"They claim that the broom doesn't matter, yet in the morning, they search for it." – Igbo proverb
George Santayana pointed out in his 1905 work, "Nonsense appears so valuable solely because common sense has such boundaries." The Life of Reason: Reason in Common Sense He aimed to explain how many of us focus our understanding primarily on our emotions rather than logic. We confuse our emotional responses to situations and our perceptions of objects with the situations and objects themselves.
While it’s true that we connect deeply with our emotions, simply feeling content and stable doesn’t necessarily reflect what’s actually happening. Unfortunately, since we’re often quite pleased with how we interpret our experiences, we tend to believe these interpretations hold up even when we conform to certain expectations.
It's intriguing how this error in basic understanding eludes numerous people. This occurs primarily due to being deeply entrenched in our feelings; often, we fail to recognize that these emotions can diminish our ability to fully appreciate life's moments.
We still lack complete knowledge of life, and perhaps we always will. As Carl Sagan aptly stated, "The cosmos is broader than our capacity to comprehend it." Despite this, we should continually aim to grasp things as they truly are, rather than through personal feelings. Extensive literature exists on proper conduct, but only a fraction delves into our understanding processes.
Despite the widespread acceptance of Ralph Emerson’s advice that "it's crucial to monitor our thoughts because they transform into words, these words then shape our actions, and those actions develop into habits, solidifying into our character and eventually determining our fate."
We aim to act correctly, yet we often fail to motivate ourselves to think rightly initially. In this lifetime, we ponder numerous matters. However, how firmly rooted are we in rationality to render our thought processes significant enough so that the ideas we express based on our comprehension convey the proper message to others? Our minds can be likened to galaxies.
This constitutes a vast array of numerous ideas, all interconnected through a shared comprehension that leans toward specific principles. These concepts permeate every aspect within us, driven by an insatiable curiosity to comprehend the world surrounding us. The manner in which we interpret this information manifests itself in our speech. Finding coherence represents the fundamental animating force of existence, being at the core of who we are. As Aristotle famously stated, humans are "rational beings."
Living means striving to comprehend and grasp all that surrounds us. However, this doesn’t imply that these pursuits always yield clarity. While we aim for rationality, without cultivating our capacity for reason, we often fail to act rationally much of the time. This lack of rational behavior accounts for the varying viewpoints individuals hold on various topics.
According to René Descartes, the French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist, this variation does not stem from certain people possessing superior genetic traits for comprehension or ability. Instead, he posits that we differ because some individuals fail to cultivate their logical skills, leading them to "direct their thoughts along different paths and do not concentrate on the same subjects."
If you place yourself impartially and observe politicians with various ideological backgrounds debating how to construct a "free and fair" society, you'll see that they tend to focus on parts of the discussion that align with their own perspectives. It’s as though their understanding works akin to choosing dishes at a buffet line, selecting only what appeals to them personally.
They select those that appeal to their palates. Picture yourself hearing these, and without having honed your analytical skills, you might find yourself agreeing with the one whose speech aligns most closely with how you feel. This explains why so many of us often lose focus on important matters and occurrences.
This realization prompts us to go beyond merely accepting all the information presented to us; otherwise, we risk becoming oblivious to reality time and time again. Accepting any process or phenomenon without scrutinizing whether our interpretation aligns with actuality does a great disservice to our human capacity for discernment. Regrettably, numerous individuals find themselves ensnared in this trap. It is the trap set by astrology.
We have confined our ability to make sense of things. As a result, once we learn about something new, we approach it much like astrologers categorize people. We slot it into predefined categories based on general traits associated with those slots, thus believing we comprehend each specific instance. This mindset stops us from truly grasping and connecting deeply with the world around us.
In order to enhance our ability to understand things well, Descartes advises us to "never accept anything as true unless we have clear evidence." This means avoiding hasty judgments and bias. Secondly, when faced with complexities in comprehension, he suggests breaking them down into smaller components until they are fully resolved. Thirdly, start from simple concepts that are easy to grasp and gradually build up towards more intricate ideas. Lastly, ensure thoroughness by covering all aspects meticulously and summarizing broadly without leaving out essential points.
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Kodwo Brumpon Serves as an executive coach at Polygon Oval, a pioneering Pan-African consulting firm focused on management and social impact, powered by data analysis. The company specializes in grasping the unique potentials and requirements of organizations and enterprises to facilitate synergy-driven strategies for their growth and ensure long-term sustainability.
Queries, feedback, and proposals for discussions or workshops can be directed to him at kodwo@polygonoval.com
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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