Building a Second Brain

Posted by MadaboutDana
Nov 4, 2022 at 09:55 AM

Interesting contention: you see, given that Niklas didn’t have access to digital technology, what’s always impressed me is not so much his Zettelkasten system as the fact that he must have preserved, in his own biological brain, a kind of meta-index enabling him to refer to appropriate notes and create the necessary cross-references. I don’t see how he could possibly have made such good use of his enormous collection without this kind of meta-structure. Or have I missed something?

Daly de Gagne wrote:
Dellu, in light of what you wrote I wonder what your thoughts are on the
>German sociologist Niklas Luhmann and his Zettlekasten note-taking
>system. On one hand, his system removed from his brain the burden of
>using the kind of note-taking approach which is burdensome because of
>its inherent deficiencies, but on the other hand his system allowed him
>to write prolifically at a world class level.
> >Re your comments on GTD, I’d agree it’s not the system for everyone,
>though I think its emphasis on “mind like water” removes some of the
>non-productive mental stress many people face while trying to become
>more organized and productive. Or, as David Allen, the GTD originator
>says on his website, “Mind Like Water: A mental and emotional state in
>which your head is clear, able to create and respond freely,
>unencumbered with distractions and split focus.” That may not work for
>some people, but for others it’s part of destressing their brain so it
>can work more effectively.”
> >https://gettingthingsdone.com/2012/05/david-allen-defines-mind-like-water/
>