Via Negativa
by Youri Cviklinski · updated 25d ago
Via Negativa
“It is remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent.”
– Charlie Munger
Youri Cviklinski added 25d ago
- What Is a Premortem Analysis?
Premortem Analysis is based on the familiar concept of a post-mortem, or autopsy. During an autopsy, a pathologist examines a body to determine the cause of death. When a Premortem Analysis is conducted, nobody has died. At least not yet. The goal is to contemplate the reasons for potential failure before it happens. T... See morefrom Premortem Analysis: How to Anticipate Failure
Youri Cviklinski added 25d ago
- “Invert, always invert: Turn a situation or problem upside down. Look at it backwards. What happens if all our plans go wrong? Where don’t we want to go, and how do you get there?
"Instead of looking for success, make a list of how to fail instead–through sloth, envy, resentment, self-pity, entitlement, all the mental habits of self-defeat. Avoid t... See morefrom Inversion
Youri Cviklinski added 25d ago
- The method began as an avoidance of direct description, leading to a focus on negative description, what is called in Latin via negativa, the negative way, after theological traditions, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Via negativa does not try to express what God is— leave that to the primitive brand of contemporary thinkers and philos... See more
from Attention Required! | Cloudflare
Youri Cviklinski added 25d ago
- Statues are carved by subtraction.
Michelangelo was asked by the pope about the secret of his genius, particularly how he carved the statue of David, largely considered the masterpiece of all masterpieces. His answer was: “It’s simple. I just remove everything that is not David.”
from Attention Required! | Cloudflare
Youri Cviklinski added 25d ago
- Via negativa: In theology and philosophy, the focus on what something is not, an indirect definition. In action, it is a recipe for what to avoid, what not to do—subtraction, not addition, say, in medicine.
from What Is Via Negativa? - Definition, Examples, and More - Nassim Taleb, Naval Ravikant Mental Models — Wealest by Thomas Waschenfelder
Youri Cviklinski added 25d ago
I don’t believe I have the ability to say what is going to work. Rather, I try to eliminate what’s not going to work. I think being successful is just about not making mistakes. It’s not about having correct judgment. It’s about avoiding incorrect judgments.
The Almanack of Naval Ravikantfrom Via Negativa: The Power of Knowing What Not to Do
Youri Cviklinski added 25d ago
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