An Easy Solution to All Our Issues
Let A New Lifestyle Evolve
Why, A Lifestyle?
Look at ourselves. Human life is in a mess, everywhere. Perhaps it was so, always. It seems, all the corrective efforts, whether from the religious leaders, philosophers, rulers, or others of greatness, could not make things any better. So, we now accept as an established maxim, to err is human. Reinforcing it, man follows a life that offers abundant opportunities for making errors.
I wonder, why doesn’t it happen so, as far as other forms of life go? Simple. Each of those follow its unique style of living, where there is no scope for an error. Whereas, it is not so, as far as humans go. Man does not have a ‘signature’ lifestyle, unlike all other varieties of life. I therefore think, if we find and adopt a fitting lifestyle for ourselves, the issue of errors shall cease to exist and rescue ourselves from the perennial mess.
(I agree, it can be argued, all the good that took place with the human race, like the age of empires, renaissance, or the conquest of skies, owe a lot to the absence of a unique lifestyle. Yes, but it can also be argued, had there been a worthy lifestyle, how better, it wouldn’t have been!)
Why Not A New Lifestyle?
However, it is easier said than done. One cannot see any movement at all, in that direction, and the whole of humanity looks contented with their state. I therefore have this uncomfortable feeling. It seems, we humans are going to continue for ever, our propensity to commit errors. This is because, we successfully managed to suppress, hide, or render useless, let me say, our natural protection against errors. See, the moment someone commits a mistake, not only that there won’t be a reprisal to it, but also there will be many to offer help. Consequently, not only that we won’t be having guilt feelings about it, but also we overcome the sense of inferiority in comparison to the rest of life who does not commit any errors, by proclaiming, 'to err is human'. In addition to this, we are, in fact, benefiting from such a status, as it provides us with another good excuse to extricate ourselves from anything uncomfortable, like being caught on the wrong foot. Because of all this, an error, more than pointing to an inadequacy on the part of the doer, questions the leadership for inadequate preparation or supervision.
We Continue Thus
How did we reach this state? How come, unlike all the other ones of the living kingdom, human landed up with a tendency for errors? Of course, it is continuing to be so, since we do not notice it. Even when we notice it, it is seen as something like a stepping stone to success. Remember, we are all encouraged to be proud of our 'unique' ability to learn from mistakes. So, whenever the need arises to confront a mistake, the error part of it escapes our notice. And, our primary attention is towards the possibility of learning something from it. Actually, our attention should have been on the mistake, where we look for direct and indirect or contributory causes. Instead, our full and undivided attention is grabbed by its potential to teach us something. Also, as a result, we humans shall never get an opportunity to wonder why, we are like that.
Why Is It So?
This brings up a challenge. How did we end up in such a state, where it is natural to err? To answer, firstly, we need to find the root cause of all that is wrong, and then see how, it became a part of the human.
Let me say, it is not at all difficult to find a unique reason for all that is wrong, if we look at things objectively. For an objective view, we need to have a thorough idea about all that goes into all. Now, we need to derive a suitable way forward that can tell us all about all. Towards which, for ease of study and for better understanding, we can divide all the things that happen into three different planes. One consisting of nonliving matter, one consisting of all kinds of living matter other than the human, and one exclusively of the human.
As far as things that takes place in the nonliving world, nothing ‘wrong’ can happen. All that is happening can be understood and analyzed as reactions, either to the event that is happening, or to something else. When we come to the things that happen with living matter except ourselves, again, there is no scope for errors. Here also, all that is happening can be appreciated or analyzed as reactions, either to the action that triggered it, or to something else. Lastly, when we come to those that pertain exclusively to the human domain also, all the happenings can be analyzed as nothing else but reactions. Where, such reactions are almost always triggered by, external input, internal responses, abstract convictions, or a mix of all these.
Critically Examine Errors
Given that we are intellectually oriented ones who will not miss an opportunity to think, a complete analysis of the above scenario and formulation of a plan of action would not have posed an issue. Just as all forms of life find answers to all their issues, we with our superior intelligence would have easily been decimating even more complex challenges.
But, we do not react to signals or inputs like other forms of life. Firstly, we are in the habit of adding certain variable as well as constant elements that have the potential to rate such signals or other inputs or make abstract grades, like acceptable, reprehensible, or heavenly. We react only to such graded entities, the direction and bite of our reaction being largely based on its grade. Now, rather than the original event or response that led to the reaction, what matters to us becomes such variables and related abstractions, and it channels our thought. Now, issues constantly develop in areas that happen to be away from the current channel or the domain of interest, neither noticed nor attended by any. (Incidentally, this answers a commonly expressed refrain. Why, the most intelligent of all life forms is the one that is constantly plagued by issues. They successfully happen to have their full attention directed to such areas that are rather issue-free. We notice and react to an issue only when it becomes impossible to neglect the same.)
So, what is happening is, in the first two planes, everything take place in an appropriate way. And in the last plane, it doesn’t happen so. However, not only that the inappropriateness will never get noticed, but also those variables enable us to celebrate the very same happenings, many a time with abandon. Hadn’t it been so, some of us would have been noticing it and prescribing a cure, bringing an ultimate end to the ‘violent human society’ itself.
Is Error an Inseparable Part?
Is this a design fault? Yes, it is a possibility. But, it is highly improbable, given the immaculate and perfect ambience that we can find in all the affairs of life, be it with plants or animals. As a result of which, we constantly see, appropriate things are only happening with every form of life. I also find, there is no reason for humans to be any different.
But, the reality is clearly different. Not only that there is nothing perfect in any aspect of human life, but also it calls for constant monitoring and an unceasing effort for improvement, if things are not to go from bad to worse.
Now, what can explain all this? As we have just established that there is no fault in our design, there is a fault likely in our way of doing things. I therefore think, we need to critically examine all that goes into all that we do. More so, for all that is distinctively human.
Why intelligent ones Err?
So, now, let us once again think about all that is distinctively human. Here, in comparison to all other varieties of life, two things stand out. One is error, or the propensity for committing a mistake. And the other one is another propensity, one will be entertaining at all times, for adding variable as well as constant elements that have the potential to rate all reactions, or classify those, into abstract groupings, like acceptable, or reprehensible. And it seems, one is the direct result of the other one, where, one’s degree of involvement and attention varies with such groupings. Also, such abstract groupings act as a final stamp, eliminating all possibilities of a future scrutiny.
So, errors originate out of all that we term as the distinct feature of the human.
The Origin of Errors
Let me probe further. Now, from where does an error arise? What causes an error?
In fact, we can very well see this as the main difference between human and all the other forms of life. Also, we are already aware of this, I think. For, to explain this, we first define human as an intelligent form of life, and all the others, non-intelligent. Then we define, the propensity for making errors and learning from it, a sign of intelligence. I do not find this, especially the last part of it, making sense at all. And, notwithstanding the fact that humans consider themselves intelligent with a strong desire to learn, nobody is there to echo such a view. If this is not a difficult problem that is waiting for an answer, what is?
Mathematical Equivalent?
I think, getting an answer to all difficult problems begins with an analysis of the mathematical equivalent of each. In the case of scientifically represent-able ones, such an equivalence is explicitly invoked. In all other cases, a successful solution to an issue depends on how well, one identifies, reprograms, or optimizes, the mathematical relationships that are implicit in it. Here also, we should try the same.
A mathematical equivalent can be made rather easily for all that is done by every form of life other than the human. Which will be a collection of equations, a few of which may even have imaginary terms. One side of such equations can very well represent a trigger, while the other side accounting for the reaction. Analyzing triggers can enable one to predict responses, while a study of responses can throw much light on triggers.
In fact, we are already aware of this. This exactly is our style, when we manage the affairs as far as plants and animals go. And it works well for all species of life but not for the 'unfathomable' human race. If so, what could be the issue? Simple. Triggers and responses do not correspond to one another. Now, when can that happen? Well, that is easy. When the triggers, or the responses, or both, happen to lie outside its linear range of variation.
A Lifestyle is the Answer
Let me see what all we can do under such circumstances. Our approach to non living things as well as living things other than ourselves, should be able to show us a path. There, as one can easily make out, all that we do is, we struggle to bring some conformity between triggers and its responses. The traditional passive elements of electrical as well as mechanical systems, like inductors, capacitors, resistors, springs, or shock dampening mechanisms, aid in bringing such conformity by coming into action at a suitable juncture. Here, though we are not in a position to eliminate such a nonconformity, those are effectively made insignificant. Of late, as it is more prevalent now, we resort a different regime of operation, say digital, which can nullify the errors due to the variation of the nonconformity. How? By making the levels of nonconformity functionally irrelevant for this regime.
What can we learn here? As mentioned above, the ultimate issue facing the human race is, how to deal with both the triggers and the responses that lie outside its linear range.
What can we do now? Ensure that we ignore all triggers as well as responses that happen to lie outside a specific range. Or consider, only those that lie within certain parameters.
Towards this, there is an urgent need for establishing such a range. More importantly, we need to develop a habit for overlooking all that does not fall within such a range. It is even more convenient, if we accept this as the lifestyle of the race, which can also be named aptly, digital lifestyle. Here, one takes note of all triggers and responses that fall within a specific criterion and act or react appropriately, while ignoring or discarding all that falls beyond or below.
Err, No More
This settles the challenge. We have almost established a Root Cause for all that is Wrong. We have found the absence of a fitting lifestyle as the reason that contributes handsomely to all that is wrong.
Now, what comes up is a couple of very significant questions. Why is it, unlike all other varieties of life, we do not have a lifestyle? And what all should make up the appropriate lifestyle of the human?
I think, like all varieties of life, human also would have been following a unique lifestyle. For certain reasons, they seem to have discarded that lifestyle, and have been in the process of letting an appropriate one evolve over time. I think we have lived long enough to identify and subscribe to a fresh lifestyle. A unique lifestyle, one that can be termed, digital lifestyle, and an exclusive one for the human, shall definitely be derived over time, when we all proceed with our life in a manner that upholds the boundaries described in the last few paragraphs.
The Root Cause
We have found, a fitting lifestyle shall end all the issues with our life. Now, can’t we say, absence of an appropriate lifestyle is the root cause of all that is wrong with the human race.
Which brings up a valid question. Why is it that we do not have one? Well, I think we need to do a serious study about it. In fact, like all varieties of life, human also would have been following a unique lifestyle. For certain reasons, they seem to have discarded that lifestyle, and have been in the process of imitating all and sundry, resulting, naturally, in a style of living that is not at all an optimum one. How did we reach here? What can we do now?
Why didn’t we think about it so far? I feel, now one thing should be clear to all. Had we been having a standard pattern or a way, for thinking, like we do cultivate in almost all other activities like walking, running, swimming, or sleeping, situation would have been different. Or, in all such areas, we took pains to identify and learn the best way to do those activities and guided our future to adopt and follow those. But, it didn’t happen so, as far as thinking go.
So, we need to evolve a ‘patented’ style of thinking for ourselves. And when we follow that style and think, a lifestyle that is a good fit for our life will also evolve, attacking the root cause of all that is wrong with us..
Conclusion
Now we can reach a conclusion.
A final solution to all the issues of our race is a simple one. Identify, derive, and adopt an appropriate way to think.
