"It seems in the process of growing up, we lose the ability to wonder about the world"
As we age, we assume that we know more, especially when we are teenagers and think we know everything. Whenever some phenomonal event happens, like spontaneous combustion or another Loch Ness Monster sighting, we always think that there must be a perfectly reasonable explanation for it. When confronted with things like the magic of Harry Potter we all know that it cannot possibly happen whereas when we were little we would wonder if we could actually perform these spells. We naturally assume that the fantastic or amazing can not, will not, and never be able to occur due to our set beliefs. We may wonder how to do something, whether it be how to give a good excuse for not doing your homework, or how to finally clean up your room, but as soon as we grasp at knowledge, we immediately begin rationalizing the world to fit our own knowledge and perspectve. Reality is something that is seen from very unique perspectives and what you think about in your dreams is never questioned, but simply accepted. Throughout our lives the people who are different and think differently are always mocked, but very few wonder enough to actually try to understand their reasoning. We have science which tells people about why exactly something happens, but wasn't it better when you used to look up in the air and wonder 'Why can't I fly?', instead of knowing that you will never be able to? Although many would disagree, wondering is a word that has started to disappear from our vocabulary, and the ironic thing is, none of us have wondered why...
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9 comments:
The feel of dissonance from the lack of knowing is what led to the formation of science. So why would one prefer to remain astonished by phenomena over using scientific theories to understand it with? Isn't explanation what we humans instinctively seek for?
Perhaps children marvel because they are in discomfort of their lack of knowledge. They hope to understand mysteries but are unable to distinguish between matters too controversial to be answered and matters that can be explained with science.
Humans simply cannot fly because they are able to survive without wings; whereas birds' adaptation to having them assists them while evading predators, feeding, mating, and migrating. We have evolved to become more intelligent animals than them and can build planes to fly instead.
It satisfies me that I no longer have to wonder about that.
(In response to Nicole's comment)
Yes, science was created from our instictive need for explanations. And you imply that it is sufficient as it satisfies you that you no longer have to wonder 'about that'. However, if science has provided us with the answers, why is it that we do wonder at all? Because of the fact that we still (despite it being less than a child) do wonder, science must be insufficient.
...Then again, who I am to say so?
(in response to Shivina's comment)
We do continue to wonder everyday. That brings into question how wondering has started to "disappear from our vocabulary" as stated by Tomas. Have we really stopped 'wondering' or is 'wonder' regarded as something else?
But my point is, I believe we prefer understanding over speculation, if given the choice. Speculation of mysteries only lead to unanswered questions which produce mental dissonance. And science is a form of relief for that, but only to matters that pertain to it. Therefore I agree with you that science is insufficient in providing us with all the answers.
I believe scientists must have wondered before their theories were produced. Wonder was what drove them to explore, to discover, to learn.
I guess it's a very personal thing to stay naive, Tom. You may savour your childhood wonders of 'Why can't I fly,' but there are many more outside who wonder why can't they fly, accept the fact that they can't fly, but instead of leaving it there, build machines known as airplanes so that we can ADAPT and fly, with the aid of it. Seriously, if we all left it there and just leave things as a thought, we are all gonna be lacking in technology and the world will not move on. You may argue that the past may be better and you prefer it to the present or the future. But you must realise that sometimes these changes are inevitable and by accepting the change, you yourself are showing the ability to be adaptable to things.
To be honest, I like to daydream... and savour how naive I was like, but there are times where we have to get real and focus on things that are affecting us at present.
Not all teenagers have turned into robotic creatures and stopped wondering.
Although we might start to rationalize and input our logical or scientific explanations to supernatural occurring, we are still inquisitive. Take me for an example. After watching ‘A Beautiful Mind’ or perhaps ‘The Matrix’, I was immediately provoked to ponder if our surroundings are actually real, whether they are only virtual objects – and thus felt puzzled and intimidated to some degree. Surely, many others were in the same turmoil as I was. In regards to ‘why can’t I fly?’ , indeed, as we age we have found the answer and halted to enquire about it. But don’t you think, to some extent, that we still marvel at how it could be done? Otherwise, where would airplanes come from? Where would new inventions come from? Thomas Edison could not just randomly had the idea to design a light bulb. It is through wondering and exploring that he had finally created the product.
Perhaps, people do not lose the ability to wonder about the world as they grow up, they enhance their ability to do so even more.
I think all of you misunderstand me. We no longer wonder why something happens; because of science we no longer need to. The need to wonder has died out due to knowing what will or should actually happen. We no longer have 'If I put a piece of paper into the fire what will happen?' moments because now we know that automatically it will catch fire. We don't question why that happens but we know that it will simply do. By receiving explanations for everything we no longer wonder why it will happen; We know.
It is interesting to see someone agrees with Alberto Knox. =D
You are quite right how we no longer wonder about a lot of things because we have Science to prove the answers to us.
But can we not say that we achieved these results through wondering? If we do not wonder, would technology stagnate and would we stop advancing?
It's not only teenagers that begin to stop wondering about this world. Adults stop as well because they have their lives to take control and they already have the sufficient knowledge and know the answers to these type of questions.
I think that it is mostly children who wonder about things like Harry Potter magic or if we can fly or not and that we teenagers know that these are not possible and science cannot create magic or make you levitate. So I agree with you that we teenagers have begin to stop wondering as we already know the answer to these type of questions.
I agree on the fact that due to age, we do assume that we know more than we were a child, especially as teenagers and believe we know everything that we question ourselves. We tend to think that there must be a good explanation for it and as we soon learn something, we will fit our own theory and knowledge into the world and accept them. Also as science do provide explanation of how something happens we tend to lose our ability to wonder. However it could also be that as we grow up, we tend to get busy that we slip our wonder about the world and concentrate on our work more and tend to just ignore of things we do want to question.
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