The outside view can provide valuable insights for forecasting from "summary" of Superforecasting by Philip E. Tetlock,Dan Gardner
When it comes to making forecasts, it is easy to get caught up in our own perspectives and biases. We tend to rely heavily on our internal knowledge and experiences, which can sometimes lead us astray. However, looking at the outside view can provide us with valuable insights that we may have overlooked otherwise. The outside view involves stepping back and considering the broader context surrounding the situation we are trying to forecast. By looking at similar past events or situations, we can gain a better understanding of potential outcomes and factors that may influence them. This helps us to make more informed and accurate predictions. One of the key benefits of the outside view is that it can help us to avoid the trap of overconfidence. When we only focus on our internal knowledge and perspectives, we may become too confident in our predictions and fail to consider alternative possibilities. By looking at the outside view, we are forced to confront the uncertainty and complexity of the situation, which can lead to more nuanced and realistic forecasts. Another advantage of the outside view is that it can help us to identify patterns and trends that we may have missed otherwise. By examining how similar events have unfolded in the past, we can spot potential indicators and warning signs that may be relevant to our current forecasting situation. This can help us to anticipate potential outcomes and adjust our predictions accordingly.- The outside view can provide valuable insights for forecasting by helping us to step outside of our own perspectives and biases. By considering the broader context and looking at similar past events, we can make more informed and accurate predictions. This approach can help us to avoid overconfidence, identify patterns and trends, and ultimately improve the quality of our forecasts.
