majiayu000 Mental Models
Apply 98 cognitive frameworks from multiple disciplines to analyze problems, make decisions, and think more clearly.
Quick Reference
Models by Category:
- General Thinking (m01-m09): First principles, inversion, second-order thinking
- Science (m10-m29): Leverage, inertia, feedback loops, ecosystems
- Systems Thinking (m30-m40): Bottlenecks, scale, margin of safety, emergence
- Mathematics (m41-m47): Randomness, regression to mean, local vs global maxima
- Economics (m48-m59): Trade-offs, scarcity, creative destruction
- Art (m60-m70): Framing, audience, contrast
- Strategy (m71-m75): Asymmetric warfare, seeing the front
- Human Nature (m76-m98): Biases, incentives, social proof
How to Use
Quick Apply
When user mentions a specific model + context:
- Load the model file from
models/directory - Read: Description, Thinking Steps, When to Avoid
- Apply Thinking Steps to user's context
- Provide 3-5 actionable insights
- Note any cautions from "When to Avoid"
Example: "Apply inversion to this architecture decision"
Discovery
When user asks "what models for X":
- Search
resources/model-index.jsonfor matching keywords - Return top 5 relevant models with brief descriptions
- Offer to quick-apply any of them
Example: "What mental models help with scaling?"
Deep Analysis
When user has complex decision:
- Ask 2-3 clarifying questions
- Select max 3 most relevant models
- Apply each model's Thinking Steps systematically
- Synthesize insights across models
- Provide actionable recommendations
Example: "Help me think through whether to accept this job offer"
Model File Structure
Each model in models/ contains:
- Description: Core concept
- When to Avoid: Limitations
- Keywords: Application contexts
- Thinking Steps: Sequential framework (follow exactly)
- Coaching Questions: Prompts for deeper exploration
Key Guidelines
- Quality over quantity: Max 3 models per analysis
- Follow Thinking Steps exactly: That's where the value is
- Check "When to Avoid": Alert user if model doesn't fit
- Latticework approach: Show how models connect
- Be actionable: Provide concrete insights, not just theory
Resources
resources/model-index.json- Searchable index of all 98 modelsresources/quick-reference.md- Common patterns and model combinations