Irregular verbs and plurals are the most difficult part to memorize when
you study foreign languages. For children learning their mother tongue,
atypical cases are also the most complicated. Asymmetrical
constructions are slowly assimilated by the human mind, which, at any
stage of development, automatically tries to find patterns in reality.
Many
causal connexions are far from self-evident
We
have created numbers, which are a sequential representation of
quantities. We love to understand complex phenomena and find solutions
to problems. Our brains seek to identify consequences through
observation and logic. Weather prediction comes from generalizing past
experience. Looking for order in chaos is natural to humans. It is our
way to grasp the world and make sense of it.
Nevertheless, as
soon as we begin to gather knowledge in any field, we realize that many
causal connexions are far from self-evident. The earth looks flat and it
is no wonder that it took hundreds of years to develop and spread the
understanding of planetary orbits. Science rests on the recognition that
causal connexions need to be, not only theorized, but proven.
Philosophy has been slow in
adopting a scientific approach
From
all disciplines, philosophy and economics have been the slowest to
adopt a scientific approach. Even nowadays, professionals in those
fields disagree on basic questions of methodology. Discussing what is
true makes little sense if we cannot even concur on the criteria to
assess the validity of a proposition.
As a result, defining
success and happiness has turned into a haphazard endeavour for most of
History. Determinism, which attributes those to chance, remains a
wide-spread philosophical error in many segments of the population. A
superficial examination of the human condition can lead to see life as a
series of misfortunes intertwined with lucky encounters. This
perception is as false as the belief that the earth is flat.
Scientists
know that observing reality with our eyes and drawing immediate
conclusions frequently leads to mistakes. A more accurate view of the
world is the result of understanding that a large number of effects can
only be perceived long-term. The impact of events is not necessarily
local. Actions without consequences to those who performed them can have
a devastating outcome for third parties.
Small steps taken regularly can go a
long way
Reality is more complex
than the eye can perceive and rational explanations more uncomfortable
than make-belief. This is why confusion reigns about the roots of
happiness and success. Determinism exaggerates the role played by
misfortunes and luck in human life. Believing that your destiny is
controlled by random events only leads to paralysis and nihilism.
Ambition
and purpose, relentlessly implemented on good and bad days, constitute
the bedrock of individual progress. Small steps taken regularly can go a
long way. Advancing a little every day in your chosen direction is what
makes great achievements possible. Big breaks, at first sight, seem to
have happened overnight, but the truth is that a river takes years to
build a gorge. The results are breathtakingly beautiful.
For more information about rational living and personal development, I refer you to my book The 10 Principles of Rational Living
[Text: http://johnvespasian.blogspot.com]
[Image by McPig under Creative Commons Attribution License. See the license terms under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us]