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The challenge of the unknown is as great today as it has ever been
Socrates once famously commented that he was wisest due to the very fact that he knew he did not know anything. Indeed, he had stumbled upon a truism that has guided both philosophers and scientists through the millennia. Having graduated from the Industrial to the Information Age, the rapid pace of research and invention of new theories point to one simple fact – the more we dip our foes into the pool of the unknown, the deeper it seems to get. The challenge of the unknown is thus greater due to its sheer magnitude. The nature of knowledge is that it builds on the work of past generations. At an individual level too, this desire to push the boundaries of knowledge is tougher to carry out now than ever before. Scientific advances over the past few years have ensured that we have now opened new frontiers like biotechnology and the string theory in physics, to be explored. These areas may hold the secret to unearthing Einstein’s much vaunted Grand Unification Theory. Indeed the possibility of contributing towards such an endeavour is enough to inspire any scientist. Thus, the magnitude and breadth of the possibilities of research today provide a challenge at a level never before offered. There are a section of people who point out that scientific research is now institutionalized in universities with generous funding. Also, popular opinion today is skewed more towards the scientific fact than religious dogma. They feel that no scientist will have to run from pillar to post like Galileo to garner funds and fight religious persecution. While there is some element of truth in these assertions, they ignore the fact the nature of the challenge for individual scientists has changed but certainly not lessened. While institutions have made it easier to facilitate research, to enter a truly world class one an individual must have great grades, been actively involved in research projects and other activities. The strenuous nature of education stifles the creativity present in student. A maverick like Einstein was able to invent the brilliant concept of a thought experiment to shake the foundations of Newtonian Science. It is hard to imagine someone like him emerging from the system today. Thus the challenge today has been morphed to believing in one’s unusual insights despite the assertions made about different fields of knowledge in our restrictive education system. At a socio – political level too the challenge remains to find a system that ensures justice, equality and productivity. The great ideological battle of the past century was fought between communism and capitalism democracy. The victory of the latter was seen as an affirmation of freedom and liberty. Ten years of a world order dominated by the values of the United States has shown capitalism for what it is a mockery of freedom. The Free Market is but a veneer for the imposition of trade barriers on poor nations thus perpetuating global inequality. Freedom is the excuse to attack and destabilize a nation, and eventually give birth to thousands of terrorists. Globalization is the flimsy pretext to lower wages and lengthen working hours in developed nations and threatened the proletariat with the alternative outsourcing. This despite the salaries of CEOs being at an all time high. We are gradually slipping back to the state which Karl Marx wrote about in ‘Das Kapital’. The challenge still remains in the political circles of the world to find a system that ensures economic equality and political freedom. After having found one, the greater task will be to then implement it against all the vested interests who prefer the status quo. Apart from scientific and political challenges, the phrase “the great unknown” conjures images of Columbus stumbling upon a continent while venturing to find a new path in India; the race eventually won by Hillary and Norgay, to conquer Mt. Everest. Or even the estranged youngster in Alex Garland’s novel The Beach who went in search of a Paradise. Observers point towards space on the new Final Frontier where unknown planetary systems and perhaps life, lie. However, this exploration is almost exclusively government controlled and requires huge investments. Moreover, at the current state of technology serious space travel is still decades away. Thus, it seems the challenge of exploration has diminished. However, close examination reveals that while we may have stopped exploring geographically, the spiritual search within has just begun. Rampant materialism and greed are forcing increasing numbers of people to search for inner peace. Spirituality is booming today just as it has done all through History. The great exception is that today spirituality is not dominated by religious dogma and god but takes a more humanist view of one’s personal beliefs to attain Nirvana. The magnitude of this challenge is perhaps as great as it had been at the time of the Buddha. Thus mankind is gradually freeing himself from the shackles of organized religion to embark on the long journey within. It seems as if intellectually we stand on an island of knowledge amongst a great ocean of the unknown. Every generation’s duty is to reclaim a little more land. Socrates was right in that he did not know everything. The toughness of gaining that little area of land is as tough as today as even before. Every generation I am sure, will relish the challenge.
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Contributor's Note
Author is based in Asia pacific, responsible for adult financial literacy. For more information, visit www.passiveadsenseincome.com
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