Over the last few weeks we have seen many things; daily follies and mishaps on the constant roller coaster ride that is politics, we celebrated a day buying into a system of commercialized validation of love known as ‘Valentine’s Day’ (and hopefully spread a little love ourselves), and for better or worse, witnessed the rise of the latest (and worst yet, in my opinion, but I’ll save that rant for another time) meme born from an over-the-top rebellious teenager, who is living in either infamy or stardom, depending on who you ask.
Some of us, understandably, may want to forget some or all of the events in our recent history. However, let us not forget one thing: our ability to think and to question everything. With the growing divide between what is authentic or not in the world of mass media, that is more important now than ever.
Jump back in time a few thousand years, to February 15th, 399 B.C. The philosopher Socrates was tried by the Athenian government on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth. He openly rejected the gods that were recognized by the city, and encouraged his students to also consider alternative viewpoints regarding all aspects of life. A jury of his peers found him guilty. They sentenced Socrates to either death by hemlock, or to renounce his beliefs. He chose death, willingly drank the poison, and became a martyr for thought, forever preserving his name and ideas in the history books.
The “Socratic Method” is simply the act of asking questions. When you question what the government is doing or telling you, they may not take it very lightly. When you encourage others to question what the government is doing or telling them, especially children, the powers that be tend to vehemently oppose.
Oftentimes the average citizen, in the days of ancient Greece as well as today, relies on the government for a myriad of things. Therefore, they too may not be very happy when one of their own people challenges the beliefs and intentions of those who take care of them, let alone trying to ‘corrupt the youth.' This also helps to explain some of the controversy surrounding whistleblowers.
Many citizens weren’t happy with Socrates. When you tell someone that something they have believed for their entire life is wrong, they tend to get upset and let emotion take over, and act irrationally (cue millions of people killed over religion). This is when thinking critically, logically, and without emotion is the most vital, and potentially most difficult part of existing amongst other humans.
On the other hand, this is also when it’s a beautiful thing to live in the information age; everything is at your fingertips. The computer in your pocket is more powerful than the one that first put astronauts on the moon in 1969. Take advantage of it! Do independent research. Utilize multiple sources and check the validity of their sources. You must be absolutely sure that what you know, or what you think you know, is correct.
And finally, take control of your personal power of introspection. After all, that is what makes us human, and my favorite part of it. The fact that we can contemplate existence and examine our own consciousness helps to separate us from our not-so-far-off animal counterparts.
However, there is one last word of advice I would like to share with anyone willing to listen.
It is okay to change your mind.
I'll say it again.
IT IS OKAY TO CHANGE YOUR MIND.
When you discover information that opposes your beliefs, and you hold on to your beliefs in vain, that is weakness. It says you are too stuck in your own beliefs to think about any other point of view. That is a weak willpower in blatant disguise. A weak person cannot or refuses to adjust their beliefs especially when presented with strong counter evidence. Strength comes from absorbing all the information you can, seeing and understanding various perspectives, and being able to make a well-informed decision based off of a well-rounded worldview. Socrates died so you can do that. Don’t let him down. Ask questions. Do research. Research that research, and then ask more questions.
Remember, fact checking saves lives.
