48. Sneaky Learning

A rationalist is simply someone for whom it is more important to learn than to be proved right; someone who is willing to learn from others - not by simply taking over another's opinions, but by gladly allowing others to criticize his ideas and by gladly criticizing the ideas of others
-Karl Popper

It is more important to learn than to be right. This is what it means to be rational (per Popper). Reason is meant to triumph over brute force but we want to make the right decision. Contrast this with the decision best for learning. Learning and mistakes go hand in hand. One cannot happen without the other. When can we afford to make mistakes? When can we indulge in forming multiple competing explanations, review how well they fit the facts, eliminate the not so good ones, and then through experience choose from the remainder? Yes, scientists get paid to do this daily. Can we find the time though?

The point is that, whenever we propose a solution to a problem, we ought to try as hard as we can to overthrow our solution, rather than defend it. Few of us, unfortunately, practice this precept; but other people, fortunately, will supply the criticism for us if we fail to supply it ourselves.
-Karl Popper

The alternative is to be stuck. If you are content with your problems then that might feel okay. If you are not, I guess you have to be sneaky about learning. This is what I do. I squeeze in a podcast or YouTube talk at work especially when doing mundane tasks. I create lists of people specific for the information I want on X formerly Twitter. My latest trick is this daily blog. I want to think deeply and write something enlightening even if in a small way. How could you bend the rules and rigidity of your life cultivating an environment of learning?

It may feel like the world and life is designed to not allow you enough time to think but we are rebels. No one will stop us from learning. Not with their ideas that limit the growth of knowledge nor with their authoritarian egos.