It is often said that you are responsible for your life. Whatever comes of this piece of existence is my accomplishment or my failure. Noted author and speaker, Dr. Wayne Dyer (1940-2015) tells us, “Everything you do is based on the choices you make. It’s not your parents, your past relationships, your job, the economy, the weather, an argument or your age that is to blame. You and only you are responsible for every decision and choice you make: Period!” This is somewhat true, but it is certainly not the whole picture. I think that we must question the totality of this statement. All of us, especially when we are young, are in desperate need of a mentor — someone who can give us a “role model” to pattern our life on. I must understand how to be me; or at the very least, I must learn how to decipher my gifts. These skills are not innate though, I must be taught.
Conversely, anyone who has ever been thrust into the role of “tutor” knows that this is a very difficult assignment — any exposure to adolescents and you can comprehend the difficulty of this task, The Internet has placed additional burdens on your moral authority, as well, because young people can and do check everything. All details are scrutinized and analyzed. The days of the poseur are over. You have to know what you are talking about – and most don’t. Given the state of world affairs, there is obviously a dearth of “educated” people. We are not being taught to think critically. Why not?
The simple answer is that the human mind is tricked into believing that it knows everything because of the cell phone and the electronic media machine. Anything one wants to investigate is there at “your fingertips.” All the answers are given. Then, throw in the mental fatigue that is concomitant with our, non-stop, modern society and add the gaming industry to while away your time. You have an obvious recipe for mental inaction — a pure “witches brew” (1) of intellectual inertia – no imagination whatsoever.
The only solution I feel is that neither you nor your pupils, nor our society for that matter, must ever adopt the idea that, “I am now complete. I can stop learning.” This is true whether you are two or two hundred. The corollary is that you must continue to challenge your mind “how to think” – not necessarily what to think. “Think more and react less,” as my friend J.A. Earl likes to say. A superb historical tool is Socratic questioning. (2) Simply put: the sage would question the question – using the wonderful tool of “why.” “Why are you saying that, why are you thinking that, etc? Our DBA organization (DBAWageslave.com) is based on one idea and one idea alone. We promote critical thinking: “The value of why.” If we learn to question everything from the time we are young until we are wizened and old, the world will change. As Sadhguru (3) tells us, “I only know what I know.”
If this is true, then we will always remain curious and the world will slowly become truly loving and enlightened. The great scientist and intellectual icon, Albert Einstein (1879-1955) leaves us with a thought: I want to oppose the idea that school has to directly teach that special knowledge and those accomplishments which one has to use directly later in life. The demands of life are much too manifold to let such a specialized training in school appear possible. … The development of a general ability for independent thinking and judgment should always be placed foremost.
A closing thought: History repeats itself, we are often told. The other day, I was in a large store. I went upstairs to have “a bite to eat” and then found myself in the maze of the Minotaur. (4) Every exit led me to a new passageway. I was trapped in a labyrinth. In the myth, Theseus slays the Minotaur and finds his way out of the cave by retracing his steps back to safety by following a piece of twine. I was bereft of the string, so I had to find my own way. I felt, in a very small way, what it must be like to be eighteen in today’s society. I was confused and in some terror at being lost and directionless. The only “saving grace” was that I did eventually find my way home, as we probably all do. The role of the educator loomed large in my thoughts.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about critical thinking. We also discussed the danger of simplistic answers to complex problems.
A philosophical question: Why must knowledge be endless and wisdom elusive?
Just for fun, and for peace– Bach
This week during your thoughtful walk, please reflect of your critical thinking skills.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Quote: We must learn to be more patient. In this solitude is the answer to life.
Footnotes:
4) Minotaur