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T and J and applied theory

Lark

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Does the combination of T and J mean that you're more interested in applied theory or putting theory into practice than theorising per se or for its own sake?
 

Eric B

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Basically.
It also leads to being both "directive" and "structure-focused"; bot of which are forms of "task-orientation".
 

Coriolis

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Knowledge is power, but only if put to use.
 

DiscoBiscuit

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If there is no real world application, I could care less.

Words are wind.
 

INTP

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If there is no real world application, I could care less.

Words are wind.

yea, but whether you apply something or not is irrelevant to the fact that you are able to apply it , which is the most important thing ;). not to mention that some things that cant be directly applied, can still help on applying something else or can deepen your understanding of something that can then be applied better. just trying to give some contrast to TiNe style
 

Mycroft

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I'm on the fence. I get frustrated with people whose default mindset is one of skepticism, even when the argument is sound and there's a good basis in evidence, but some of the more advanced scientific theories and esoteric forms of understanding don't lend themselves to immediate application, if they lend themselves at all.

I can't imagine what practical, material application, say, Zen teachings or Kant's categories might have, for example, but they're enlightening ideas humanity is richer for having.
 

INTP

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I'm on the fence. I get frustrated with people whose default mindset is one of skepticism, even when the argument is sound and there's a good basis in evidence, but some of the more advanced scientific theories and esoteric forms of understanding don't lend themselves to immediate application, if they lend themselves at all.

I can't imagine what practical, material application, say, Zen teachings or Kant's categories might have, for example, but they're enlightening ideas humanity is richer for having.

zen teachings include meditation. meditation allows your brains to physically work in more balanced way(without sacrificing your stronger points), helps concentration etc. thus allowing your brains to work in more effective way. dont you see any practical application for your brains to work better?

not to mention the whole people living in better harmony and world working better..
 

skylights

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It is my impression that FPs and TPs are more interested in perfecting/idealizing value-structures (ethical or logical, respectively), while FJs and TJs are more interested in putting them to use. Which is not to say we both don't do both, but our interest generally leans to one side or the other.
 

UniqueMixture

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I think it makes TJs feel safe to have a "grand narrative" about reality that they view as incontrovertible and unassailable.
 

DiscoBiscuit

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Before anything else, I view knowledge as power.

The most powerful knowledge, is knowledge that can have a bearing on ones day to day life.

That's why I care about what's going on in the world right now.

Most theories get replaced or change prior to application, so I don't care to waste mental horsepower on stuff that's going to change, and can't give me some advantage now.

I'll wait till it's implemented and then learn about it.

If I'm personally interested in the subject, I'm way more willing to get into esoterics, but even then my focus will remain on the real world application of the knowledge.
 

IZthe411

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Agreed. The value lies in my ability to use it- otherwise it's a 'nice to have'.
 
G

garbage

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Knowledge is power, but only if put to use.

If there is no real world application, I could care less.

Words are wind.
Man. These sum everything up.

I'm somewhat heavy into philosophy and ethics. I try to tie those in to real-world applications, and I usually study them to the extent that I can apply them toward some end. So, I try my damndest to reach into the world of even extremely nebulous ideas and extract things of real 'value'--that's a frontier that's often not explored.

Exploration, brainstorming, and random musings also have their place--but that place, for me, is typically in the 'nascent stages' of some overall project or goal.
 

Mycroft

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zen teachings include meditation. meditation allows your brains to physically work in more balanced way(without sacrificing your stronger points), helps concentration etc. thus allowing your brains to work in more effective way. dont you see any practical application for your brains to work better?

not to mention the whole people living in better harmony and world working better..

True, I suppose it depends on how we define "applied".

Typically when people are talking about "applied theory" they're talking about how theory can be applied to produce material goods for sale, or to produce devices that can in turn produce material goods. Personal betterment is all fine and good, but you'd have to go through some contortions to show how Zen practice itself could be used to produce salable goods.
 

INTP

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True, I suppose it depends on how we define "applied".

Typically when people are talking about "applied theory" they're talking about how theory can be applied to produce material goods for sale, or to produce devices that can in turn produce material goods. Personal betterment is all fine and good, but you'd have to go through some contortions to show how Zen practice itself could be used to produce salable goods.

lets say you are a carpenter and you have this saw that is all rusted, old and shit, so badly that your work would benefit from getting a new better one, even tho the old one could somehow do the job. wouldnt you then see the new saw as a material good, even tho you are not selling the saw, but if its just a tool that you can allow you to work better? this getting the new saw is equivalent to meditation, brains are matter after all you see and you use them as a tool for everything you do, so its not just some personal moral thing that has no effect to the "real" world.
 
G

garbage

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True, I suppose it depends on how we define "applied".

Typically when people are talking about "applied theory" they're talking about how theory can be applied to produce material goods for sale, or to produce devices that can in turn produce material goods. Personal betterment is all fine and good, but you'd have to go through some contortions to show how Zen practice itself could be used to produce salable goods.
I have a very broad definition of "applied," myself--less about material goods, specifically, and more about being productive or enabling or enhancing productivity. Maybe (maybe!) my definition is off, but it's been useful :wink:

Here's a collection of thoughts that I'm going to vomit into this thread. We'll see what sticks.
  • Stephen Covey and [MENTION=7595]INTP[/MENTION] both cover how effective "sharpening the saw" is--it's tackling a root problem (dealing with that rusted saw) in order better solve the problem at hand (crafting a chair or house, or something, which requires us to cut some wood).
  • Another example: when I've studied typology, I've focused mostly on exploring my types--the biggest "bang for the buck." My focus on personal development has made me a more effective leader, which has in turn helped others to produce material goods.
  • A case could (stress on "could") be made about meditation as well, but probably moreso about activities that help us center ourselves. Something along the lines of: centering oneself once in a while is important if we're ever going to be effective in our daily lives.
  • In general, personal betterment (and other related activities) could very well be used to enhance productivity. On its surface, it's far removed from the problems that we're trying to solve or the goods that we're trying to make--but enhancing it has the potential to greatly enhance our problem-solving or.. good-creation; it regards the surface problems as symptoms and focuses on root problems.

Overall, my definition of "applied" tends to stop at "studying ideas for their own sake." As long as there's a somewhat practical goal in mind, then it's "applicable" in my book.

--
By the way, an example of very practical application of Kant's (and others') philosophical ideas is in the realm of machine ethics--one of my fields of study. :) It took us .. what, centuries to start applying very abstract philosophical ideas, but we're finally doing it!
 

INTP

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[*]Stephen Covey and INTP both cover how effective "sharpening the saw" is--it's tackling a root problem (dealing with that rusted saw) in order better solve the problem at hand (crafting a chair or house, or something, which requires us to cut some wood).

exactly, i think this is one of the biggest differences between INTPs(and i think other NPs, you seriously think you are an ENFJ :p ?) and INTJs, INTPs look for the root problem and modifying that, INTJs look at the surface of things and often miss the underlying problem, because its irrelevant to them, as it doesent have any direct consequences to external world.
its funny that there was a huge debate about this on some Ni thread, all INTJs went bunkers when i told that INTPs look at the root of things more than INTJs, while INTJs are concentrated on more superficial things. all i got to say to that is that ofc it looks to INTJs that they see the deepest root of things, if they cant see far enough, but yet see some roots, but thats the whole point, they see something and nothing past that, rational conclusion = they see it all, all they see is all there is to them.
 

Viridian

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True, I suppose it depends on how we define "applied".

Typically when people are talking about "applied theory" they're talking about how theory can be applied to produce material goods for sale, or to produce devices that can in turn produce material goods. Personal betterment is all fine and good, but you'd have to go through some contortions to show how Zen practice itself could be used to produce salable goods.

I have a very broad definition of "applied," myself--less about material goods, specifically, and more about being productive or enabling or enhancing productivity. Maybe (maybe!) my definition is off, but it's been useful :wink:

Here's a collection of thoughts that I'm going to vomit into this thread. We'll see what sticks.
  • Stephen Covey and INTP both cover how effective "sharpening the saw" is--it's tackling a root problem (dealing with that rusted saw) in order better solve the problem at hand (crafting a chair or house, or something, which requires us to cut some wood).
  • Another example: when I've studied typology, I've focused mostly on exploring my types--the biggest "bang for the buck." My focus on personal development has made me a more effective leader, which has in turn helped others to produce material goods.
  • A case could (stress on "could") be made about meditation as well, but probably moreso about activities that help us center ourselves. Something along the lines of: centering oneself once in a while is important if we're ever going to be effective in our daily lives.
  • In general, personal betterment (and other related activities) could very well be used to enhance productivity. On its surface, it's far removed from the problems that we're trying to solve or the goods that we're trying to make--but enhancing it has the potential to greatly enhance our problem-solving or.. good-creation; it regards the surface problems as symptoms and focuses on root problems.

Overall, my definition of "applied" tends to stop at "studying ideas for their own sake." As long as there's a somewhat practical goal in mind, then it's "applicable" in my book.

--
By the way, an example of very practical application of Kant's (and others') philosophical ideas is in the realm of machine ethics--one of my fields of study. :) It took us .. what, centuries to start applying very abstract philosophical ideas, but we're finally doing it!

I tend to agree with bologna - Mycroft's definition seems pretty capitalism-centered, for lack of a better word. Efficiency is present in areas other than the profit-focused ones, like law and agriculture.
 
G

garbage

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exactly, i think this is one of the biggest differences between INTPs(and i think other NPs, you seriously think you are an ENFJ :p ?) and INTJs, INTPs look for the root problem and modifying that, INTJs look at the surface of things and often miss the underlying problem, because its irrelevant to them, as it doesent have any direct consequences to external world.
its funny that there was a huge debate about this on some Ni thread, all INTJs went bunkers when i told that INTPs look at the root of things more than INTJs, while INTJs are concentrated on more superficial things. all i got to say to that is that ofc it looks to INTJs that they see the deepest root of things, if they cant see far enough, but yet see some roots, but thats the whole point, they see something and nothing past that, rational conclusion = they see it all, all they see is all there is to them.
If I were an adherent of JCF at all, I'd say that, from my perspective, self-described Ti-dominants can be pedantic and miss the forest for the trees--for example, correcting single words, as if the larger context or the underlying message didn't actually concern them at all.

If I bought into JCF, I'd also mention that Covey is often typed ENTJ, and that many of the systems engineering researchers (the ones who study engineering problem formulation) I know who have any interest in the system have typed as TJs.

Not to say that TJs have a monopoly on identifying and fixing root cause. Anyone who's smart enough would see that root causes and underlying problems have a great effect on the external world--more of an effect than treating surface-level symptoms, for sure.

(and i think other NPs, you seriously think you are an ENFJ :p ?)
i cba to explain myself in this thread
 

EJCC

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I can't imagine what practical, material application, say, Zen teachings or Kant's categories might have, for example, but they're enlightening ideas humanity is richer for having.
I don't really know anything about Kant -- but Zen teachings and similar things can help people lead better lives, which in my opinion is a very, very important practical application. :)
I think it makes TJs feel safe to have a "grand narrative" about reality that they view as incontrovertible and unassailable.
I guess I see that. The phrase "grand narrative" rubs me the wrong way, a little bit, but I know some INTJs who would probably relate to that word choice.
Before anything else, I view knowledge as power.

The most powerful knowledge, is knowledge that can have a bearing on ones day to day life.

That's why I care about what's going on in the world right now.

Most theories get replaced or change prior to application, so I don't care to waste mental horsepower on stuff that's going to change, and can't give me some advantage now.

I'll wait till it's implemented and then learn about it.

If I'm personally interested in the subject, I'm way more willing to get into esoterics, but even then my focus will remain on the real world application of the knowledge.
I agree with this entire post!
 

INTP

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If I were an adherent of JCF at all, I'd say that, from my perspective, self-described Ti-dominants can be pedantic and miss the forest for the trees--for example, correcting single words, as if the larger context or the underlying message didn't actually concern them at all.

true, but often they(at least i) tend to correct words that have meaning to the underlying message. for example if someone speaks of repression when its actually about suppression, correcting that would change the whole message, even tho its not apparent to people who doesent know the difference. but yea nitpicking is a bad habit, but usually i just do it if someone is getting on my nerves(nitpicking gets on their nerves).


If I bought into JCF, I'd also mention that Covey is often typed ENTJ, and that many of the systems engineering researchers (the ones who study engineering problem formulation) I know who have any interest in the system have typed as TJs.

Not to say that TJs have a monopoly on identifying and fixing root cause. Anyone who's smart enough would see that root causes and underlying problems have a great effect on the external world--more of an effect than treating surface-level symptoms, for sure.

im not saying that any type is incapable of seeing to root causes, im just talking about type tendencies. also if someone of any type is profession in his field, naturally he has the advantage over other people who might typologically have tendency to be better at something than the average person.


i cba to explain myself in this thread

okay
 
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