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How to ThinkIn the Age of AI
Principlev1PR-739

Pre-commit recurring decisions to explicit criteria during…

Pre-commit recurring decisions to explicit criteria during periods of clear thinking rather than re-deciding each time the situation arises.

Why This Is a Principle

This is a derived principle grounding to multiple axioms: Open-Loop Cognitive Cost (Zeigarnik) (unresolved commitments consume working memory), Directed Attention as Depletable Resource (cognitive resources deplete), Cognition Operates Through Dual Processing Systems (System 2 is effortful), and Human beings make decisions under conditions of incomplete… (bounded rationality). The principle prescribes ACTION: commit decisions in advance. It's general enough to apply across many decision types (not just one specific case), and actionable (tells you WHEN and HOW to decide).

Source Lessons

Decision agents

Agents for recurring decision types like buy-versus-build or accept-versus-decline.

Agents reduce decision fatigue

When an agent handles a recurring decision you preserve energy for novel decisions.

Connections

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