Writing as a thinking tool

The necessity of manual writing for genuine original thought becomes a competitive advantage as AI language models proliferate.

The author reflects on writing as a fundamental tool for thinking, likening it to the difference between finite automata and Turing machines. He argues that externalizing thoughts through writing, akin to providing a Turing machine with paper and pencil, significantly enhances cognitive capability. This process is compared to out-of-core execution in computing, where external memory is used to handle problems too large for main memory. The author shares personal anecdotes, such as writing reviews and blog posts, as examples of how the act of writing clarifies understanding, uncovers new connections, and serves as an external memory. He posits that the intelligence of Large Language Models (LLMs) stems partly from the vast amount of externalized human thought present in language data.

The author contends that in the age of LLMs, the ability to engage in genuine, unassisted writing offers a distinct advantage. While LLMs can generate sophisticated text based on existing data, they cannot replicate the unique, nascent intuitions and creative leaps that emerge from the human process of writing. The author contrasts this with the past, where polished documents like Amazon's six-pagers served as indicators of clear thinking, a standard now circumvented by AI's ability to produce such documents without actual cognitive effort from the user. Therefore, preserving the practice of writing as a tool for personal thought development is presented as a way to maintain intellectual distinctiveness.

The article provides a framework for effective writing as a thinking tool, emphasizing a multi-stage process. Initially, uninhibited "messing up" or freewriting is crucial for generating raw material without self-censorship. This is followed by rigorous editing and tidying, akin to a critical review, to refine and structure the ideas. Simplicity, plainness, and succinctness in prose are advocated as indicators of clear, thoroughly processed thought, while complexity can mask muddled thinking. Finally, writing should be undertaken for intrinsic satisfaction rather than external validation, with a commitment to a schedule to ensure consistent practice and mental preparedness, ultimately leading to better conceived ideas and a clearer mind.