In other aspects of our daily life, we operate quite differently: when we get a flat tire, we break out the spare, or we call for a tow, or we turn on our hazard lights and limp to a service station—but we never retrace the road for miles, agonizing over what caused the flat. If we’re cooking and a sauce is bland, we don’t start examining the tablespoon for accuracy—we add a little sugar, a little salt, and taste again. Better? A little more? Because in those instances, we aren’t concerned about who gets the blame, or whose theory was right, or any hypothetical future instances. In those instances, we’re concentrating on the goals: we want to get back on the road, or to have a great meal.