Thinking at the Edge
Michael Lyons explores a method called "Thinking at the Edge" (TAE), a step-by-step process for articulating vague, bodily-felt insights into clear, meaningful language. The post details how to move from a felt sense of a topic to specific words, contrasts, and examples, aiming to help thinkers develop fresh ideas that go beyond existing frameworks.
Background
- The author is Michael Lyons, a software engineer known for work on graph databases and distributed systems. He previously built the "Datomist" graph database and has written extensively about data modeling.
- This blog post discusses a technique called "Thinking at the Edge" (TAE), originally developed by philosopher Eugene Gendlin (creator of "Focusing"). TAE is a method for articulating tacit, bodily-felt knowledge that doesn't yet have precise language.
- Lyons applies TAE to software design, arguing that engineers often sense problems or solutions they can't yet verbalize. He proposes using TAE's structured steps to move from vague intuition to explicit, testable design concepts.
- The piece sits within a broader conversation about "tacit knowledge" in tech — knowledge that's hard to transfer via documentation alone, often associated with expert craftsmanship, pair programming, and the limitations of strict agile methodologies.
- This matters because it offers a concrete practice for bridging the gap between what engineers feel is right and what they can formally specify, addressing a persistent challenge in software architecture and team communication.