Learning well
“Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Only believe what you yourself test and judge to be true.” – Buddha
Siddartha Guatama memorialized this wisdom sometime during the 6th or 5th century BCE. While profound, applying that mantra in an information-saturated world is challenging. To learn well requires trust in others to “test and judge to be true.” Rather than simply judging, we’re tasked with synthesizing vast amounts of information to distinguish truth from lies and fantasy from reality.
Driven to Distraction.
Mindless distractions are anything but when ideas and beliefs take hold. Entire books have been written on how ideas manifest and take root when we least expect them. Attempting to ignore or filter the unnecessary noise is a skill that is overburdened in tech-heavy modern society. We carry computers in the palm of our hand, affording us instant connections that lead to constant distraction. Oftentimes, these are welcome, and we voluntarily engage with the mediums that provide them.
Greek philosopher Plato may have been the first to address the concept of information and the source in his Allegory of the Cave. Prisoners are chained to the floor inside a dark cave and can only view shadowy images crossing in front of their view. These shadows are from objects held by the people behind them, the image makers. A fire casts shadows, yet the prisoners have no concept of the objects, the people holding them, or the fire. They believe the mysterious reality that is presented to them. Only when one of them is dragged to the surface do they literally “see the light.”
So how do we,
1. Evaluate the “image makers” for veracity?
2. Actively seek out competing viewpoints?
3. Synthesize that information into a coherent belief?
The Image Makers
Properly vetting the sources requires questioning their motives. Open-mindedness is essential, but not with the sacrifice of common sense. Today's image makers take center stage in various media formats. What once was objectivity has given way to anonymous social media influencers addicted to clicks and eyeballs. We appreciated a journalist’s neutrality without being force-fed opinions or facts not necessarily in evidence. We could imagine the story unfolding without being told how to think or what to believe.
Whom we pay attention to and how much weight we give their opinions often vary. I seek out well-formed viewpoints, whether from an individual or a group. There’s satisfaction in working out an opposing opinion, even when my mind isn’t changed. I often gain a perspective and understanding I didn’t have.
Open-mindedness
“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.” - Richard Feynman
When pondering this quote from one of the builders of the atomic bomb, I think we’re all essentially fools, but we don’t have to be. We don’t have to act on our ignorance; the first principle in avoiding those mistakes is maintaining an open mind.
For example, I’ve studied and read the Bible. I’ve also read and enjoyed evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins's outstanding book, “The God Delusion.” Obvious competing beliefs in different areas of thought (philosophy versus science), but with complimentary messages on the search for truth. I’m not favoring one over the other, but there’s value in approaching topics from competing angles without a preset agenda.
Authentic and unapologetic values add texture and deepen the meaning behind alternate points of view. It was a welcome change when I entered professional coaching after spending 26 years in a male-dominated profession. Entering an overwhelmingly female-dominated field provided a new perspective and empathy for how women may have felt in my previously overwhelmingly male-dominated field. That experience shifted my perspective, and I bring that insight when facilitating and coaching.
Synthesizing the Data
“For me, getting an accurate picture of reality ultimately comes down to two things: being able to synthesize accurately and knowing how to navigate levels.” - Ray Dalio
As the iconic hedge fund investor Ray Dalio wrote, synthesizing data accurately or well is critical in determining what is and is not true. While some are more particular about the data they absorb, most are not. Instead, we take in what we routinely expose ourselves to.
The idea of integrating information isn't new. Finding connections strengthens the ideas or beliefs when comparing or contrasting different sources, while divergence may signal different interpretations or findings. Understanding how to integrate these competing sources can provide deeper meaning and understanding. It also defines the opinions we form based on the information, i.e., data we take in, questioning what it is and who is providing it. Layering this synthesized information with personal experience builds a foundation for further understanding and discovery. The challenge is subjugating the ego for open-mindedness, especially when new information challenges long-held beliefs. But that’s the core of learning well; the possibility and desire for change.