From Arrogance to Awe: How Agnosticism Nurtures Humility and Soothes Know-It-All Syndrome

From Arrogance to Awe: How Agnosticism Nurtures Humility and Soothes Know-It-All Syndrome

A central theme of Jangled Jester is enchanted agnosticism which is a blissful state of uncertainty. 

Agnosticism isn't apathy or a particular disbelief. It doesn't mean being redundantly clueless, either. Think about agnosticism as a way of scoping and scouting boundaries.

Instead of viewing boundaries as oppressive restrictions, view them as implementations. As put by cognitive scientist, Joscha Bach, to exist means being implemented. In computer programming, implementation is a step-by-step process.

 

What's in a step?

The definition of "step" varies but can refer to any set of activities, physical elements, or any transitory factor. In a scientific context, "transition" refers to a movement from one state to another. Be it different stages, energy exchanges, equilibrium, modifications, changes in physical states or chemical reactions — steps allow for contrast between big pictures and intricate detail. Transitions happen at points of significance while others occur pointlessly or unobservably.

  

What's in humility?

Humility means knowing your limits.

Agnosticism isn't a scientific theory in and of itself but rather conceptual humility. It notices the boundaries of human perception, understanding, and achievement. While science is an excellent tool for research and comprehension of the natural world, it has weaknesses when it comes to answering questions about issues beyond empirical observation. That doesn't make science useless, just like facts in a lab or criminal court don't make agnosticism worthless.

Agnosticism helps people account for their uncertainty, and that is our burden to bear. It's a term used to describe an encounter with the unknown, where there is room for discovery. Agnosticism helps both believers and nonbelievers by serving us a gentle reminder there are unthinkable and undiscovered unknowns. It's permissible to ask questions, be stupidly curious, and be free of the constraints of absolutism.

 

Critical Challenge

Examine mind-bending issues in fields like cosmology and quantum physics to  explore the grandeur of the universe and access the humility of your cognition. 

At your leisure, feel free to investigate some of the topics below to broaden and humble your wonder.

 

QUANTUM ODDITIES

 

The Double-Slit Experiment by PLUS+Maths

Quantum Mechanics Exercises by LibreTextsPHYSICS

Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle by BCCampus

Quantum Tunneling by LibreTextsPhysics

Schrödinger's Cat by LibreTextsPhysics

 

 

CELLULAR ENIGMAS

Cell Structures by LibreTextsBIOLOGY

Protein Synthesis by LibreTextsBIOLOGY

How We See the Invisible World by LibreTextsBIOLOGY

"What is CRISPR/Cas9?" GENE EDITING by Melody Redman et al.

Evolution and Its Processes by LibreTextsBIOLOGY

Evolution and the Origin of Species by LibreTextsBIOLOGY

  

 

ENGINEERING PUZZLES

Aerodynamic Shape Optimization by MDO Lab

Flying Submarine Wiki

Dome Cities Wiki

Transatlantic Tunnel Wiki

Shannon–Hartley Theorem Wiki

Euler's Formula Wiki

Black-Scholes Equation (Option Pricing) Wiki

 

The quest of knowledge can be unpleasant - there is scientific anguish in wrestling with complex concepts, making errors, and feeling foolish. Agnostic humility is a tool for realizing that being dumb is a part of the process. Knowledge is a journey not a destination.

Agnostic humility moves people away from hyper-fixation on ego and directs focus to the process. This viewpoint transforms our anguish from being ignorant into delight from being dawned by mystery. Agnosticism works with the parameters of existence, posturing limitations and complexity as part of the path.

It is experience with the unknown that serves as an engine for growth. Even pathetic kinds where blunders run rampant, there's still beauty in the dumb dance of discovery.

  

 

THANK YOU!JJ Uses AI Tools to Aid Articles:

ChatGPT. OpenAI. https://chat.openai.com/

Quillbot Paraphraser. https://quillbot.com/.

Bing Image Creator. https://www.bing.com/create.

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