sharpen-magazine-issue-16

12 • SHARPEN
It is through problem solving that we, human
beings, were able to combat diseases that could
have, otherwise, claimed the lives of many,
counter international disputes that could have
put human existence in absolute jeopardy, and
deal with each crisis we have faced in the course
of our collective evolution and history. Indeed,
problem solving has allowed us to triumph
amidst adversities, and at times, thrive amidst
groundbreaking opportunities.
There are two general approaches in problem
solving, namely exploitation and exploration.
Exploitation is employing current knowledge,
concepts, or paradigms for achieving a workable
solution for a specific problem. Exploration, on
the other hand, is problem solving by employing
certain approaches or sets of information, which
are considered beyond the realm of the familiar.
Exploitation exhausts what is known, whereas
exploration maximises the possibilities, in order
to optimise problem solving. Famous people, who
have perfected these strategies include Thomas
Edison through exploitation, and Albert Einstein
through exploration.
Thomas Edison, in his quest to
invent the electric light bulb,
adapted what he knew about
tungsten wire and energy
conduction, to succeed in his
invention. Meanwhile, Albert
Einstein refuted long held principles
in physics, and science in general,
to come up with his innovative
theses, like the Theory of Relativity.
Although differing in their chosen
strategies in problem solving, with
Edison more of an adaptor and
Einstein an innovator, these two
intellectual pioneers are equally
admirable in terms of satiating
their individual curiosities.