What do you think of this?

My method of doing the same calculation was:

• see name
• remember "mid-1700s"
• therefore he must have been born in the early 1700s.
• 20 year margin means I don't have to be precise.
• answer: 1700 or 1705 (can't remember which I put)
• get question right

The more difficult part was the probability estimate. But using the heuristics taught to me by this book, this took only a few calculations. And the more I do these types of calculations, the faster and more calibrated I become. Eventually I hope to make them automatic at the 8 + 4 = 12 level.

If I were doing the calculation "for real" and not on a survey my algorithm would be much easier:

• see name
• copy/paste name into Google
• look at Wikipedia
• look at other sources to confirm (if important)

Maybe I misinterpreted here but it sounds like you're saying you don't believe in mental stamina limits?

I know they exist on some level thanks to my experience with dual n-back, but I've yet to encounter any practical situation that imposes them (aside from "getting tired, which is different), and if I did I'm sure I could train my way out, just as I trained my way out of certain physical stamina limits. For example, it was once hard for me to maintain my endurance throughout a full fencing bout, but following some training I can do several in a row without becoming seriously fatigued. I'm sure better fencers than me can do even more.

LessWrong and CFAR, in my view, should provide the mental equivalent of that training if it is indeed necessary for the practice of rationality. I'm not, however, convinced that it is.

However, how much brainpower does it take to execute the outside view method, on average, for the types of things you use it for? How many times can you execute the outside view in a day? Have you ever tried to reach your mental stamina limit?

Immeasurably small (no perceived effort and takes less time than the alternative)/indeterminate/not in this respect. Most of the effort was involved in correctly identifying situations in which the method was useful, not in actually executing the method, but once the method became sufficiently ingrained that too went away.

Do you ever get home from work and feel relieved that you can relax now, and then do something that's not mentally taxing?

No. My work is generally fun.

Do you ever find that you're starting to hate an activity, and notice you're making more and more mistakes?

Not really. Sometimes I get bored, does that count?

Do you ever feel lazy and can't be bothered to do anything useful?

Negative.