The stupid brain learns by storing lists.
It stores everything new in the appropriate list. The brain wants to know how often things happen, so it just keeps lists. Learning like this is very quick and reliable, provided all you need to know is the answer to questions that begin “How often does…”. That allows us to make accurate predictions.
The stupid brain is just building a spreadsheet. Everything gets stored in a blank cell and becomes part of a list. Nothing is linked beyond its own list.
The smart mind learns by making connections.
It links everything new to appropriate existing knowledge. The mind wants to know what are the possibilities when things happen. Learning like this is slow and depends critically on how good those links are. But then, as if by accident, this helps us to understand rather than just predict.
The smart brain is building its own internet. Everything gets linked to relevant knowledge and you can browse through it by following the links.
Really this is why we are talking about stupid and smart. Spectacularly good predictions aren’t really stupid, they are just not intelligent. They can’t be used for any new purpose. Understanding can be used for a new purpose.
Our learning is an uncomfortable blend of these two. On the one hand, learning by storing lists is fast and reliable; on the other, learning by making links is slow but takes us to new places. If you are learning how to play a trumpet, then an effortless list of what works and what doesn’t work is perfect. If you are learning how to bake bread, then understanding what the different ingredients do will be much more useful.
Tip 1: Learn practical skills by clocking up experience. One hundred hours of blowing into a trumpet and you’ll be making a tune.
Tip 2: Learn knowledge and understanding by making links. Look for similarities, differences with things you already know.
That all sounds great. But there is a “but”. It’s hard to do both at once, and the stupid brain and the smart mind have differing opinions about which is more useful and important. If a sabre-tooth tiger comes into the room, then the brain is going to decide that there isn’t time to try and understand: it will insist on doing things its way.
And so we need to make the two, stupid brain and smart mind, agree to work together…