Don’t Treat Your Life as a Project - The Future of Learning.

Don’t Treat Your Life as a Project - The Future of Learning.

In today's society, there seems to be a prevailing notion that we must view our lives as a narrative, a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. The philosopher Galen Strawson, however, challenges this idea, stating that he has no sense of his life as a narrative. He argues that we do not need to present our lives as coherent narrative wholes, and that this perspective is a fallacy of our age.

Strawson's critique of viewing life as a narrative raises some interesting questions about the ethical implications of this perspective. Is a good life one that forms a coherent narrative? And must this narrative be one that we tell ourselves? It's important to recognize that a good life does not necessarily require a story that ties everything together. There can be value in embracing the dense tapestry of experiences, both successes and failures, without the need for a linear narrative.

The proponents of viewing life as a narrative often advocate for a unified and linear structure, with incidents building towards a climax. However, this perspective can be limiting and set us up for definitive failure. When we define our lives based on a single enterprise or narrative arc, its outcome comes to define us. We become susceptible to labeling ourselves as failures or winners, overlooking the infinite granularity and miscellany of all lives.

Instead of succumbing to the allure of a dramatic arc, we should embrace the digressive amplitude of being alive. Life is not a project to be completed or a story to be told; it is a continuous journey of small successes and failures. By appreciating the abundance of incidents that shape our lives, we can move away from the notion of failure as an identity and instead focus on the ongoing process of living.

The concept of learning ties into this perspective on life as well. Learning is not a finite task with an end goal; it is a state of mind. Bruce Lee once said, "A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer." This highlights the importance of embracing curiosity and being open to new perspectives.

In today's rapidly changing world, information is generated at an unprecedented rate, causing it to lose its value quickly. However, true knowledge is cumulative, while intelligence is selective. It is not about the hard facts we accumulate, but rather about the ability to synthesize ideas, learn rapidly, and adapt. This is where the advantage of being a multipotentialite, someone with diverse interests and skills, becomes apparent.

Society needs creative and out-of-the-box thinkers to tackle the complex problems we face. By continuously challenging ourselves and embracing a broad variety of concepts, we learn how to learn. This not only allows us to specialize in different areas if we choose to but also builds our adaptability and problem-solving skills.

To truly embrace the power of learning, we must let go of what we think we know. Reading with an open mind, without the preconceived notion of right or wrong, allows us to extract the full value from a piece of writing. By holding opposing ideas in our heads without rejecting them, we gain a more granular understanding of the world.

In conclusion, life is not a project to be completed or a narrative to be told. It is a continuous journey filled with a multitude of experiences, successes, and failures. Viewing life as a linear narrative can limit our potential and set us up for failure. Instead, we should embrace the digressive amplitude of being alive and appreciate the abundance of incident. Similarly, learning is not a finite task but a state of mind. By being open to new perspectives and continuously challenging ourselves, we can expand our knowledge and adaptability. Before we can truly learn, we must let go of what we think we know and be willing to change our perspective.