Insightandperspective.com is open to all topics, far and wide, and allows a forum in which to discuss and learn or maybe just vent or chat. Whether personal issues such as mental health and everyday conundrums, the scientific and technological, social commentary, psychology and philosophy, history and belief, OR, lighter topics, books or music, amusements and things amusing, and so on, and on. Sometimes just an ear to listen and hear will meet the need. No matter too small or large, few topics are off limits. Overall I am simply interested in learning, discussion, communicating beyond my own ‘inner voice’ Rather boring just talking to myself. I want to be an active participant in life, not a passive recipient. I want to speak to, and with, reason and evidence, clarity and conscientiousness, caring and empathy. With civility!

Before I proceed below, there are just a few thoughts I would like to express.

THINK, KNOW, UNDERSTAND – REPEAT

I think that it’s fine ’not to know’ something, it’s a condition we all suffer from. But, I find it unsettling that so much results from wilful ignorance, empty thought, and intellectual myopia; many often satisfied with simplistic, prejudiced beliefs, rhetoric, and ill-founded opinion. I know we are human and sometimes we find it easier to satisfy ourselves with what we know, an ‘appearance’ of knowledge and understanding rather than searching for more or different. Unfortunately, it is often the palpable, delusional comfort of religious, political, social, emotional ‘certainty’ we settle for. As well, I know that such comfort and, excuse the word, laziness, can arise with the best of intention. Perhaps such persons are heavily influenced by fallacious and unsupported opinions of their peers or ‘in-group’, not fully cognizant of the facts, or not practiced in critical thinking skills, or afflicted with the blight of confirmation bias. Maybe it is far simpler and more comfortable for some to accept the authorities that they have always looked to, the familiar.

Not to excuse such reasons (excuses, by many), I have to be fair. Most people exhibit these traits and issues at least some of the time. Therefore we must always be ready to make effort to examine and reexamine our viewpoints and beliefs, gather new information, critically examine them, and, where necessary and expedient, amend our worldview. Things change. And so we should too! Search, discuss, share with others and experts (I use ‘experts’ rather than ‘authorities’ for a reason). From educated change comes growth. A good example: a few years ago doctors came to understand that the Helicobacter pylori bacteria in the human gut is a frequent cause of ulcers. Educated change results in positive growth.

Importantly, we have to achieve a competence in rationality. Critical examination, questioning assumptions and peers and others, comparing ideas, consulting experts, all are needed. Granted, with few exceptions, the path to knowledge and understanding is hard traveled. Persistence, attention, motivation, and work are required. Dead ends, new paths, new questions, more answers result. Then, repeat. It’s not what can be called a ‘natural’ process, it is a man made process based on how we have and will travel from ignorance to enlightenment. It takes attention and motivation. Many people, the average and the few great, had to work hard using this process, to increase the human knowledge base, to progress.

Not all are great intellectuals or profound thinkers, or renowned scientists. Don’t count me in that group. But most of we humans have the capacity to combine critical thinking with a thirst for knowledge to enhance our training, education, and our sharing of knowledge across our world. Let’s not waste this capacity. It’s for our own good and the good of our friends, family, our world that we best look forward, rather than look backward or uninterested.