So, there’s this inherent problem with deep gearsy models, where you have to convey a bunch of upstream gears (and the evidence supporting them) before talking about the downstream questions of interest, because if you work backwards then peoples’ brains run out of stack space and they lose track of the whole multi-step path. But if you just go explaining upstream gears first, then people won’t immediately see how they’re relevant to alignment or timelines or whatever, and then lots of people just wander off. Then you go try to explain something about alignment or timelines or whatever, using an argument which relies on those upstream gears, and it goes right over a bunch of peoples’ heads because they don’t have that upstream gear in their world-models.
The solution might be to start with a concise, low-detail summery (not even one that argues the case, just states it), then start explaining in full detail from the start, knowing that your readers now know which way you’re going.
Wait, I think I just invented the Abstract (not meant as a snide remark. I really did realize it after writing the above, and found it funny).
The solution might be to start with a concise, low-detail summery (not even one that argues the case, just states it), then start explaining in full detail from the start, knowing that your readers now know which way you’re going.
Wait, I think I just invented the Abstract (not meant as a snide remark. I really did realize it after writing the above, and found it funny).