[kwlug-disc] Inspired by yesterday chatting and mentioning LLM's

[Mikalai Birukou]

Let's consider the following situation, in which almost everyone of us 
was in different roles.

Firstly, there is someone who read a text book, and he/she is now a 
teacher. And, in this example it is a text book at the edge, meaning 
that teacher hasn't grasped 100% a mental model that was in mind(s) of 
those who brought that chapter into human civilization. Yet, our teacher 
completely passes all words/symbols to students.

This teacher may feel an unease about it. Either brain pulses with 
desire to have clear explanation model for itself. Or, some model just 
doesn't feel right. And "feel" already suggests a lack of articulation 
into sharper symbolic/wordy form. Or, as my prof in mathematical 
analysis used to say, "Initially student doesn't understand. Than he get 
used to it."

Let's consider students of said teacher. There has to be a spectrum 
from, (a) rediscovering of original model, (a.1) without other 
data/info/perspectives/inspiration and (a.2) with other 
data/info/perspectives/inspiration (helpful shoulders here), to ... 
"Don't remember that, but I got an A, and an after-party was great. ...".

With this situation(s) in mind, can we suggest the following:

- Mental model is what separates a mapping function from human 
understanding. With proper model human/agent can do action/creation of 
something that is evident with model, and is in realm of "millions of 
monkeys typing linux kernel, at random."
Let's note that model may be actionable without being articulated into 
words, while being crystalized in concepts, that one can feel 
internally. Individual human "wordiness" varies.

- Not having a model may still be useful. Teacher can still pass 
usefulness through generations. Well, ... getting an A, and claiming you 
know it without reflection on missing proper mental model, is useful to 
individual, and is harmless on larger scale, but only if there is no 
redirection of societal resources away from students that ask too many 
questions.