Thread by @anelson_unfold

In response to a query from .@John4tl, here are some rambling thoughts about using a #zettelkasten for hard sciences.

The first thought is, its usefulness depends on which science is studied. This is for a variety of reasons.

Physics requires more space to do calculations, which biology (and presumably neuroscience) does not need to do. Consequently, it is easier to write an "encyclopedia" for physics, akin to a #zettelkasten but on a full sheet of paper as opposed to an index card.

(I can go into more detail about what such an encyclopedia should look like, but the one-page limit for an entry is a hard limit to force yourself to write better summaries.)

For neuroscience, and other interdisciplinary fields, the #zettelkasten really handles the interdisciplinarity quite well. Whenever the subject is spread out like creeping rootstalks, the #zettelkasten proves useful (in my experience).

The "principle of atomicity" (each card in the #zettelkasten contains exactly one bite-sized idea) is absolutely crucial for a paper #zettelkasten. Everything else (IDs, links, registers, threads, etc.) springs from this constraint.

For fields which can be viewed with a "systems theory" mindset, the atomicity-related features make a paper #zettelkasten quite good at analyzing a system, its components, interactions, etc. This seems to fit neuroscience like a glove.

(For other fields, if viewed from a systems thinking perspective, a paper #zettelkasten also excels. Looking at biology, chemistry, and physics as a system, ostensibly a #zettelkasten would work great, provided one could handle calculations adequately.)

Before I forget, I should hasten to add, a #zettelkasten should be viewed as a *system* of notes. If you don't want to work on growing a *system* of knowledge, then I don't think a #zettelkasten is a good choice.

Growing a #zettelkasten can be done in a haphazard manner, which is its main strength (similar to how personal wikis mature). There is no need for some linear presentation of topics, no! You could even have a "placeholder" card to be filled in later. This is a feature, not a bug.

(This does mean you should dedicate time to work on your #zettelkasten regularly. I work on mine daily. But without dedicating time to it, it's about as useful as a gym membership card in a safe deposit box.)

I'd conclude with encouraging you to try a paper #zettelkasten with quarters of copy paper (so there's no financial cost), try it out for a few months, and have the first thread be about zettelkastens in general and the conventions you've adopted.

In particular, think about the principles underlying the conventions adopted for your #zettelkasten in your first thread. (Conventions adopted can be branches off the cards explicating principles in your first thread.) From principles, techniques follow.