Heuristic
noun
A general rule or method learned from experiences that helps in solving problems quickly then finding a perfect solution.
The doctor used a heuristic to determine the illness based on the common symptoms.
Often appears as...
- heuristic approach
- heuristic method
adjective
To do with an approach to problem solving that employs a practical method, not guaranteed to be optimal, perfect, logical, or rational to make immediate decisions.
A heuristic algorithm is used in the computer program to quickly sort the data.
Often appears as...
- heuristic process
- heuristic decision
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A general rule or method learned from experiences that helps in solving problems quickly then finding a perfect solution.
The doctor used a heuristic to determine the illness based on the common symptoms.
Often appears as...
- heuristic approach
- heuristic method
adjective
To do with an approach to problem solving that employs a practical method, not guaranteed to be optimal, perfect, logical, or rational to make immediate decisions.
A heuristic algorithm is used in the computer program to quickly sort the data.
Often appears as...
- heuristic process
- heuristic decision
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Problem-Solving Shortcut
Heuristic refers to a quick method that solves problems faster than detailed analysis would.
Using a heuristic, the math student made an educated guess to solve the complex problem quickly.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Right
Heuristics aren't perfect. They might lead to errors, but they're useful for immediate judgment.
She applied a heuristic while playing chess, which cost her a piece but sped up the game.
Pro Tip 3/3Experience-Based
Heuristics are often developed from someone's experiences and may not work in every situation.
The old fisherman shared his heuristic for predicting the weather with the new crew.
Pro Tip 1/3Problem-Solving Shortcut
Heuristic refers to a quick method that solves problems faster than detailed analysis would.
Using a heuristic, the math student made an educated guess to solve the complex problem quickly.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Right
Heuristics aren't perfect. They might lead to errors, but they're useful for immediate judgment.
She applied a heuristic while playing chess, which cost her a piece but sped up the game.
Pro Tip 3/3Experience-Based
Heuristics are often developed from someone's experiences and may not work in every situation.
The old fisherman shared his heuristic for predicting the weather with the new crew.
Pro Tip 1/3Problem-Solving Shortcut
Heuristic refers to a quick method that solves problems faster than detailed analysis would.
Using a heuristic, the math student made an educated guess to solve the complex problem quickly.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Right
Heuristics aren't perfect. They might lead to errors, but they're useful for immediate judgment.
She applied a heuristic while playing chess, which cost her a piece but sped up the game.
Pro Tip 3/3Experience-Based
Heuristics are often developed from someone's experiences and may not work in every situation.
The old fisherman shared his heuristic for predicting the weather with the new crew.
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Video examples
The security mirage -...
feel like it's in your control there are a bunch of other of these biases these cognitive biases that affect our risk decisions there's the availability heuristic which basically means we estimate the probability of something by how easy it
Video examples
Is the world getting...
and the world's broadcasts too have gotten steadily glummer. Why don't people appreciate progress? Part of the answer comes from our cognitive psychology. We estimate risk using a mental shortcut called the "availability heuristic."
Video examples
The security mirage -...
feel like it's in your control there are a bunch of other of these biases these cognitive biases that affect our risk decisions there's the availability heuristic which basically means we estimate the probability of something by how easy it
Video examples
Is the world getting...
and the world's broadcasts too have gotten steadily glummer. Why don't people appreciate progress? Part of the answer comes from our cognitive psychology. We estimate risk using a mental shortcut called the "availability heuristic."
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Seymour Hersh
American Journalist
I have this sort of heuristic view that journalism, we possibly offer hope because the world is clearly run by total nincompoops more than ever... Not that journalism is always wonderful - it's not - but at least we offer some way out, some integrity.
Quote examples
Imre Lakatos
Hungarian Philosopher
It would be wrong to assume that one must stay with a research programme until it has exhausted all its heuristic power, that one must not introduce a rival programme before everybody agrees that the point of degeneration has probably been reached.
Quote examples
Daniel Kahneman
Israeli Psychologist
By their very nature, heuristic shortcuts will produce biases, and that is true for both humans and artificial intelligence, but the heuristics of AI are not necessarily the human ones.
Quote examples
Imre Lakatos
Hungarian Philosopher
The positive heuristic of the programme saves the scientist from becoming confused by the ocean of anomalies.
Quote examples
Wilhelm Wundt
German Psychologist
The materialistic point of view in psychology can claim, at best, only the value of an heuristic hypothesis.
Quote examples
Imre Lakatos
Hungarian Philosopher
Research programmes, besides their negative heuristic, are also characterized by their positive heuristic.
Quote examples
Seymour Hersh
American Journalist
I have this sort of heuristic view that journalism, we possibly offer hope because the world is clearly run by total nincompoops more than ever... Not that journalism is always wonderful - it's not - but at least we offer some way out, some integrity.
Quote examples
Imre Lakatos
Hungarian Philosopher
It would be wrong to assume that one must stay with a research programme until it has exhausted all its heuristic power, that one must not introduce a rival programme before everybody agrees that the point of degeneration has probably been reached.
Quote examples
Daniel Kahneman
Israeli Psychologist
By their very nature, heuristic shortcuts will produce biases, and that is true for both humans and artificial intelligence, but the heuristics of AI are not necessarily the human ones.
Quote examples
Imre Lakatos
Hungarian Philosopher
The positive heuristic of the programme saves the scientist from becoming confused by the ocean of anomalies.
Quote examples
Wilhelm Wundt
German Psychologist
The materialistic point of view in psychology can claim, at best, only the value of an heuristic hypothesis.
Quote examples
Imre Lakatos
Hungarian Philosopher
Research programmes, besides their negative heuristic, are also characterized by their positive heuristic.
Example 1 of 6
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