The Captain Kirk Principle

Scientific American ^ | December 2002 | Michael Shermer

[XBob]

28 -
"The best scientists in the world have invariably been highly intuitive, usually using their more-logical side to confirm their intuitive 'conclusions'."

I agree, at least from personal experience. I get the correct answer, 'intuitively', about 80% of the time, right off the bat. Then it takes a whole lot of work to figure out how I got there. In many cases, when my answer is correct, I cannot figure out how I got it.

My wife was, in many cases, even more 'intuitive', and when, after a few 'experiences', which were to me totally without foundation, things she said were going to happen, actually happened, I gave up arguing with her about it, because she (on critical items which she considered worth pressing), she had about a 95% accuracy.

[XBob]

51 - I agree -

"Intuition has nothing to do with "odds-making." I would call it rather, "subconscious intellectual processing", thinking and reasoning that takes place without us being aware that we are doing it."

Bingo. When I'm faced with a new technical problem, I gather all the possible background information I can find, and study it. Then I just "fuggedaboutit" on a conscious level for a day or so. When next I revisit that need, the solutions are there, ready to be examined logically and used. I don't have the foggiest idea as to how it works, BUT IT DOES WORK, and repeatably so.

[XBob]

51 - "Now, that dreadful Voyager series, with the captain who thought she was Catherine Hepburn..."

Interesting, you don't like the "Starship Estrogen" either.

[Jhoffa_]

I thought the Captain Kirk Principle was if it's green and has breasts, then sleep with it.

[XBob]

well, that girl, green/blue, would be worth sleeping with, no matter what her color. do you remember the name of the actress, as she was absolutely stunning.