Final answer:
The statement refers to a proactive approach to problem-solving that involves anticipating challenges, making individual sacrifices for collective benefit, and addressing problems before they exacerbate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'We will try to see problems before they arrive and avert them' is essentially about the proactive approach to problem-solving, which aligns with various strategies mentioned. Anticipating situations that have never arisen alludes to the capacity to process abstract information. This enables one to formulate strategies to avoid problems and foresee possible challenges. Making individual sacrifices for the greater good involves recognizing the importance of preemptive action for long-term benefits, and might not always be mandated but is crucial for the collective wellbeing. The notion that acting only when a crisis becomes evident could leave us unable to mount a timely response highlights the risks of reactive approaches. Instead, as pointed out, experts also rely on their sense of the answer to help identify mistakes and verify their analyses.
In strategic terms, much like in military theory, preventing an adversary from fighting by understanding and disrupting their plans is akin to addressing and mitigating problems before they become unmanageable. Similarly, geo-engineering's critique is a metaphor for addressing root causes rather than superficially handling the symptoms of problems, which is essential for effective problem-solving.
Lastly, crises often occur due to a collective failure to recognize vulnerabilities or potential issues. Changing our mindsets to acknowledge that we are part of both the problem and the solution is critical. This involves readiness to seize an advantage in difficult times to find a way out of misfortune. In historical contexts such as those involving Madison and Jefferson, it is about evaluating the effectiveness of their problem-solving approaches concerning foreign policy. Finally, the notion of curing the mischiefs of faction by either removing the causes or controlling the effects reflects the overarching theme of problem-prevention and management strategies.