The Power of Effective Writing: Insights from Nicholas Luhmann and the Zettelkasten Method

The Power of Effective Writing: Insights from Nicholas Luhmann and the Zettelkasten Method

Writing has long been considered a difficult task, but is it really? Renowned German sociologist Professor Nicholas Luhmann spent over 30 years as a scholar, publishing over 70 books and more than 400 papers. This astounding level of productivity left many wondering how it was possible. What's even more surprising is that most of his works were done individually, with his research assistants only checking for spelling errors. Those who have experienced the process of publishing papers can understand why people referred to him as someone who made a deal with the devil.

Naturally, I was curious about Professor Luhmann's writing secrets. Fortunately, he never kept his methods a secret. He consistently attributed his productivity to the use of a technique called "Zettelkasten," which translates to "note box" in English.

So, what is Zettelkasten? It involves the following steps:

1. Read books on topics of interest and summarize the content in your own words, adding personal insights and including bibliographic information.
2. Keep related notes on the same topic close together, using separate boxes for different subjects, and mark connections between different pieces of information.
3. Regularly review your notes to gain inspiration through serendipity.
4. Once you have gathered enough notes on a specific topic, start writing about it.

This revelation about Professor Luhmann's Zettelkasten method was a game-changer for me. It revolutionized my perception of the writing process. Writing doesn't start from a blank page. Previously, I would read papers and leave my own critical summaries in the margins of PDFs. The problem was that these notes would often get lost or become irrelevant when I switched to other tasks or experiments. Instead of scattering my notes around different papers, I realized it was more effective to collect and organize them around a specific topic. This way, I could clearly see my thoughts and the supporting evidence.

Interestingly, Professor Luhmann's writing process using Zettelkasten mirrored that of many prolific authors, including the famous Korean scholar Dosan Jeong Yak-yong. Many successful writers have the habit of taking notes while reading books or when inspiration strikes. They organize these notes in their own unique ways and connect their thoughts to write coherently. They all have their own versions of Zettelkasten, which is why they would often advise others to "make note-taking a habit" or "write frequently." However, as readers, we often struggle to understand and apply their fragmented advice without seeing the entire writing system they have developed.

Perhaps they didn't explicitly talk about their Zettelkasten because it was not fully systematized, or maybe they assumed that everyone naturally had their own version. Nevertheless, the important takeaway is that everyone goes through a similar process when it comes to writing or writing a book. The ease or difficulty of writing ultimately depends on how systematically one prepares their writing materials, which consist of their accumulated thoughts and supporting evidence. The image below illustrates how, as readers or consumers of information, we can collect and connect the dots to effectively write.

(1) "AI Helps University Students with Studies and Daily Life... Blind Trust is Prohibited" | Science News 23.10.18 - YouTube

There is still concern about blindly trusting information provided by generative AI. While it may seem plausible at first glance, upon closer examination, it can produce incorrect results due to hallucination phenomena. This was demonstrated when a student attempted to use AI to write a report on the Donghak Peasant Movement. The student requested information on the background, development, and results of the movement from GPT-3. However, GPT-3 provided incorrect information about the year it occurred and the central figure involved. Similarly, in the previous year's math section of the college entrance exam, GPT-3 provided nonsensical answers. These instances of generative AI errors have sparked discussions.

However, not many students doubt the results provided by generative AI. In fact, only 36.5% of students reported that they doubted the results, and only 18.3% of students verified the information. Experts advise that if students choose to utilize generative AI, they must always verify the results. The truth is that among the answers generated by AI, some may contain valuable information, while others may be biased or unreliable. The ability to objectively verify information is crucial in this era of widespread generative AI.

In conclusion, effective writing is not as daunting as it seems. By adopting the Zettelkasten method and systematically organizing our thoughts and supporting evidence, we can enhance our writing process. Additionally, it is important to approach generative AI with caution and verify the information it provides. Here are three actionable pieces of advice to improve your writing:

1. Cultivate the habit of taking notes and summarizing information in your own words. This will help you retain knowledge and generate personal insights.
2. Organize your notes around specific topics or themes, making it easier to connect related information and create a coherent narrative in your writing.
3. Regularly review your notes to find inspiration and make unexpected connections between different ideas.

By implementing these strategies, you can unlock the power of effective writing and approach the task with confidence and clarity. Remember, writing is not just about starting from a blank page; it's about connecting the dots of your thoughts and ideas.