|
|
How
do we think? Why do we believe what we believe. Einstein intuitively
knew that thinking is speculative and how personal beliefs and theories
distort what we observe. Once he observed jokingly, “If the facts don’t
confirm your theory, change your facts.”
Einstein
explained that psychologically, our beliefs and axioms rest upon our
experiences. All experiences are neutral, you give it meaning by how you
choose to interpret it. There exists, however, no logical path from
experience to an axiom, but only an intuitive connection based on our
interpretation of the experience, which is always subject to revocation.
These interpretations shape our beliefs and perceptions which determine
our theories about the world. Finally, our theories determine what we
observe in the world and, paradoxically, we only observe what confirms
our theories.Bottom of Form
At
one time, ancient astronomers believed that the heavens were eternal
and made of ether. This theory made it impossible for them to observe
meteors as burning stones from outer space. Although the ancients
witnessed meteor showers and found some on the ground, they couldn’t
recognize them as meteors from outer space. They sought out and observed
only those things that confirmed their theory about the heavens.
We
are like the ancient astronomers and actively seek out only that
information that confirms our beliefs and theories about ourselves and
the world. Religious people
see evidence of God’s handiwork everywhere; whereas, atheists see
evidence of the absence of God everywhere. Conservatives see the evils
of liberalism everywhere and liberals see the evils of conservatism
everywhere. In fact, you do not need to watch and listen to either Fox or MSNBC because you already know what their position will be on any given political issue.
Many
of us are taught that belief is the result of reasoned thought which
informed you and then you chose to believe or not believe. But actually,
your beliefs are shaped by your subjective interpretations of your
experiences. When you are thinking something, you have the feeling that
the thoughts do nothing except inform you, and then you choose to do
something and do it. But actually, the way you think and what you think
is determined by your theories about yourself and life. Thought controls
you more than you realize.
The
following story illustrates how a person’s theory determines what is
observed and how what is observed is interpreted according to the
person’s theory.
Religious
beliefs polarize many humans. Some will say there is no scientific
evidence that God exists, therefore there is no God. Others say the
absence of evidence is not evidence of absence; therefore we must have
faith that God exists to give meaning to our existence.
The
university professor challenged his students with this question. Did
God create everything that exists? A student bravely replied, "Yes, he
did!"
"God created everything? The professor asked. "Yes sir", the student replied.
The
professor answered, "If God created everything, then God created evil
since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define
who we are then God is evil". The student became quiet before such an
answer.
Another student raised his hand and said, "Can I ask you a question professor?"
“Of course", replied the professor.
The student stood up and asked, "Professor does cold exist?"
"What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?"
The
young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the
laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of
heat. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or
transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or
transmit energy. Absolute zero (-460 degrees F) is the total absence of
heat; all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that
temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe
how we feel if we have no heat."
The
student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?" The professor
responded, "Of course it does." The student replied, "Once again you are
wrong sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the
absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact we can
use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the
various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple
ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How
can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of
light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to
describe what happens when there is no light present."
Finally
the young man asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?" Now
uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course as I have already said.
We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to
man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the
world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil." To this the
student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist
unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like
darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence
of God. God did not create evil. Evil is not like faith, or love that
exist just as does light and heat. Evil is the result of what happens
when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the
cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when
there is no light."
The young student's name purportedly was— Albert Einstein. Einstein, himself, neither confirmed nor denied he was the student.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Michael Michalko is the author of Creative Thinkering: Putting Your Imagination to Work, Thinkertoys: Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques, Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius, and ThinkPak: A Brainstorming Card Deck.
No comments:
Post a Comment