Thread by @CalebFiggers

@syncretizm @codexeditor I find indentation very, very important. In fact, I would say indentation is the primary reason to consider @RoamResearch a "Tool for Thought" rather than a basic memo taking machine.

I think indentation is at least AS important as backlinks.

A 🧵👇

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch Here's the big idea: Indentation neatly models three of the most important features of how human thought works. These are:

Decomposition
Association
Abstraction

Let's look at each.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch Decomposition is the human cognitive ability to separate a complex thing into constituent parts.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch If I show you something complicated, like a big math problem or a complex machine, one way to start understanding that thing is to separate it into smaller pieces. This is a fundamental part of how human understanding works.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch Indentation natively models Decomposition.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch Example: Make a top-level bullet with something big in it, like "My life goals." Huge, right? Dent the next bullet under it, and start breaking that big thing into smaller pieces, like "Goals this year," "Goals next year," "Goals before I'm 50."

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch Then under each of those bullets, continue breaking things out. Under "Goals this year," split out "Personal goals," "Professional goals," "Relationship goals" and so on. This is a form of brainstorming where you're making a complicated thing way easier to deal with.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch Ok, that was Decomposition. Association is like Decomposition in reverse. It is the human cognitive ability to recognize "same"ness and cluster things together on that basis.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch With Association, instead of starting with a macro-category and breaking things down, you start with a collection of things (concepts, options, people, etc.) and you group them together to build the category up.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch Indentation natively models Association.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch Example: Start by brainstorming a bunch of things, making a bullet for each one. This could be available choices for a decision you need to make. Maybe add goal ideas to the outline we already have from the previous example.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch As you go, start to notice when one or more of the things resemble each other. Over time, start creating higher-level bullets and dent in some of the options you've brainstormed under each one.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch Take it a step further if several of the "category" bullets you have start looking like members of an even higher category. 😉

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch That was Association, and we talked earlier about Decomposition. Last is Abstraction. Abstraction is the human cognitive ability to "let go" of the details of a thing or group of things to focus on important parts of it.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch When you Abstract things, you reduce the detail level in order to free up mental capacity for other things.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch When you drive your car you don't have to hold the entire inner workings of it in your mind. It's enough that when you turn the wheel it turns and when you work the pedals it speeds up or slows down.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch Indentation natively models Abstraction (best when you can collapse bullets, which in Roam Research you can!).

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch Example: Take one of the "trees" (or complex outlines) that we already have from the previous two examples. Notice that you can start collapsing branches down to simplify the structure and make it easier to view all as one piece.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch Abstraction is cognitively "zooming out" to get the bigger picture.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch On the Decomposition tree, this works because the indented bullets are all constituent parts of the bullet you started with. On the Association tree it works because the indented bullets fit in the category they're dented under.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch These three thought practices—Decomposition, Association, and Abstraction—are INCREDIBLY useful for problem solving, learning, understanding, and organizing ideas.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch Since Indentation models them extremely well, working with and REALLY UNDERSTANDING indentation teaches you about how to think rigorously.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch A personal practice of mine is to import entire articles and sometimes chapters of books into my Roam to start breaking what's said up into an indented outline.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch It's amazing how well this works! Human expression mirrors human thought. And human thought uses Decomposition, Association, and Abstraction constantly.

@syncretizm @codexeditor @RoamResearch I consider indentation to be my most important and most meaningful form of annotating whatever I'm reading—more important than highlighting and bolding and underlining by a long shot (I use them all) because indentation shows the STRUCTURE of what I'm reading.