How Not to Be Wrong: The Power of Mathematical Thinking

by Jordan Ellenberg

Usually, when someone announces they’re a “nonlinear thinker” they’re about to apologize for losing something you lent them.

Proving by day and disproving by night is not just for mathematics. I find it’s a good habit to put pressure on all your beliefs, social, political, scientific, and philosophical. Believe whatever you believe by day; but at night, argue against the propositions you hold most dear. Don’t cheat! To the greatest extent possible you have to think as though you believe what you don’t believe. And if you can’t talk yourself out of your existing beliefs, you’ll know a lot more about why you believe what you believe.