Intuition -Reply

[RONDO JEFFERY <RJEFFERY@weber.edu>]

   Just a couple of thoughts on this new thread.  I recall hearing a definition, I
think of intuition (someone can help me out with the quote if it is not
exactly right), which says "Intuition is the name we give to our experience." 
In other words, if we have had experience with a thing, then the next time
we encounter that thing or something related, we know what to expect.
  My Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language gives the
following: "Intuition, n, (<L in-, in + tueri, look at), the immediate knowing
or learning of something without the conscious use of reasoning."
   This probably comes close to how Leigh was using the term, and goes with
such phrases as "women's intuition"-- where some individuals seem possessed
of an ability to understand certain things almost instinctively, or "without
conscious use of reasoning," a la Webster.
   In terms of physics, I think there is a *feel* that a person can develop
about how things behave so that when you encounter a new problem you
already have an idea about how it will turn out.  This may seem like
intuition, or intuitive understanding, but I think it is as much a matter of
having seen enough experiments or worked enough problems that you know
how the next experiment or problem will turn out.  It may be that some
people are just naturally gifted in this, what is called "physical intuition," but
I think it is something that can be learned.
   John Wheeler has said that you shouldn't do a calculation until you know
what the answer will be.  In other words, you need to understand the way
things work, independent of calculating an answer. 
  One of the goals of an introductory physics course should be to help
students *see* for themselves how the phyiscal world works, and not just
memorize equations that supposedly describe how it works.  That is, help
them develop a "physical intuition."  I remember from grad school that the
ones who were given the hardest time on prelims were those who would give
a mathematical answer rather than a physical answer to questions.  
  Any other thoughts?

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On April 16, Darwin Z. Palima <dpalima@nip.upd.edu.ph> wrote:

> On Wed, 8 Apr 1998, Leigh Palmer wrote:

> > That seems highly counterintuitive
> > to me, but my physical intuition tells me that I should not take my
> > physical intuition too seriously!


> This brings me back to my previous question on intuition. Since you used
> the word repeatedly, could you give your definition of intuition? 

> Would you recommend that students develop physical intuition to help in
> problem solving?


> Darwin
> University of the Philippines

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