The Coaching in Science Initiative
Intuition Pumps
Intuition pumps, as described by philosopher Daniel Dennett, are conceptual thinking tools that aim to help us better understand and navigate complex philosophical or cognitive problems. They are thought experiments, metaphors, or illustrative examples designed to provoke our intuitions and challenge our preconceived notions.
The term "intuition pump" emphasizes the dual role of these tools. They "pump" or stimulate our intuitions by presenting hypothetical scenarios or mental images that trigger automatic responses or judgments. At the same time, they serve as cognitive devices that help refine and modify our intuitions, leading to deeper insights and clearer thinking.
Intuition pumps are commonly used in philosophy to shed light on abstract or puzzling concepts. They often operate by framing problems in new and imaginative ways that encourage us to examine the underlying assumptions or biases we might hold. By manipulating these scenarios, intuition pumps reveal the inconsistencies or limitations in our thinking, prompting us to reevaluate our positions.
Dennett believes that intuition pumps are crucial for philosophical inquiry because they provide a bridge between complex ideas and our everyday intuitions. They facilitate communication and stimulate fruitful discussions by offering relatable and accessible starting points for exploring abstract concepts. Through their use, we can gain fresh perspectives and challenge entrenched beliefs, fostering intellectual growth and progress.
The Courageous Creator
New ways of observing our world and forming novel hypotheses in science are instrumental to progress. What can we do ourselves to increase our creative courage? By noticing that creativity is most compatible with feelings of excitement and safety. Using the courageous creator intuition pump, we can explore what limitations we have in our thinking and possible ways around them.
The Scientific Community Brain
We are consistently getting better at generating enormous amounts of information. The more data one creates, the better one must become to sift through it to find relevant parts. If we are creating a haystack of valuable information, how do we find the needle? We continue to develop more tools to handle this computationally, but what about the algorithms of our minds, and the effectiveness of our thought processes?
The Neurodiverse Scientist
Working in Science, we hone the skills to be curious and open-minded about new perspectives when investigating and interpreting biological systems. How can we transfer these skills into our interactions with other humans? Sometimes, our emotions cloud the mind, and we temporarily lose access to these skills. Here, we offer a way to transfer such skills, a powerful tool when interacting with another person, another brain, that thinks, feels, and works in a completely different way compared to our own.
The Work-Life Balance Game
Have we made the balance between work and life into a game where we try to fit equal amounts of things to do at work and home? We may be managing our time well between the two, but we still feel so tired after a night's sleep. Perhaps measuring a 'fair' amount of time spent at work and home is not the answer. The question we invite you to ask instead is: what is rest?
The Emotional Processor
Moving through laughter and joy is easy, but life includes a full spectrum of emotions. How consciously allowing and inclusive are we towards ourselves and all that we feel?
“If you change the way you look at things,
the things you look at change”
— Wayne Dyer