There is a phrase that many people spend their entire lives without saying, hearing, or both. And it’s a pity, because it’s something that says a lot of good about whoever says it.
It says that he or she (”he” from now on, because I’m lazy, but the gender doesn’t really matter here) is honest, most importantly with himself. That he is not “old and tired”, but still has a young, inquisiting mind, like that of a child. That he is capable of learning - and willing. That he doesn’t confuse beliefs with principles, to be defended even if reality shows them to be wrong.
It shows that he isn’t arrogant, that he doesn’t believe he knows “enough” and doesn’t need to learn anything more. It shows courage - the courage to review one’s opinions, beliefs, way of thinking, even though not doing it would be a lot easier. It shows a healthy respect for reality, instead of replacing it with beliefs - as if believing something would make it true.
Most of all, it shows that his eyes are open.
The phrase? “I’ve been wrong all these years…”
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Can’t say I agree with you on this one.
It doesn’t have to be “I’ve been wrong all these years…”.
For example, take Newton’s theory on motion. It was absolutely right until Einstein proved that it wasn’t when dealing with extremely (quasi-speed of light) fast velocities.
Could he have found it out with the means he had available? I don’t think he could have (he lived in the 19th century, I believe).
New information can suddenly contradict something that’s been standing for all your life!
Imagine how you would feel if someone suddenly discovered and showed undeniable evidence that there Mars is inhabited by a small race of dilligent insect-like beings who call themselves the Ckialsornpreio (for example) and are responsible for every major technological breakthrough on Earth, from the Wheel to brain-surgery and are now demanding we build a large Q shaped tower and paint it pink, with bright red and teal spots or they will make everyone feel like their bodies are having a nice conversation with the sun’s core! Now imagine that hapenning when you’re 75+.
It should be, in my opinion, something like “There’s no way I could’ve known I was wrong, but I won’t let that stop me from learning about the new truth! Even if it turns out to be wrong in the future!”.
We say “i” is the square root of -1, who are we to say there is no number that can fill the blank in “i=___”?
PS: Nowadays, even Einstein’s theory is beggining to be thought not to be fully correct!
Amazing, I said that a few days ago literally and then I stumble upon this blog. But as strange and “epiphany-like” as the realization was, I wasn’t sad or angry at all, simply ready to work forward with newly gained knowledge I didn’t have before. To use basic logic as you seem to in several of your articles, I will not do B anymore. Thank You for being intelligent.