Absoluteness and certainties are probably the foremost reason for the demise of innovation and creativity. The more one gets certain about his beliefs, competencies, traditions and opinions, the more he feels complete; hence rejecting all forms of learning and novelties. Mankind has cherished by doubting every belief, every myth and every legend. I doubt therefore I am.
The key reason for humans to develop and achieve better living has been Doubting. The more they doubt, the more they were able to find new ways and possibilities. The doubt gives birth to new ideas, finding new continents and new planets nowadays. It’s a simple doubt that there is a possibility of a life form on other planets which is providing the reason to explore the other planets. The orthodoxy and conformity have always plunged humans to depths of ignorance and darkness. The certainties have tried to inhibit and restrain the innovation of thought and plunged mankind into various wars. It’s a shame that ideas once established are taken as universal and who so ever tries to challenge, them is put to the sword or it takes years for evolution.
Read more: Rationalizing sins in our society!
Doubt enlightens and gives birth to new knowledge and wisdom
Even people who are continuously doubting their competencies and achievements shed of their arrogance and become part of the innovative growth and progress. People who live in the shadow of past reality and are not willing to question and have no doubt in their performance of duties create miseries and become obstacles in the way of development. While self-belief is important, it is also important to reflect on the actions and have some doubts about the past activities to emancipate new ideas and notions. During the last century, there were more people who believed in doubting their beliefs and conventional thoughts, hence women’s liberation, movements of equality and racism.
Doubt is in direct conflict with stagnancy and conformity. It is in direct conflict with the doctrine of what has been taught, it is in direct conflict with orthodoxy. It is in direct conflict with frivolous information rather it helps to seek knowledge and wisdom through research. It provokes curiosity, it provokes investigation all the principals and belief systems. During the last century, there have been inventions not only in the technological and scientific fields but also in the economic and pecuniary areas. The reason why all the creativity took place is that the human mind refused to believe in the traditional thought process and doubted the way in which society was formed. All the basic questions were asked and they casted a shadow of doubt on kingdoms, classes, gender, racism and belief systems.
While doubt is the biggest weapon of growth for the common man, it remains a threat for the elite. The ruling elite thrives on the status quo. The elite only patronizes the doubt when they feel it can bring them new power of new ways of making money or probably it can enhance their lifestyle. The Elite tries to control the masses not to question by bringing into play the historic context and sacrifices of forefathers. Religion become one of the greatest tools to opiate the masses to question. These days media play an important tool to curb the ability of questioning and no wonder all the media houses are either controlled or made to run by the ruling elite.
Read more: A Road to Civilized Society
Do we now teach our children to question?
Do we encourage our children to doubt the traditions and the way we lead our lives? Do we help build the curiosity to gain knowledge? Do we ask them to read and find for themselves the truth? Or we just want them to live in our shadows so that they should justify our deeds. Although, remaining immortalized in their memory as perfect people become the biggest goal, lest we forget taking away the ability to question takes away the fruition of man.
Humans will probably evolve better, only if ability to question is inculcated. Questions will help seek the knowledge and build the streak of investigating the norms of everything. Doubt will ensure that children will enquire about everything from technology to science, from capitalism to socialism. Society can only be reformed once the capacity to challenge the status quo is formed.
I doubt therefore I am!
Moied Javeed is a senior telecom executive in Pakistan and can be reached at mj@tptglobal.net. The views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Global Village Space.