One thing I still don’t quite understand with respect to atomic notes / zettlekasten systems is what the recommended practice is when it comes to incorporating new information about a particular topic when a note already exists. Do you update the contents of the existing note or do you create a new note linking to the existing note with the new facet of information?
Here i am thinking of permanent / main / atomic notes, not literature notes, and the changes to the notes as more substantial than editing for clarity or even adding additional links.
I can see benefits to both approach, but I am curious: what is the fundamental principles of the various systems, and what do people actually do?
1 Like
The way I’ve worked it out, after trying different approaches, is to make a new note and link. On https://forum.zettelkasten.de someone made the argument and I tried it. It works for me. Imagine you get an idea (e.g., “Listen to, and act upon, your fear intuition. Use logic later.”). You then turn it into a developed note. You’re done with it. Later, you learn something else that supports the original claim. Make a new note with the support and link. Perhaps you learn something to contradict the original claim. Make a new note with the refutation and link.
The original note represents your thinking and knowledge at one point, and new notes at another. You can see your progression of learning. Moreover, if you see a similar argument later, you can track your own thinking and growth over time in the discussion (i.e., “I used to think that too for these reasons, and then I learned…”). Even if you go back and forth, you keep the trail of learning. Eventually, your faulty reasoning becomes a little more detectable, and you can fix it. However, if you just update the old note, you delete your thinking and growth (or lack thereof), and never find your thinking weak points.
At least that’s how it has worked out for me so far. Maybe I’ll change my mind later. If I do, I’ll have a record of why I thought this way, why I now disagree, and what I’m doing differently. I think my vault has more back and forth on how to use my vault than anything else!