Limitations that Prevent Solving Big, Complex Problems Smartly.

As humans, we impose the limitations that prevent us from solving big, complex problems smartly. According to Gee, we possess the ability to be smart, but for the most part we are not. Our limitations begin with what Gee calls “The Circuit of Reflective Action” (Gee 14). Gee lists five conditions that lead to smart actions. Initial mentorship, prior experience, clear goals, something at stake, and acts that elicits meaning from the world. Regarding meaning, Gee also states that “humans move and grow toward meaning. Meaning is what nourishes their minds and soul.” (Gee 133) One of the issues with meaning is that we tend to find meaning in comfort, and our memory tends to seek truth in comfort, thus “meaning without truth is a positive stimulus for humans.” (Gee 133)

Next, the memories we collect in life guide our actions, and without proper memories we cannot take proper action. Our memories are often updated and changed, we need to be sure that they are salient and relevant to the given purpose. By being in “the context we are in; what has happened to us recently; how we feel at the time; what we value; what we have been taught to pay attention to; what fits well with our goals; what is connected to other experiences we have had; and our interest and desires.” (Gee 22) As humans we need to be careful because memory can become “mental comfort stories” (G 33). This is, where we start modifying events and start believing that our memories are real and true when they are actually evolving collections of information that are mutually associated. In order to develop better memory, we need to provide more meaning to our memories in order to never lose focus on the truth.

Interestingly enough, living organisms usually progress towards stimuli that is positive and away from those that are negative. It’s interesting because, in the long run, humans will typically act towards immediate gratification even if it is not a positive stimuli. Therefore, humans tend to avoid complex things and complexities in our everyday lives, and when we encounter them we don’t think of them as the benefit in experience we obtained, but as events we can modify for immediate comfort. Gee talks about humans, meaning, and purpose in the world. He mentions that when meaning and purpose are not found, humans become sick of the mind and body. The truth that life displays for humans is complex. Humans, for the most part, are not cut out to face complexities with the frequency to which we confront the truth in life. The capacity, for humans, to believe in “mental comfort stories” (Gee 33) in the absence of evidence or knowledge of reality that support them is proof that humans tend to avoid complexities and choose immediate gratification in our everyday lives. We as humans suffer through this because as Gee mentioned, “Sometimes it is not institutions that freeze thought, but minds themselves”. (Gee 93) Meaning that as humans we are scared of the mental process of thought, and how it can lead us on roads we do not like. 

Lastly, we humans are social creatures and as such we put ourselves in positions where we desire, want, and fight for belonging, and immediate gratification. Big complex problems require time, commitment, and altruism, and possibly the assistance of other individuals that share the same principles. As social creatures, humans seek similar people because it is comfortable but we seldom look for individuals better than us for the fear of not belonging. These senses of belonging, comfort, and immediate gratification are other reasons why the truth takes a backseat for humans, and we limit ourselves. This can be averted only if the feeling of delayed gratification moves us deeply as to provide the proper time, commitment, and altruistic behavior to solve a big complex problem.

The solving of a big complex problem can be achieved by anyone. The limitations that keep us from being able to solve big, complex problems smartly are the following: the circuit of reflective action, not recalling memories for the truth they offer, not embracing the complexity of life experiences. Not seeing the big picture, not having the commitment to take action, and being selfish to the ramifications of said actions. Gee mentions that humans can be very intelligent or very stupid. So, solving a big complex problem depends on what we know, what we learn, what we risk, and what we want.

It is my believe that a behavior or a belief can not be fixed or changed if the person is not aware of the problem. An awareness of these limitations, should change all the actions that have prevented us from behaving intelligently regardless of the level of complexity. I must say, it is not just being aware of said limitations that will bring about action. The individuals must want to change their current level of comfort in order to take any type of action. If for some reason they do not see or agree with the limitations mentioned, the changes will not take place fully. 

Problem solving is the process of working through details of a problem to reach a solution. What Gee offers is the ability to brake down the individual aspects that contribute to the  “smarter” aspect of problem solving. Knowing the results that are desired is imperative to knowing what solution to use for a problem. Thanks to Gee we are smarter in the way in which we work, act, and think,  and we can recognize the type of result we would like, thus problem solving becomes easier.