25 June 2013
Discussed Text: Critchley, "What Is A Philosopher?"
Fr. Roque Ferriols, S.J., "Insight"
Insight. That was what covered today’s lecture. To gain insight, by convention, is to learn more from something known. It can also mean to gain experience and be able to attain something by reflection. The pettifogger probably has some degree of reflection to the matters that are of concern to him, just not as apparent or of greater magnitude to the philosopher. With that said, insights are possessed by each and every one of us and can come in so many varieties and magnitudes. My coach from high school told me when I was about to compete in a tournament, “There was nothing to lose and everything to gain.” It makes me wonder though, do all insights provide some kind of learning experience? Do all insights provide something better? In fact, what defines an insight to even be of any merit?
After some thinking, I made a little insight about making insights. Every insight that I’m able to form leads to new insights, leading to even more insights. It’s an unending cycle that always has some form of input from me. We will always have new views on life, whether they be completely new, a view that has been changed from a preceding notion, or a view of life reinforced by more information.
I also think the whole idea of “better insights” exists. Everyone has their own personal bias and as objective as we try to be, there is still that slight tinge of favoritism existing. (I actually think that the previous statement itself has some form of bias.) Some insights made will be more beneficial to others possibly because of its appropriate timing. This is similar to limit situations, wherein we seek to learn the reasons behind why these things happen or why we feel this way. We tend to receive advice that helps us cope or make us feel better. Aside from convenience, insights can also be significant from sentimentality. We have some kind of special bond with some very simple things, like children that receive their very first toy. For other people, it’s just a toy, while to the children, it may very well be the happiest moment of their lives. Like the children, we each have our own way of thinking that is unique to ourselves. The uniqueness comes from the cultivation of our thoughts from our lives and in turn provides different insights.
That is probably my most important point about making insights. We are all different, and in that difference, we are able to create a near-infinite amount of ideas. Indeed, we sometimes have coinciding claims with one another but more often than not there is something slightly different with how each of us think. In each of our lectures, just a few of us tend to speak, but those few are able to have an amazing amount of input for everyone to take in. Our personal beliefs, upbringings, and attitudes provide so much to discuss and that’s just from a few of all 65 of us. (I doubt if we could fit everyone’s thoughts in one period though.)
We make insights to make even more insights that create more insights. I just made an insight about insights. This will lead to insights about making insights that lead to making insights about making insights.
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