Introduction To Problem Solving

There are two ways to train oneself to be a researcher: 1) memorize all the knowledge and 2) practise solving problems by oneself. While everyone tries to memorize all the knowledge, I practise the latter method. The results are very different.

Logical reasoning is an important approach used by many great inventors to solving problems and creating inventions/innovations, but has been largely ignored in our modern research environment. The reason is because logical reasoning can only be learned through practical problem solving, such as solving by oneself how the rainbow is formed. (It took me more than a year to solve the rainbow problem). As a result we are weak in logical reasoning. Take for example the following four problems:-

  • Why are identical twins alike?

  • What is wrong with Dolly, the cloned sheep, apart from its aging problem that we already know?

  • Why Beethoven, at a pre-school age, without having received any musical training, could repeat a piece of music on the piano after hearing his father play that piece only once?(Find my answer at a later section)

      The importance of logical reasoning in biology can be campared to mathematics in nuclear physics.

      These problems are best handled by logical reasoning. If you would like to learn logical reasoning skills, continue the following sections patiently and step by step. Practise what you have learned and maybe you will be able to solve problems like above.

      If you like to discuss or comment, please e-mail me: scheng@sc-innovation.com.

      There are also two types of problem solving exercises. There are ones which teachers give you to practise applying certain knowledge that the teacher has just taught you. The problem solving exercises that I practise are for getting oneself familiar with the process of how to uncover new knowledge. These two types are also very different.

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