Dear Friends,
In this edition we have six links .
This is an interesting write up of predictions for future. Author Erik Hoel makes some predictions with reference to the present trends. As we all have a fascination for such predictions it’s good to go through them. Of course , 2050 is far away for all of us to imagine. Look at some of his predictions. Hoel believes that Artificial Intelligence will dominate our lives in unimaginable ways . He talks about the various professions which will be severely affected by advances in AI. Hoel also predicts that majority of education will be online. A combination of private tutors and MOOCs and testing centres will have become the most common form of education. Four to five years in a physical campus will become an anachronism and indulgence of the rich. Hoel also has interesting predictions for future of families , rise of women and the form of governments. Read on.
Conversation becoming more toxic in the social media is not a news now. People are finding it difficult to have a sane exchange of ideas across various platforms. The interesting thing is that online conversations are becoming more nastier than real conversations. One argument is that anonymity and distance empower people to shed their inhibitions . According to the author , nature of social media as a realm of pure appearance, in which one can easily deceive others, makes it highly attractive to narcissists. Narcissism is pathological the self-centeredness, and it’s characterized by a strong sense of entitlement, a need for attention and social validation, and a lack of concern for the needs of others. In other words , social media both attracts and amplifies dramatic, narcissistic people, making them seem far more representative of humanity than they really are. Thus, it becomes imperative that we device our own methods not to be affected by the toxicity of social media and remains balanced. Please read on this interesting piece which is hugely relevant for our times.
This is an interesting writing about the herd instinct of human beings and how valuable are people who think different from the crowd. For the individual , membership in the herd gives an enormous sense of pride and power. As the author says “ the same person who, on his own, wouldn’t ‘hurt a fly’ will not hesitate to set a government building on fire or rob a liquor store when part of an angry mass ..” For many people membership in a group give meaning to their lives. When you are member of a herd , you feel a grander existence as compared to existence as an individual. The discussion further moves to the importance of contrarians and those who question the established norms and refuse to abide by what the society commands . According to the author “It is the ‘eccentrics’, who keep the world running through their generous supply of bold perspectives, fresh insights and new ideas.” In other words , if any society wants to progress , it needs people who can swim against the current . As we live an age where conforming to the establishment is the norm and accepted thing, this essay is a powerful reminder on why we need to delink ourselves from the herd mindset to develop fresh insights.
The advent of internet and social media has brought people near in the most unimaginable ways. Today , we are in a position to debate virtually to anyone in the world. But it has also given an opportunity for people of same mindset to come together. This has an important effect on the way we conduct ourselves. We find it extremely difficult to accommodate a different opinion. We are so vigilant in protecting our views and anyone who questions our long-held views are easily banished from our circles. Here there is an interesting write up on why it is very important that we allow people to question our views and why that’s the only way to learn and grow. “Great minds don’t think alike – they challenge each other to think again. The clearest sign of intellectual chemistry isn’t agreeing with someone. It’s enjoying your disagreements with them. Harmony is a pleasing arrangement of different sounds, not the same ones. Creative tension can make beautiful music.”
None doubts the fact that questions are always important than answers. Having said that , the mark of an intelligent person is the ability to ask brilliant questions. Coming to questions , few does a better job than children. Its part of their learning process . They continuously ask the questions to get things clarified . The interesting fact is that as we become adults, we ask fewer questions, and our curiosity takes a back seat. This essay is about doing philosophy with children. Calling children natural philosophers , the author details the many ways we can foster the inquisitive minds of children and how engaging with them can be a great learning experience . Children are never afraid of getting an answer wrong. It is very important that we develop this ability of children to defend their views and also to question them . Read on.
One of the most reflective pieces I read last month and an ideal one to start your new year. The essay raises some important questions about the lives most of the humanity lead. We are living in age of unprecedented material prosperity . Added to that there is an all-pervasive digital culture. We can want anything and get it. Here the author points to a crisis of desire whereby we conclude that the sole purpose of life and work is desire and own more and more. In this process, we are forced to forget our deep desire for things which cannot be bought. Is all prosperity leading us to an exhaustion ? Are we feeling more drained and depleted ? Are we finding it more difficult to get renewed ? There is this danger of considering all human and non-human beings as raw materials fit for extraction. It’s a time to pause and reflect. How shall we find a balance and meaning to our lives. When shall we accept the reality that we have proper limits as mortals. There is more to life than an endless consumption and chasing desires. We need to learn the art of paying attention to the most important things which make meaning to our lives. As we all struggle to find a proper work -life balance and navigate the mess of desires , this brilliant essay is a must read and timely reminder. It forces us to interrogate some of the choices we make without knowing its impact on our lives.
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