Favorite prompt series - Unlocking the Mysteries: Exploring the Chain of Why's

 

Introduction 

Have you ever wondered why things happen the way they do? The human mind has an inherent curiosity to understand the underlying reasons behind events and phenomena. In this blog post, we embark on looking at an example of a Prompt pattern, which can allow you to dig deeper into any phenomenon, and discover the root causes that underlie a particular observation.

“Image generated with the assistance of Bing Copilot AI”

Prompt

I am going to provide a simple prompt which allows you to describe a phenomena, and then have the language model ask Why recursively, and then peel out the layers that get to the root cause of that phenomena.

The prompt is as follows:

"

I will give you a statement - [STATEMENT]. For the statement, type the question why does it happen, then answer that Why yourself. Then review your own response, and then ask why for the response to yourself, and answer that question. Repeat this process [N] times. Ask me for the starting statement - [STATEMENT], as well as for the Number [N]. Note that the user will only enter the initial statement, and you have to answer the remaining Why's yourself without any inputs from the user.

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In other words, the model will now ask us for two inputs:

[STATEMENT] = The observation or phenomena we want to get a deeper understanding of.

[N] = The number of times the model needs to ask why the phenomena happens.

Prompt Usage

Let's go to the ChatGPT interface ( free version is fine ) and type the above prompt. 

Once above is typed, the model responds as follows

We can then input for example the following text, where [STATEMENT] is represented by "North pole magnets repel each other", and 10 represents the number of introspection rounds for the LLM.

We will then obtain the following answer from ChatGPT.

"

Starting Statement: North pole magnets repel each other

1. Why does this happen? This happens because like magnetic poles repel each other due to the alignment of their magnetic fields.

2. Why do like magnetic poles repel each other? Like magnetic poles repel each other because of the fundamental property of magnetism known as the Lorentz force, which causes similar magnetic poles to repel each other.

3. Why does the Lorentz force cause similar magnetic poles to repel each other? The Lorentz force causes similar magnetic poles to repel each other because when two magnetic fields with the same polarity interact, the force between them is such that they push away from each other, aligning themselves to reduce the overall magnetic potential energy.

4. Why do magnetic fields align to reduce overall magnetic potential energy? Magnetic fields align to reduce overall magnetic potential energy because this configuration corresponds to a more stable state according to the laws of electromagnetism and thermodynamics.

5. Why does a more stable state correspond to aligned magnetic fields? A more stable state corresponds to aligned magnetic fields because this configuration minimizes the energy stored in the magnetic field, resulting in a lower overall energy state, which is favored according to the principles of physics.

6. Why is a lower overall energy state favored according to the principles of physics? A lower overall energy state is favored according to the principles of physics because systems naturally tend toward states of minimum energy to achieve greater stability and equilibrium, in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics.

7. Why do systems tend toward states of minimum energy? Systems tend toward states of minimum energy because this state represents a condition of greater stability and equilibrium, which is a fundamental principle governing the behavior of physical systems.

8. Why is stability and equilibrium desirable for physical systems? Stability and equilibrium are desirable for physical systems because they allow the system to maintain its structure and function over time, resisting external disturbances and ensuring its integrity and functionality.

9. Why do physical systems strive to maintain their integrity and functionality? Physical systems strive to maintain their integrity and functionality because it enables them to effectively interact with their environment, fulfill their purpose or function, and contribute to the overall order and organization of the universe.

10. Why is it important for physical systems to contribute to the overall order and organization of the universe? It is important for physical systems to contribute to the overall order and organization of the universe because the universe operates according to fundamental laws and principles that govern the behavior of all matter and energy within it, and the interactions of physical systems play a crucial role in maintaining this cosmic balance and harmony.

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Note that the prompt is flexible in that you can easily control the phenomena you want to get to the bottom to, and how deep you want to dig, in order to get to where you want to get to.

Conclusion and Summary: In conclusion, the above prompt allows us to facilitate a deeper understanding for a specific topic of interest.