The Candle Problem
Given a book of matches, a box of thumbtacks, and a candle, how can you fix the candle to the wall so that its wax won’t drip onto the table below?
See Answer Below
Pin the box to the wall, put the candle in the box, and light it.
In experiments, Gestalt psychologist Karl Duncker found that most subjects instead tried to pin the candle directly to the wall or to use melted wax to affix it there (neither worked). Duncker called this “functional fixedness” — a “mental block against using an object in a new way that is required to solve a problem.” In this case, subjects had “fixated” on the box’s function as a container, which prevented them from considering it as a platform. If the box was empty at the start of the experiment, they were more likely to find the correct solution.
In a 2000 study, psychologists Tim German and Margaret Defeyter found the 6- and 7-year-olds show signs of functional fixedness, but 5-year-olds appear immune to it: “Rather than taking into account only the properfunction of an object, they adopt and agents-goals view of function in which any intentional use of an object can be its function.”
(via fuckyeahpsychedelics)
One of the problems in philosophy is that most often it is thought of as a way to find truth. But once a truth is found, it is no longer philosophy; in fact, one would call it then religion.
(Source: keepondreamingboy-)
ONE ROAD.
One road lay parallel to the shore,
and on tat shore were two lovers
who had never known each other before.
The man, he sat as they waves would
crash like a stampede of horses galloping and
drumming a peaceful song.
The woman she stood as you’d
imagine she would, merely
observing the shore.
And as I watched I couldn’t
help but feel as though these
lovers were destined to meet.
So I waited and I waited
until all the light in the sky
had bade farewell;
‘twas then when both
prepared to leave.
My heartbeat grew faster,
anticipating
the moment that would come
after
that didn’t;
They crossed paths, gave a
stumbled,
“Hello.”
“Hello.”
And that was all they would ever know.
that bon iver post as actually inspired me so much.
is this actually how bon iver wrote it? beautiful.
(Source: thebeautiful-and-thedamned, via discouraged-faces)
(Source: stickypearls, via foxyhoe)
