2 months ago
- The author reflects on the tension between thought and action, a theme that has intrigued them since reading Hamlet.
- Philosophical explorations, including Nietzsche's will power and Kant's reason, haven't provided a practical heuristic for balancing thought and action.
- An analogy from a conference about being on the dance floor (action) vs. the balcony (reflection) was insightful but lacked guidance on when to switch.
- Real-world examples like Tarantino's filmmaking and Dostoevsky's writings highlight how plans often change and overthinking can hinder action.
- Success stories, such as Cursor IDE's growth, show that reason might discourage initial ventures, but strategic reasoning is crucial later.
- The proposed heuristic: use reason for short-term tasks where variables are stable, but avoid it for long-term visions due to unpredictable changes.
- The author applied this heuristic by writing the article without overthinking its impact, embracing action for long-term endeavors.