Exercises: Planck's Principle and Its Exceptions

Difficulty Guide: ⭐ Foundational | ⭐⭐ Intermediate | ⭐⭐⭐ Challenging | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Advanced/Research

Part A: Conceptual Understanding ⭐

A.1. State Planck's principle. What evidence supports it? What evidence challenges it?

A.2. Explain the difference between persuasion mode and circumvention mode of correction. Why is circumvention faster?

A.3. Name the six structural variables that predict correction speed. For each, explain how it affects the timeline.

A.4. What is the "partial Planck" pattern? Why do institutions correct faster than individuals?

A.5. Explain why the Azoulay et al. finding supports Planck's principle. What specific mechanism does it reveal?

Part B: Applied Analysis ⭐⭐

B.1. Using the six-variable framework, predict the correction speed for a wrong consensus in your field. Score each variable.

B.2. Compare the ozone hole correction (fast) to the dietary fat correction (slow). For each variable, explain why the cases differ.

B.3. Identify a current correction-in-progress in any field. Where is it in the process? Which variables are helping and which are hindering?

B.4. The machine learning revival used circumvention mode. Identify another case where circumvention bypassed a stalled correction.

Part C: Research Design Challenges ⭐⭐–⭐⭐⭐

C.1. For a wrong consensus in your field, design a circumventing evidence strategy — evidence that would bypass the defenders' objections rather than confronting them.

C.2. Design an institutional reform that would lower the switching cost for a specific correction in your field.

Part D: Synthesis & Critical Thinking ⭐⭐⭐

D.1. Apply the correction speed formula to all six anchor examples. Which corrected fastest? Slowest? Do the variables predict the actual timelines?

D.2. Is it ethical to "prepare for and leverage crises" as a correction strategy? What are the limits?

D.3. The chapter argues that evidence quality alone doesn't determine correction speed. Is this a pessimistic or optimistic conclusion? Why?

Part M: Mixed Practice (Interleaved) ⭐⭐–⭐⭐⭐

M.1. (From Ch.9) Map the switching cost components to Variable 2 of the prediction framework. How does compound sunk cost affect the denominator over time?

M.2. (From Ch.16) Apply the correction speed framework to a zombie idea. Why is the score so unfavorable?

M.3. (Integration) Begin Part III of your Epistemic Audit: assess the correction conditions using the six-variable framework.

Part E: Research & Extension ⭐⭐⭐⭐

E.1. Read Azoulay et al. (2019). Write a 1,500-word analysis of their findings and their implications for this chapter's framework.

Solutions

Selected solutions in appendices/answers-to-selected.md.