Nobody has all the questions, so keep asking

Many years ago, one of my philosophy professors at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Walter Benesch (now retired), imparted a piece of wisdom that has stayed with me: "Questions," he said, "are much more important than answers. When we arrive at what we perceive to be 'answers,' we often curtail questioning."

Greek philosopher and teacher Socrates, as history records, was a devout champion of the question. His answer to questions with further questions frustrated many a colleague and student. Yet it's easy to see how such an approach (called the "Socratic Method") promotes deeper intellectual exploration and inquiry.

Children universally employ this technique—piling question upon question—employing one of the most powerful words in the dictionary to quench their burgeoning thirst for knowledge: "why?" A series of more than three or four can leave many parents bereft of answers and scratching their heads.

Theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, it is said, was able to eclipse his peers in his breakthrough work on general relativity and quantum physics because he had the ability to ask childlike questions about space, time, light and energy.  Even when he arrived at what he thought were workable equations, he persistently asked the next question, and the one after that.

[The last philosopher in Alaska's Interior contemplates extinction]

I sometimes wonder if modern generations, with lightning-fast computers and Google at our fingertips, are losing the ability to think – to use questions as a foundation for gleaning basic knowledge – for a fundamental, organic understanding of the world around us.

With computer search engines we can quickly access massive amounts of information. But in these quick cybertransactions, are we exercising our brains?  Are we short-circuiting ourselves? Are we bypassing what educators call "critical thinking?"

I am inclined to take shortcuts on hikes and climbs to more quickly reach my destination. But at the time, I realize I am sometimes bypassing unknown terrain, and part of the trip might have yielded new information and insights.

I feel the same about computers, and count myself as guilty as anyone else in performing rapid, airy Google searches rather than undertaking time-consuming, ground-level research underlain by a process of questioning, logic and empirical inquiry.

It seems obvious that melding the two – the human brain and the computer – is one of the quintessential challenges of our time. Some fear that in the future, artificial intelligence will render humans irrelevant.

If we lose our inherent ability to question and reason, our innate cognitive skills, that could be the case. But I don't think we will. To the contrary, I believe our exceptional human abilities will prevail to enhance computers and ultimately, improve our lives.

I suppose this is an idealistic, Pollyanna view. But I've generally remained optimistic about what human beings can do when put to the test. It's why we're still here after tens of thousands of years.

It all comes back to a choice: dogmatically accepting what is believed to be true, or asking questions. Answers might seem satisfying at the time, but they will never be as powerful or transformational as questions.

The recent siege on public education and education in general tells me decision-makers are arriving at "answers" before asking enough questions. That is also apparent in the Alaska Legislature's inability to handle the state's budget crisis.

A child who asks the age-old question, "why is the sky blue?" should be encouraged to ask many more questions. That is how we discovered the earth revolves around the sun; DNA, how we mapped the human genome and went into space.

Questioning generations could lead us to cures for the most debilitating diseases and perhaps, God willing, help us find a way to achieve world peace.

Frank E. Baker is a lifetime Alaskan and freelance writer who lives in Eagle River.

The views expressed here are the writer's and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary@alaskadispatch.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@alaskadispatch.com.