Metagoals

Metagoals are goals that describe or define other goals. They operate at a higher level of abstraction, focusing on the process of goal setting, achievement, or the nature of goals themselves, rather than on specific outcomes. For instance, a metagoal might be to "become more efficient at setting and achieving personal goals," or to "develop a lifelong habit of learning." This contrasts with a specific, or object-level, goal such as "learn to play the guitar" or "save $10,000 by the end of the year."

The concept of metagoals is often explored in fields like psychology, education, and artificial intelligence. In psychology, metagoals can relate to self-regulation and metacognition, where individuals reflect on and manage their own cognitive processes, including goal pursuit. Developing metagoals can lead to greater self-awareness and more effective strategies for tackling a wider range of objectives. For educators, understanding metagoals helps in designing curricula that foster not just knowledge acquisition, but also the development of learning skills and a positive attitude towards continuous learning. In artificial intelligence, metagoals can guide the design of agents that can adapt their strategies and learn new tasks more effectively.

Essentially, metagoals provide a framework for understanding and improving how we engage with goals in general. They are about the "how" of achieving, rather than the "what." By setting metagoals, individuals or systems aim to enhance their overall capacity for goal-directed behavior. This can involve developing skills in planning, problem-solving, motivation, and evaluation, all of which contribute to more successful and adaptable goal achievement across various domains.