I ran across a very interesting item on the Internet recently, and I want to share it. Edge dot org calls itself The World Question Center, and presents many prominent voices from “the world’s finest minds,” each offering answers to such questions as: What are you optimistic about? What is the most important invention of the last two thousand years…and why? What do you believe is true even though you cannot prove it? One of the most interesting items is the Edge Annual Question for 2008, “What have you changed your mind about….and why? Edge offers the following statement on the origins of change: “When thinking changes your mind, that’s philosophy. When God changes your mind, that’s faith. When facts change your mind, that’s science.” 165 contributors have posted personal answers to this question on Edge, and their comments are fascinating.
I like the idea that there are no static answers, and that change is not only possible in physical reality but also in opinion — that a fixed idea can give way either to new evidence, re-thinking, or even to some sort of intuition. Like many, I struggle on a daily basis to re-evaluate my thinking, and the thing I’ve changed my mind about is, well, about changing my mind. Whereas I once thought “ok, that’s it,” I’ve become more maleable as of late, and have in fact changed my mind about some of my formerly held opinions. Privately, I must tell you, it’s about time and I feel grateful to be freed from the notion that I wouldn’t, couldn’t change my mind once it was made up. What a relief.
Someone told me once, “Situations change first, attitudes second.” Could it be the other way around as well? I see more and more evidence that it is so. Check out a few of the Edge contributors who have uprooted themselves from a formerly held notion, and then offer your comments here on E&S on how you might have experienced a similar change of heart, mind, or attitude.
Knowledge is always running forward. Each thing learned is a springboard for infinite numbers of new things built upon it. We will never know everything, but we can strive for continuous improvement. We must, in my opinion, keep open minds and learn. Not accepting all, for a pile of misinformation is runing around with the real information. Discriminaltion is the real challenge.
Keep learning!
I have come to believe that with all our knowledge and technology, we are no closer to health and wellness than we were 20 years ago. As a matter of fact, for some reason society is becoming sicker and sicker. I think it is time to step back and re-evaluate “modern modalities” and re-examine “the old ways” and start using common sense.
Our “modern” diet is obviously violating nature and our weight and health suffer. Back to the basics, good organically grown, pesticide / herbacide / preservative free foods. We don’t need artificial flavors or colors or flavor enhancers… Catch my drift here?
I used to be pro-life about the very young (abortion) and the very old (euthanasia), but less so about young adults (war). I’m an old guy now who has recently changed his mind about this and other things. I’ve posted some thoughts on my blog “Codger’s Cogitations.”