There are two primary approaches to creating something: bottom-up design and top-down design . Top-down design is often seen in architecture. People do not build bricks randomly; instead, they follow the design drawings created by the architect. This method executes a plan that has already been established. When asked why something is built in a certain way, the answer is usually that the blueprint dictates its design. Conversely, bottom-up design does not start with a fixed goal, but rather involves setting and implementing small, actionable rules. For example, termite nests follow this approach. Small termites have a simple rule: to pile up soil. They do this without knowing the reason, but over time, the finished structure is remarkable and sophisticated. The appearance of the Sagrada Familia church , designed by Antoni Gaudà and still under construction, closely resembles a termite nest, differing only in size. Setting goals and planning is one way to create, but actual achievem...
One of the most common misconceptions is that people mistake cause and effect as interchangeable. A cause is often seen as an effect, or an effect is mistaken for a cause. The most well-known phenomenon demonstrating this is the halo effect — a situation where specific characteristics of an object influence how we judge other traits. For example, you might like that person’s character because you like one of their qualities, not because you like the person as a whole. This misunderstanding is a common causal error. If you like someone, you tend to think everything about them is good; if you don’t like someone, you might overlook or dislike everything about them. It’s not that you dislike the person for one reason and like them for another—it’s simply how the human heart works. Gaining someone’s favor, therefore, can be an arduous and painful process. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”