It seems like the core thing that this post is doing is treating the concept of “rule” as fundamental.
If you have a general rule plus some exceptions, then obviously that “general rule” isn’t the real process that is determining the results. And noticing that (obvious once you look at it) fact can be a useful insight/reframing.
The core claim that this post is putting forward, IMO, is that you should think of that “real process” as being a rule, and aim to give it the virtues of good rules such as being simple, explicit, stable, and legitimate (having legible justifications).
An alternative approach is to step outside of the “rules” framework and get in touch with what the rule is for—what preferences/values/strategy/patterns/structures/relationships/etc. it serves. Once you’re in touch with that purpose, then you can think about both the current case, and what will become of the “general rule”, in that light. This could end up with an explicitly reformulated rule, or not.
It seems like treating the “real process” as a rule is more fitting in some cases than others, a better fit for some people’s style of thinking than for other people’s, and also something that a person could choose to aim for more or less.
I think I’d find it easier to think through this topic if there was a long, diverse list of brief examples.
This comment discusses a class of situations where what you say seems likely to be true.
In most other cases, I think the sort of attitude you describe is likely to be a way to avoid admitting (to yourself or others) what the “real rules” are. Once you start saying stuff like…
… treating the “real process” as a rule is more fitting in some cases than others, a better fit for some people’s style of thinking than for other people’s, and also something that a person could choose to aim for more or less.
… then the usefulness of the concept/approach described in the OP is destroyed.
The request for more examples (note that I give three extended ones downthread) is not unreasonable, but if the existing examples don’t convince, I’m not entirely sure more would, either. What is your take on the examples I’ve provided so far?
It seems like the core thing that this post is doing is treating the concept of “rule” as fundamental.
If you have a general rule plus some exceptions, then obviously that “general rule” isn’t the real process that is determining the results. And noticing that (obvious once you look at it) fact can be a useful insight/reframing.
The core claim that this post is putting forward, IMO, is that you should think of that “real process” as being a rule, and aim to give it the virtues of good rules such as being simple, explicit, stable, and legitimate (having legible justifications).
An alternative approach is to step outside of the “rules” framework and get in touch with what the rule is for—what preferences/values/strategy/patterns/structures/relationships/etc. it serves. Once you’re in touch with that purpose, then you can think about both the current case, and what will become of the “general rule”, in that light. This could end up with an explicitly reformulated rule, or not.
It seems like treating the “real process” as a rule is more fitting in some cases than others, a better fit for some people’s style of thinking than for other people’s, and also something that a person could choose to aim for more or less.
I think I’d find it easier to think through this topic if there was a long, diverse list of brief examples.
This comment discusses a class of situations where what you say seems likely to be true.
In most other cases, I think the sort of attitude you describe is likely to be a way to avoid admitting (to yourself or others) what the “real rules” are. Once you start saying stuff like…
… then the usefulness of the concept/approach described in the OP is destroyed.
The request for more examples (note that I give three extended ones downthread) is not unreasonable, but if the existing examples don’t convince, I’m not entirely sure more would, either. What is your take on the examples I’ve provided so far?