Texts
- The Problem of Learning
- Problemistics Courseware
- Corso su Problemistica
- Resources Management
- Manuale/Intellettuale
- Campagna/Città
Problemistics - Problémistique - Problemistica
The Art & Craft of Problem Dealing
Heuristics
Definition (Reference books)
Definition (Stafford Beer)
Definition (Ömer Akin)
Function (George Pólya)
Heuristic reasoning (George Pólya)
Heuristic search (Herbert A. Simon)
Planning (Jean-Michel Hoc)
[1986] Dictionary of Information Technology
“In problem solving, a trial and error approach involving successive evaluations at each step made in the process of reaching the final result.”
[1972] Stafford Beer, Brain of the Firm, Allen Lane The Penguin Press, London
“An heuristic specifies a method of behaving which will tend towards a goal which cannot be precisely specified because we know what it is but not where it is.” (Chapter 4, p. 69)
[1986] Akin, Ömer, Psychology of Architectural Design, Pion, London
“Heuristics are rules of thumb which, through experience, are known to simplify search in a given problem space. Although they may not guarantee a solution, they reduce the number of things to be considered, thus bringing the problem-solver closer to a goal state.” (p. 17)
“Heuristics is the general form of procedural knowledge.” (p. 36)
[1990, First published 1945] George Pólya, How to Solve It, Penguin Books, Harmondsworth
“The aim of heuristic is to study the methods and rules of discovery and invention.” (p. 112)
[1990, First published 1945] George Pólya, How to Solve It, Penguin Books, Harmondsworth
“Heuristic reasoning is reasoning not regarded as final and strict but as provisional and plausible only, whose purpose is to discover the solution of the present problem.” (p. 113)
“Heuristic reasoning is often based on induction, or on analogy.” (p. 113)
“Heuristic aims at generality, at the study of procedures which are independent of the subject-matter and apply to all sort of problems.” (p. 133)
“A reasonable sort of heuristic cannot aim at unfailing rules; but it may endeavour to study procedures (mental operations, moves, steps) which are typically useful in solving problems.” (p. 172)
“If you take a heuristic conclusion as certain, you may be fooled and disappointed; but if you neglect heuristic conclusions altogether you will make no progress at all.” (p. 181)
[1988] Herbert A. Simon, The Sciences of the Artificial, M.I.T. Press, Cambridge Massachusetts, first edition 1969
“Heuristic search, which is applicable to non-numerical as to numerical information, has a broader domain of applicability [than Operational Research that works only with numerical information]. It is in fact the principal engine for human problem solving ...” (Chapter 2, p. 36)
“... the evaluation of higher-level plans performs two functions.
First, it answers the question, ‘Where shall I search next?’
Second, it answers the question, ‘When shall I stop the search and accept a solution as satisfactory?’
Thus, it is both a steering mechanism for the search and a satisficing criterion for terminating the search.” (Chapter 5, p. 146)
“... search processes may be viewed ... as processes for seeking a problem solution. But they can be viewed more generally as processes for gathering information about problem structure that will ultimately be valuable in discovering a problem solution.” (Chapter 5, pp. 147-148)
[1988] Jean-Michel Hoc, Cognitive Psychology of Planning, Academic Press, London
“Schematization can be described as the ability to abstract relevant data from details in a situation, and as such is one of the fundamental building blocks of human heuristics.”
“Planning as an activity ... incorporates assessment as well as decision making activities, both of which are guided by heuristics.” (Introduction, p. 6)