Heuristic

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Heuristic

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

adjective and noun

Pronunciation

hyoo-RIS-tik  /hjʊˈrɪstɪk/

Definition

As an adjective: enabling discovery or problem-solving through experience, trial and error, or rules of thumb rather than formal proof; relating to a practical approach that is good enough rather than optimal. As a noun: a practical problem-solving rule or mental shortcut that allows for efficient decision-making in the absence of complete information; a teaching method that enables students to discover things for themselves.

Plain meaning

A heuristic is a practical rule of thumb — a mental shortcut that helps you make decisions quickly without having to work through everything from first principles. Good heuristics are not perfect but are good enough for most situations. Cognitive heuristics are the mental shortcuts that allow humans to function without analysing every decision completely.

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Academic and technical but increasingly used in general business and everyday language. Heuristic is now common in management, technology, and popular psychology writing. The plural heuristics is frequently used as a collective noun for practical decision-making rules.