## Note-Taking and Notebooks in Philosophy - Dr. Thomas Ward, a professor of philosophy, uses notebooks in his study of philosophy, playing multiple roles, including note-taking while reading philosophy and drafting papers or books by hand [(00:01:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=62s). - He prefers handwritten notes over typing, as it provides more freedom and doesn't restrict his thinking, allowing him to use various formatting styles, such as bullet points or a cloud-like structure [(00:01:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=101s). - Dr. Ward values the tactile feedback of writing on paper and hasn't been able to adapt to using a pen on a tablet, preferring the traditional paper notebook [(00:02:19)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=139s). - The [[Codex]] format of a notebook, with its page-turning mechanism, helps him remember the location of specific notes, making it easier to recall information [(00:02:37)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=157s). ## Memory Enhancement through Handwriting - Research from [[Japan]] suggests that the spatial component of using pen and paper can improve memory, similar to the [[Method of loci | Memory Palace]] technique, where information is associated with specific locations [(00:02:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=172s). - Dr. Ward finds that writing in a notebook helps him remember not only the content but also the context, including the appearance of the writing and the location on the page [(00:03:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=205s). ## Note-Taking While Reading - When reading, notes are taken in a notebook rather than in the margins of the book, with underlining, checking, and starring used to highlight important points in the text [(00:04:07)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=247s). - A cross-referencing system is used, where page numbers are written in the notebook and corresponding notes are made, allowing for easy location of specific information [(00:04:23)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=263s). ## Commonplace Books - A "manuscript [[Commonplace book | commonplace book]]" is used to collect and organize notes, quotes, and ideas, which can be used to write papers and create new content [(00:04:42)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=282s). - There are two main types of commonplace books: a "treasury commonplace book" for collecting quotations and memorizing information, and a "manuscript commonplace book" for writing and organizing original thoughts and ideas [(00:04:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=296s). - When taking notes, quotes are not always written down, but rather copied out and commented on to help understand and engage with the material [(00:05:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=322s). - A technique used is to copy out important passages and then comment on them, which helps to think critically and generate new ideas [(00:05:38)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=338s). ## Working with Latin and Organizing Notes - Working in [[Latin]] requires precise translations, which are written out in double-spaced lines and then refined in the spaces [(00:06:04)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=364s). - Notes can be organized by topic, with page numbers and bullet points used to collect and reference information [(00:06:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=390s). ## Effectiveness and Benefits of Notebooks - The notebook system has proven to be effective, allowing for easy access to research and ideas, even after a long period of time [(00:06:43)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=403s). - Using notebooks for recordkeeping and research can be highly effective, as demonstrated by the ability to write an 8,000-word research article in less than a week based on notes taken six months prior [(00:07:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=446s). - Notebooks offer spatial awareness and the ability to hyperfocus, making them a valuable tool for individuals with ADHD or those who need to work intensely on a project [(00:07:50)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=470s). - Notebooks can be used to survive and thrive in academic environments, such as seminary or graduate school, by providing a repository of notes that can be drawn upon to write papers [(00:08:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=482s). - The same notebook can be used for multiple projects, with notes from previous research being used to inform and inspire new work [(00:08:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=510s). ## Notebooks for Writing and Research - Notebooks can be used to draft and outline chapters of a book, with the physical act of writing helping to solidify ideas and structure [(00:08:51)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=531s). - Notebooks can be used to take notes on scholarly literature, allowing the user to extract key points and ideas without getting bogged down in the original text [(00:09:12)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=552s). - The use of notebooks can be a practical and fun way to engage in scholarship, and does not have to be as extensive or intense as some users may make it out to be [(00:09:56)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=596s). ## Extended Mind Thesis and Notebooks as Tools - The idea of the extended mind thesis, which suggests that the mind can extend into external objects such as notebooks, is not necessarily the best explanation for the effectiveness of notebooks [(00:10:13)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=613s). - A simpler theory is that notebooks serve as tools, allowing users to externalize and organize their thoughts and ideas [(00:11:02)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=662s). - A tool is something that helps you do things that would be harder to do without it, and a notebook can be used as a tool to help remember tasks and ideas, rather than relying on one's mind to remember everything [(00:11:06)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=666s). - The concept of a "mind" is not just a tool, but rather a complex entity that can be understood in different ways, and some philosophers have different theories about the nature of the mind [(00:11:31)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=691s). ## Dr. Ward's Work and Catchall Notebook - Dr. Thomas Ward has a website where people can find more of his work, and he has written about various topics, including stoicism and the philosophy of [[Boethius]] [(00:12:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=748s). - Dr. Ward uses a wallet with a field notes memo book and a mini pen to jot down thoughts and ideas that come up throughout the day, which he calls a "catchall notebook" [(00:12:48)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=768s). - The catchall notebook is not special, and it can be used to write down anything from thoughts to to-do lists, and the ideas are later dispersed into other notebooks or word documents when time allows [(00:13:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=819s). - The use of a catchall notebook can help with the flow of conversation and reduce the need to try to remember everything, as the ideas are written down and can be referred to later [(00:13:30)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw&t=810s). ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP146EYjPBw)