| Want to be a deep thinker? Try developing the | | | | schedule. |
| habits outlined here. | | | | Being A Deep Thinker - The Use Of Language |
| To be a deep thinker you simply have to get in | | | | Question even the language which you and others |
| the habit of asking deep questions about | | | | use, instead of taking it for granted. For example, |
| everything around you. What is a deep question? | | | | what does "national defense" really mean? Does it |
| Let's look at a couple examples. | | | | mean protecting the borders, the government, |
| Suppose someone lies to you, and you simply | | | | the flag, honor, the people, or the rights of the |
| explain it by saying, "He's a jerk!" That may be | | | | people in the nation? These are very different |
| true, but it is shallow thinking. Instead you might | | | | ideas, and perhaps not always compatible, yet we |
| ask why he lied to you. A deeper question than | | | | often take for granted that we all mean the |
| that would be why people lie in general, or why it | | | | same thing when we use the words, "national |
| is wrong to lie. Related questions might include | | | | defense." |
| whether it is ever okay to lie, and if so, when. | | | | The metaphorical nature of language is essential |
| To become a deep thinker then, you have to get | | | | to growing our range of expression. We refer to |
| in the habit of looking beyond the immediate | | | | the "memory" of a computer, and by using this |
| questions raised. Fortunately it isn't a heavy | | | | metaphor it becomes easier to understand and |
| philosophical exercise to determine which | | | | communicate. On the other hand, this use of |
| questions are "deeper" than others. You will usually | | | | metaphor can also limit our thinking. The sun |
| recognize them when you see them. For | | | | "going down" is a small example. We know |
| example, which is a deeper perspective, pointing | | | | intellectually that it is the planet turning which |
| out all the excuses a person makes for his or her | | | | causes this apparent effect, but our language |
| behavior, or asking and exploring why people feel | | | | creates the impression that the sun goes away |
| the need to make excuses? | | | | each night. |
| Here's a good rule to remember: The more | | | | Now, if we stop and really consider that the sun |
| profound questions are those which have wider | | | | never sets, all sorts of new ideas come to mind. |
| application. For example, knowledge about a | | | | Solar panels in space would always be in the sun, |
| particular man's personality, though perhaps useful, | | | | and they could beam electricity down to us by |
| is limited and shallow compared to knowing the | | | | way of microwave transmission. Someday, a |
| principles of psychology that apply to all people. | | | | "nightless farm" could fly around the Earth at a |
| Questions about a particular business are not | | | | thousand miles-per-hour, growing vegetables in 24 |
| nearly as deep as those about the principles of | | | | hours-per-day sunlight. These ideas may not be |
| success which could be applied to all businesses. | | | | new, but they only occurred after mentally |
| Another rule: If one question or idea is an | | | | questioning the idea that the sun goes down. |
| example of another, the latter is the deeper one. | | | | Finally, a deep thinker recognizes the |
| Water freezes at 0 degrees and becomes steam | | | | representative nature of language in general. |
| at 100 degrees. This is an example of the more | | | | Words are only meant to point at things in reality. |
| fundamental principle that substances have three | | | | They are not things by themselves. While this |
| forms (solid, liquid, gas) depending upon | | | | may seem obvious, it is forgotten in common |
| temperature. | | | | discourse. A man says that corporations are evil, |
| You can always start with "Why?" Like a child, | | | | for example, and another jumps to "prove" this |
| ask it again and again, and question each answer. | | | | idea wrong, rather than trying to see what the |
| "Why do we force people to pay taxes?" | | | | first man is pointing at with his words. |
| Because they wouldn't pay otherwise. "Why | | | | You may recall the ancient puzzle called "Zeno's |
| wouldn't they?" They consider other things more | | | | Paradox," which "proved" that motion is impossible. |
| important. "What are taxes for?" To serve the | | | | Because of the perfect logic with which it was |
| public good. "Who defines the public good?" The | | | | demonstrated, some chose to believe that what |
| voters, by way of their representatives. "If the | | | | we see as motion is an illusion. Much later, |
| public votes for evil things are they still a public | | | | philosophers, mathematicians and physicists found |
| good?" | | | | acceptable challenges to the paradox, but the real |
| If you can remember to ask such questions often | | | | lesson here is that logic isn't infallible because |
| enough throughout your day, and continue doing it | | | | language is imperfect, and if we are to more fully |
| for a few weeks, it will become a habit. Making | | | | understand the world, we have to allow for that. |
| these "probing" thought patterns habitual is how | | | | A deep thinker, then, uses words as the valuable |
| you become a deep thinker. Carry a note to | | | | but limited tools they are, while trying not to let |
| remind yourself at first, or put reminders on your | | | | words use him. |