Why You Should Use Einstein’s Thought Experiments to Problem Solve

Thought experiments are quick methods of problem-solving that requires logic and critical thinking to come up with reasonable conclusions/solutions.

Have you ever been faced with a problem that you just can’t seem to solve? Or at least can’t solve at that moment in time?

For instance, a teacher wants you to find solutions for a social problem on an exam, but she doesn’t give you enough time or resources to come up with an elaborate plan.

Or you are faced with making a decision between one opportunity and another.

If you have, then you probably understand the stress (or at the very least annoyance) of not being able to solve the problem.

I know I have.

However, there is something you could try to ease the strain of decision-making -thought experiments.

What Are Thought Experiments?

Thought experiments are, according to the Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, “devices of the imagination used to investigate the nature of things.”

Though they are mainly used to solve scientific and philosophical problems, if you modify them a little bit, you can use them to solve non-academic problems as well.

Albert Einstein was notorious for using visual thought experiments to solve scientific problems.

One of his most famous thought experiments was the Elevator Thought Experiment, where he essentially imagined himself using a falling elevator as a physics lab.

With it, he was able to figure out the fundamentals of general relativity.

But, as I mentioned earlier, you don’t have to just use thought experiments to figure out complex issues. You can also use them to solve small issues that you may be facing in your daily life.

How Do They Work?

Though thought experiments don’t have any formal procedures, they do need to be based on principles of nature or facts. They have to be logical.

When doing your experiments, which are imagining and thinking through issues and problems, you have to figure out real reactions and consequences. They can’t be false and/or fairytale-like.

For instance, if there is a person that you are a huge fan of, like Donald Glover, and you have an opportunity to meet him, you can use thought experiments to visualize how your first interaction will go.

You could imagine how you would greet that person and what the two of you will talk about, and how that person reacts and responds.

However, the responses and reactions have to be logical. You can’t just imagine that right after you greet him/her, that person falls under your spell and the two of you become best friends.

This wouldn’t have a high probability rate because it rarely happens in real life.

A more logical and realistic event would be that that person greets you back and the two of you have a short conversation. And maybe the two of you will exchange e-mails or social media.

Why Should You Do Thought Experiments?

You should start doing thought experiments regularly because they are good for your mind.

Doing these experiments forces you to use your imagination and critical thinking to come up with conclusions or solutions to problems that you are faced with.

Also, these can be quick methods of finding potential outcomes of problems that you need to urgently solve.

Additionally, these experiments will reinforce your understanding of a theory or concept.

For you to come up with conclusions, concepts or facts need to be applied to your thoughts.

So if you truly understand a concept (or reality of things), the conclusions and solutions you think of will be logical and potentially real.

Conclusion

Are thought experiments something you would consider using to solve problems, however big they may be?