Knowledge is a set of points in our mental space. Then we make connections among them.
What do we get? A Graph.
As we receive information and apply thought, we build denser graphs. Lots of points and lots of connections.
Points and the connections don’t stay forever. They fade if not revisited. That’s memory.
For most people, the graphs are clustered around their field or discipline. So what’s reasoning?Reasoning is the act of graph traversal.
Types of people by their graphs
Intelligent people can do fast graph traversal. Curious people keep seeking new points on the graph. Creative people make unobvious connections. Stupid people fail to make even the obvious connections.
Ignorant have very sparse graphs. Experts have atleast one very dense cluster. Polymaths have multiple dense and dissimilar clusters.