Efficiency in Thinking

For the purposes of this writing, I will define efficiency in thinking as: Getting to a good enough answer in the least amount of time and/or effort. Efficiency trades off speed for accuracy.

And of course, what is "good enough" will depend on the circumstances and context. What is good enough for one person may not be good enough for another. And what is good enough in one situation may not be good enough in another situation. Perhaps the best way to illustrate this is through analogy.

Time

Time is a precious resource. While our subconscious is able to handle many things at once, our conscious brains can only give serious focus to one thing at a time, and tires easily. An average American has about 60 years of adult life, of which one-third of that time is spent sleeping, allowing our brains to recharge.

The demands on conscious mindshare are ever increasing. We are constantly being bombarded with more complex information and decisions, yet our brains are the basically the same as our hunter-gather ancestors. We cope by being more efficient with our conscious thought. We simplify complex problems into much easier to understand choices. We make generalizations and put things into simple, often binary categories. It isn't that we don't know that exceptions exist, it is that we seldom give them much weight unless there is reason to do so. Exceptions are "expensive" timewise, so we make efficient generalizations. We simply can't give everything the thought it deserves.

Accuracy

In most cases, it isn't that generalizations are wrong, it is simply that they are incomplete. Bakers know that a cup of flour can weigh anywhere from 120 to 160 grams. But for most recipes, using a measuring cup is efficient and good enough for everyday cooking, we don't have to know the complete story. Likewise, most of can operate under the belief that water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit even though it is dependent on atmospheric pressure. The boiling point in Denver is 202 degrees, on the moon much less. The more accurate story matters more to some than others.

Conflict

Generalizations can create conflict. A left-handed person would get frustrated if a sporting goods store only carried right-handed baseball gloves. A right-handed person would probably not even notice. It might even be more profitable for the shop-owner to only carry right-handed gloves since the demand is much greater. But while more profitable, it would not be very fair to left-handers. In a small town, with only one sporting goods store (before the Internet) the result could actually have broader implications: most left-handers would not be able to play baseball.

The the inevitable social conflict between efficiency and fairness. A delicate balance that will always some feeling they were treated unfairly. (In the above example, the left-hander who couldn't play baseball or the shop-owner who was not allowed to maximize profit.) Even where there is no economic penalty, exceptions still require conscious effort, which takes time away from other priorities. And since time is limited, this feels like a cost.

Examples of Time/Accuracy Tradeoffs (Efficiencies) in Everyday Life

Tests and Homework in School

A math test in a classroom and standardized tests have a fixed time limit. The goal is to get as many correct answers as one can in the time allotted. Getting the best grade means using your time wisely. Perhaps it means skipping over the harder problems and coming back to them later only if one has time. I.e. using your time efficiently to get the best answer in the least amount of time.

Homework assignments are similar, although there one has more potential time. However, that time must be allocated among other demands on your time. In such cases, one has to make judgments and trade-offs as to what is good enough.

Dinner

During a busy work week, and needing to take the kids to soccer practice, grabbing a hamburger at McDonald's may be good enough for dinner. On the weekend with a spouse away from the kids, McDonald's is not good enough.

For a chef at a diner, using processed American cheese may be good enough. For a chef at a French restaurant, that would not be good enough.

The Role of Uncertainty

On a math test, there is no uncertainty as to the correct answer. You either get it right or you don't. Getting close doesn't matter, no matter how much time you spend.

But many decisions do not have such a clear-cut distinction. Spending more time gets a better answer. One has to decide where to stop, when the answer is good enough.