How to interpret

How to create knowledge

———

Start with a problem.

Create multiple proposals for solutions, and with each, explain how the proposal solves the problem.

Try to rule out all but one with criticism.

The solution will have (unrefuted) criticism of all of it's rival proposals.

—

If 1 left, then that’s the (tentative) solution.

If more than 1 left…

If none left…

———

How to create knowledge (of a text, or body language, or any kind of action that a person does -- herein referred to as an “idea”).

———

Start with a problem. (What is the correct interpretation of the idea?)

Create multiple proposals for solutions, and with each, explain how the proposal solves the problem. (Create multiple interpretations, and with each, explain why the interpretation is correct.)

Try to rule out all but one (interpretation) with criticism.

The solution will have (unrefuted) criticism of all of it's rival proposals.

• State the problem the (interpreted) idea is intended to solve.
• Consider the relevant context as a means of creating criticism.
• Check understanding of words with dictionary, possibly more than one dictionary
• Consider EVERY word as a means of creating criticism. (Don't approximate.)

—

If 1 left, then that’s the (tentative) solution.

If more than 1 left…

If none left…

-----------------

Clarifications:

• When dealing with anyone, the attitude "Maybe this other guy knows something I don't" should be your initial attitude. Actually this is true for any idea (intuition/emotion) even within one person.
• If you produce inexplicit knowledge as an interpretation, e.g. anger at someone, or a gut feeling, or "love at first sight" -- it's dangerous to act on that knowledge because you have not done any explicit work of creating multiple interpretations and refuting all but one. 
• After creating one or more interpretations, if it's practical, ask the author of the idea to confirm that your interpretation is correct. Do this BEFORE attempting to criticize the idea. Also, if feasible, ask the author of the idea for criticism of your interpretation of his idea BEFORE
  attempting to criticize the idea.
• If you are interpreting something someone said, if there is available evidence, then check that evidence while you are explicitly interpreting it rather than trusting your memory that you remember the evidence on first impression.