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Don't follow proverbs blindly
Path: GoProverbs · Prev: BewareOfGoingBackToPatchUp · Next: WhenInDoubtTenuki
Difficulty: Introductory Keywords: Proverb
Well, don't. Proverbs in Go correspond quite closely to the idea of heuristics in the field of knowledge engineering. There is a distinction between a heuristic, which helps you find a solution to a problem in many cases, and a rule, which has a strict logical status. Proverbs that have exceptions are not so much broken, as a way in to further concepts. If a proverb is only a fairly useful insight, rather than an absolute rule (as some relating to life and death are), then one can learn something about the game by looking at expert play when it seems to contradict the elementary teachings. Proverbs do not apply to White Some Go proverbs are paradoxical and thus hard to follow or must be applied with judgement. A good example is "Give your opponent what they want". ProtoDeuteric- The philosophy of this proverb involves so many layers (perhaps infinite) that it can prove to be a nightmare and gives me a lot of headaches. It's like saying "Don't do what I say." It is hard for me to know when to stop analyzing and reanalyzing this proverb. As if go itself wasn't complex enough alone. Charles Ah, maybe you're getting there. But proverbs are more about finding ways to play, than the absolute essentials. ilan: You can resolve the apparent paradox by deciding that the title is not a proverb. A more direct example is the non proverb: "Every proverb has an exception." ProtoDeuteric- Well, I could give you guys an argument that could get us into quite a heated debate, involving the definition of "proverb" and providing several technicalities that nevertheless prove to be powerful statements (at least in my mind), but I feel that following your wise advice would lead to a better result than would coming away victorious in an argument (which, itself, is only a possibility). Thank you Charles and ilan. I am not only grateful for your wisdom here, but I find it all over the library. Also, I don't mean to be a kissass, so don't take it that way, please. Path: GoProverbs · Prev: BewareOfGoingBackToPatchUp · Next: WhenInDoubtTenuki This is a copy of the living page "Don't follow proverbs blindly" at Sensei's Library. ![]() |