CHANGE IS THE POINT

“The only thing that I know, is that I know nothing”

Socrates: Stoic Philosopher

In Ancient Greece, Socrates was regarded and revered amongst his peers as one of the smartest men of his time.

And yet, ironically, one of Socrates’ most famous quotes, is the above line – “I know that I know nothing”.

How could one of the smartest men in all of Ancient Greece, whose wisdom and philosophies have been passed down for centuries, stand by this sentiment?

That’s because learning and acquiring knowledge requires a certain degree of humility – what we once knew and thought to be undisputed fact will soon be considered out of date, after it has given way to new paradigms and ways in which to interpret the world.

Socrates never allowed these certain titles bestowed upon him to influence his quest for knowledge. He did not sing his own praises. Instead, he remained humble, convinced that he knew nothing, which paradoxically allowed him to keep learning and know far more than he ever would have had he recognised his own intellect.

We like to think that in 2020 we are on the cusp of some significant intellectual breakthroughs. And this may be true.

But it is also true, just as it was 2000 years prior for Socrates, that if we are not willing to be humble and open to new knowledge, then we remain trapped; caught in the past and are sure to be left behind.

When we reflect on the last year, this becomes apparent.

Who could have foreseen the COVID–19 pandemic? How could anyone have known and adapted to the global chaos that unfolded as a result? Very few of us…

But, those who have managed to move forward, are those who have learned new ways to interpret the situation; acquired new knowledge, and utilised an expanding skillset. To do so requires an open mind and a humility to “let go” of old knowledge.

Those who have managed to move forward are those who have embodied the sentiment of Socrates: “I know that I know nothing”.

So if we are to move forward with the rest of the world, isn’t it better to accept with humility that we know nothing? Rather than be left behind; alone, with only ourselves to remind us of our own grandiosity.