History of Problem Solving

Humans have been solving problems from the beginning of their existence, usually by trial and error. However, effective and reliable problem origination, prevention, solution, and challenge of solution did not begin until our scientists recognized and developed the experimental method, the method of science, most commonly called the scientific method or scientific method.

Throughout its history, the scientific method has often been viewed mainly as a method of scientists. Here are some indications that the scientific method is actually a general method.

From Darwiniana, “We Are All Scientists”; (1863), reprinted in A Treasury of Science (1948), T.H. Huxley (1825-1895; British biologist and philosopher):

“The method of scientific investigation is nothing but the expression of the necessary mode of working of the human mind. It is simply the mode at which all phenomena are reason about, rendered precise and exact.”

From Out of My Later Years (1950), Albert Einstein (1879-1955; physicist and father of the theory of relativity):

“The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking. It is for this reason that the critical thinking of the physicist cannot possibly be restricted to the examination of the concepts of his own special field.”

From Introduction to Logic (1982), Irwin M. Copi (1917- ; philosopher-educator, author of many books on logic:

“As the term ‘scientific’ is generally used today, it refers to any reasoning which attempts to proceed from observable facts of experience to reasonable (that is, relevant and testable) explanations for those facts. The scientific method is not confined to professional scientists: anyone can be said to be proceeding scientifically who follows the general pattern of reasoning from evidence to conclusions that can be tested by experience. The skilled detective is a scientist in this sense, as are most of us – in our more rational moments, at least.”

Since the scientific method is definitely a universal general method, it should also be called the complete method of creative problem solving and decision making for all fields, including our personal lives.

Not only has the scientific method not been adequately understood, in 1947 a famous educator and scientist claimed that the scientific method did not exist, and that there was “no one method.” His friends and others joined in with claims that it was only a textbook method, no single method, a rigid method, only a rational method, scientists must follow the norms of the scientific community, and some others. I have spent many months studying these claims and find that they are all erroneous and thus false. Disregard these claims no matter how authoritative the individual or organization may be. The scientific method or guide does exist and has rightfully been called the greatest idea of all time.

These factors have resulted in a distortion of our knowledge of problem solving. Thus, many books on problem solving by well-known authors fail to acknowledge the scientific method as a general problem-solving method and guide. However, they do contain valuable knowledge about problem solving in general and about many of the creative, non-logical, logical, and technical methods and techniques, procedural principles and theories, attributes and thinking skills that are needed at the various stages of the scientific method of problem solving.

Over the centuries, other names have been used for what is basically the scientific method. Therefore, by learning SM-14, you are learning the best formula for many methods or guides. Some examples of other names are:

So you can see that learning a well-researched method or guide such as SM-14 can make you a great problem solver, prepared for many different fields.

Sub-Problems

An experienced problem solver soon learns that you should break any complex problem down, and separate and solve the sub-problems and sub-sub-problems before attacking the main problem. If they are important and complex, sub-problems should also be solved following SM-14.