

The Usefulness of Factual vs Explanatory Knowledge — Drawing from David Deutsch

In today's video we explore two kinds of knowledge: factual knowledge—rules of thumb that seem to work but don’t explain why—and explanatory knowledge, which reveals how and why things work. Drawing on David Deutsch’s idea that humans are universal explainers, I show why explanations lead to better decisions, fewer mistakes, and more adaptable thinking. We look at why explanations are more accurate and versatile, how they scale far better than memorizing endless facts, and how an explanatory worldview helps you filter information, reason from first principles, and adjust your approach when new knowledge arrives. Timestamps00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hulT_G_knI] Intro00:58 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hulT_G_knI&t=58s] Differences between Facts and Explanations01:23 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hulT_G_knI&t=83s] Qualitative differences01:51 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hulT_G_knI&t=111s] 1. Accuracy02:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hulT_G_knI&t=150s] 2. Improvability03:52 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hulT_G_knI&t=232s] 3. Range of applicability05:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hulT_G_knI&t=300s] Differences in Efficiency05:32 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hulT_G_knI&t=332s] 1. Error-rate05:52 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hulT_G_knI&t=352s] 2. Storage08:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hulT_G_knI&t=480s] Benefits of an Explanatory Worldview08:11 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hulT_G_knI&t=491s] 1. Filtering information09:10 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hulT_G_knI&t=550s] 2. First-principle thinking10:27 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hulT_G_knI&t=627s] 3. Making adjustments11:57 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hulT_G_knI&t=717s] OutroFeatured linksConjecture Institute: https://www.conjectureinstitute.org/ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHE4Z0tNUjhvMVRUQnVGcEhHLVFHTTVYN3hNQXxBQ3Jtc0tsMjQ3ZWdTQk1rRDVPOWhJVHBYa3Vqcldab1JkQlctLW5TSl9QTjZhMHhRRVd6ekpOc0E5Q3JjWmJSbC15a1FFTVRtUDlIdV9XTHJ6TkJYNEpVbGV2OFk4aXotNWdrbV9wM3FnZWU3QV9wSndyMXdCNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conjectureinstitute.org%2F&v=2hulT_G_knI]My upcoming book: https://edwindoit.com/4acts [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVF1X1lPN0dEN28xOURSYUNhOHRHSTlwSXV1Z3xBQ3Jtc0tuSUlNcnE0MjVwZk5MWVN1V09fU2JiQU4xLWlGZ0FGbXJqMFBrQ0VlWjF1WTdEN0R5dGs1V2pfS3ZLUHl5U2lmOXdheEtHOVQzeHNSMFJFa01rb25DQmxhNmV5d3E3cFBCZ3p6WFRzZ0hNUVRxRDMwYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fedwindoit.com%2F4acts&v=2hulT_G_knI]More from meBook: https://edwindoit.com/4acts [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0NhOURocXo0UmtfdnY5TkllS1FFUEoteFphd3xBQ3Jtc0ttTlZmNHFfUC1qX1hiSkNfb3ZZN1MzdUlfMEdMSTltQ0VhdE5Ybkh0ZmEycFB3RUdNWnMwR3A1YlBmX1FXNEwtOFJWeXpnanVWeVhkclNFN3I5QVg1X2dIdDU0VFJwb09rdVY2N2ZnOU0wbHJFZkIwaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fedwindoit.com%2F4acts&v=2hulT_G_knI]Website: https://edwindoit.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbEpvaEw5c292NDRLUVBuSUVobG5ZQzQyVWh2UXxBQ3Jtc0trVXdUcVdQc3JXNlZOLXpPQWV6VDZUVWExVExON3BmV1l2MzNHQVhMMl84cWtkZFlKYnAydzhXWlhMQlNqWDY1RWtuaXZzcnB3V2tkRTUwWXJVdUc5Smt6N2NQTTFGcVVnaWtOYnNMVllCREh5U25ENA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fedwindoit.com%2F&v=2hulT_G_knI]Newsletter: https://edwindoit.substack.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXdTcTcyemQ2TXp4WEFoMEdWUE9ET0xTNndqQXxBQ3Jtc0tuTkVVODYxOG1DVHRDOVg1UEFhNF95S3lkRjAwY2FqcHVCYTJoSUptUW4yRjNoUGllWmFNZWl0Y1JLcVYxdG1MRHlqVDdMckdBemdLa2dNcEdGMzFOU2Y2b3dBU0IyUnRZTWY2MXNxYWZmcFZwTDU4aw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fedwindoit.substack.com%2F&v=2hulT_G_knI]Productivity blog:   / edwindoit   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnJqODFXQWlUSGRHdGdjR0NQTklpU0RVSFFNd3xBQ3Jtc0trXzhnR0pIWDVOQW1wMWk0RmlSUmI3R0JlYnktUE1fTW9vUjBhMi0xYVJHUXdJWnFFX3hpYmZxV2tzWVl2VFhpUFQ2ZTlxVndQN1pGbGdfUGlrMXdaQUNvdDBsOU9vbEFQaEtpM1FZMk9fWlIxY0lSNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F%40edwindoit&v=2hulT_G_knI]X: https://x.com/Edwindoit [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUFuZ1hoTTB3V0hwWlJTVHpyM1RXSk1EVVFMUXxBQ3Jtc0ttS0hjWE4wNGJvS3ZJajdkV0RRdV9nc2dGNURzR3ItVldMNVZhVlJIMjUxNlo0dW1QQUVyUVNySXVNbFp0MUl1NGxyZVowRi1JOGdDc2pjd2JBanF6VDFBNkQ2SEttajd4UUtjb0wyc19oYlBaeER1WQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FEdwindoit&v=2hulT_G_knI]

The True Limits of What’s Possible — Drawing from David Deutsch

In this episode, we explore the limits of reality—not as reasons for pessimism, but as the best explanations we have for what truly cannot be done. Drawing from David Deutsch, I explain 1) the laws of physics, 2) unpredictable actions caused by quantum fluctuations, 3) the unknowability of future knowledge and technologies, and 4) intractable problems that require resources we don’t yet have. The key takeaway is hopeful: anything that doesn’t violate these limits is possible, and human creativity can always find a way forward.Timestamps00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh3LZTmC8_g] Intro01:01 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh3LZTmC8_g&t=61s] Limit 1: The Laws of Physics02:23 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh3LZTmC8_g&t=143s] Limits due to a lack of knowledge03:10 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh3LZTmC8_g&t=190s] Limit 2: Unpredictable actions06:09 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh3LZTmC8_g&t=369s] Limit 3: Unknowability08:31 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh3LZTmC8_g&t=511s] Limit 4: Intractable actions10:35 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh3LZTmC8_g&t=635s] Optimism and the Potential of Human Creativity11:53 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh3LZTmC8_g&t=713s] Constructor theory12:44 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh3LZTmC8_g&t=764s] OutroFeatured linksThe Science of Can and Can’t (Popular science book on constructor theory): https://www.chiaramarletto.com/books/... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnJwRTJVNjB2ZlZTdmo4NEV0NExWdnVHQU5wQXxBQ3Jtc0trT0tmbkZsUm1TdTJQY3psNEsxdkdLelE1SUVFWmhVYTFmcjV3YjlNYXpGZ293NVRBMGwzclZscDktNDVDMEN6MXNCXzBBVzRWdjlIRDZNMW8yTVNWSXZfdXhqMDRxbF9rU0hTcTdibXpqZkY1SlN5UQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chiaramarletto.com%2Fbooks%2Fthe-science-of-can-and-cant%2F&v=dh3LZTmC8_g]Constructor Theory of InformationDavid Deutsch, Chiara Marletto: https://arxiv.org/abs/1405.5563 [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVlaTTNBQVVCOVhQeXZpMzM0aWVmZFJOQUZTUXxBQ3Jtc0tsSjN4U1V5Y0d5U25YSjJ5c2ZmRkNISlFKWEVyVGwxRk1jVGtXcXJZSmdHQkdZRkVwRjhRWmdsS01SOEdLYmdiOFpzTjFReGVaWi1COF85bzQ5bExxMU41RWlsOFotdnlWaW1sZXZtd3FjVEdxaURWYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Farxiv.org%2Fabs%2F1405.5563&v=dh3LZTmC8_g]Constructor theory of time David Deutsch, Chiara Marletto: https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.08692 [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbnRzZndmVmlEV1A2NkV1ZkZ0dHZoX3AxYk11UXxBQ3Jtc0trYUNKUTNZRHFCZThWdF9YNEF6V0pDeThjVmZpV0VhQnFqR0FwYzUzdm81SmlReDBTeExtZ3U2aVNyZXBOdkt4bXBVZVJFVUwxLTg4elFFX0JDcjhVRWh0dFlYZnNhZFBTdE0wczVYdEtDeEJaLUd2QQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Farxiv.org%2Fabs%2F2505.08692&v=dh3LZTmC8_g]The Fabric of Reality (Chapter 9): https://www.daviddeutsch.org.uk/books... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDZqcHYyRXhLaUhIdVJ0U29fSjI5ZFMwODd1Z3xBQ3Jtc0ttY3N1dWxjSmhXX0hQR3JkUnpxZHJ2d1dXa25IYlpra1JDUFpVSmJGMkFaR044ZlpWSi1JNEdaUWFmdHU0VWJ2QkpaNkw0Q2RSWGw0NkVwTHdEdjVOSFV1bUtyV2NETUpRT1Q2NmdHT0JkekV2SnBYSQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.daviddeutsch.org.uk%2Fbooks%2Fthe-fabric-of-reality%2F&v=dh3LZTmC8_g]My upcoming book: https://edwindoit.com/4acts [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmNkVWx6b1JUa1c2Rkd3dk0talpwNUNTX3lOZ3xBQ3Jtc0trTXhmcWM4NE9WR096bVM0TWNuLVZ5NllTRWJTMlJQLVBmZ3ZZaHVZRFVONDVQU0JNMnh1NUJFS25UQV9NSVJGV0tHam5ZNnYwODVYRlJBM3N4QTNlUXBoc1h6WkRmQldybU5RUXhrM2xaajZ1ZlZFdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fedwindoit.com%2F4acts&v=dh3LZTmC8_g]More from meBook: https://edwindoit.com/4acts [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbG1RSlVJZDFyakotcU5EeFIwM3RwbnBBSDE0Z3xBQ3Jtc0tsSE52bm1xckJRbDBPcmdyX0QyRXZ0VXdMMzl3TEJ4YUgtMG5iUlpNeEoxb0MyR1BHZXM0MVJGLV9rX0Nsa1pUajQ5dDljdUE1a2ktdlE4Q1lZR0hlS1BPanlfbkpydFA1eWJjUkVET3BJYkRORWtoMA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fedwindoit.com%2F4acts&v=dh3LZTmC8_g]Website: https://edwindoit.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVk2UXpoOEhzcjBNamphVzRjcHhlbHNhZ2U2QXxBQ3Jtc0ttMkplc2hJQ3cyOXpaOTdqWWxfYV9wb212cFhHNDF5NjM4a1NaOHJjZ2V4SDRfN3kyWmVFVTNHNlgycmxYY3FVNmQ1ZEtrQ3JHb1FyQTlNRGgxVnU4bjFFZUF4c3czeDJiTjlBNVZpQndJRHhSU1o0SQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fedwindoit.com%2F&v=dh3LZTmC8_g]Newsletter: https://edwindoit.substack.com [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbURoaWc1V1p5UzJYWGhXMDdZVUdOM2Z6Q2hFUXxBQ3Jtc0trQURKYXE4T1E2dFZndUd3dzZRazJKR0pDS01IUW8yX1lCZ2VIVFF5YUQtYjBvSjRSRzhVUGFYdnRxeE95WkRVWGhCTDA1N3NLMGloS21fejBkcG92aGV3aWNpeFhUd1U1NFlvek8tMFhXOVJ3bmxhWQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fedwindoit.substack.com%2F&v=dh3LZTmC8_g]Productivity blog:   / edwindoit   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHhJdTAyTFRwbnZDaTJTSnZLMnpQQWJuVVNzUXxBQ3Jtc0tuVEk2bjlJbzE5Q0ROaFdDbkg4YkJrZHJTbk5wMzFhZjc2cnlSQWpzZDhVZWxDLTVDdXBkaUpsY29sRWZHVlZCdFpJZkZkNDUzU24zQ2pnU0lub3h2MDNxLUNpeVNuazNnUVE2dWNnUldxd3VSMktrTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F%40edwindoit&v=dh3LZTmC8_g]X: https://x.com/Edwindoit [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbk9hOF9EQ2NydWdTYURIaFUxTmJ1Zld3WmluUXxBQ3Jtc0trNnp1a3BFeTNrM3loRnIzaVpaUU1RUXVLZkRkZ2l1eG9QVTF1NFdZYXdhVVQxY3cwQTYwc1NFa2pIYWk4c01MYWpRSzFnTnVObnRneGJ2RGpOMnYzVVV3OXY5aHQyQlJLdUhUNlI1VlFuMDNKd2J0dw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2FEdwindoit&v=dh3LZTmC8_g]

Applying Critical Rationalism to Business – Bart Vanderhaegen

Bart Vanderhaegen, business consultant and host of the Seeking Good Explanations podcast, joins me to explain his Problem Based Management method, built on critical rationalism. We discuss how organizations can improve by focusing on knowledge creation, a simple four-step problem-solving process, and the common traps businesses fall into when defending ideas instead of improving them. We also touch on Austrian economics, the experience of flow, and why personality tests can be misleading—plus much more. 📚 Mentioned Resources Bart's Problem based management paper: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aWIUHqjv_wr6Y1F1ozPCV2s-9k6ATjdQ/view Bart's TEDx on Flow: https://youtu.be/XnPy3uVc3xo?si=XJyihagGxNnGiZV5 Seeking Good Explanations podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0hypZrKSlBFktwXaD1qp4m?si=cv5hJkh9TxO5UAffY9GJlw&nd=1&dlsi=64ce27b28cdd4271 The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch: https://www.thebeginningofinfinity.com/ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:53 The role of knowledge creation in business 06:51 The basic process of knowledge creation 09:11 Visual walkthrough of the 4 moves of problem solving 13:40 What is a "problem"? 18:13 The role of goals/success criteria 23:28 Generating ideas 26:16 The explanatory component of an idea 29:35 The different modes of criticism 33:43 When (not) to move on to execution 40:48 The wrong approach to problem solving 49:37 Assigning idea "owners" or not? 51:24 Encouraging a problem-solving mindset 53:19 The benefits of CR-based problem solving 58:47 Are we early to CR-based problem solving? 01:00:44 The Flow state 01:02:39 Austrian economics 01:07:27 Personality tests 01:10:39 How Bart approaches problem solving in daily life 01:12:41 Outro 🧠 More from me Book: ⁠https://edwindoit.com/4acts⁠ Website: ⁠https://edwindoit.com⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://edwindoit.substack.com⁠ Productivity blog: ⁠https://medium.com/@edwindoit⁠ X: ⁠https://x.com/Edwindoit⁠