“The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.”
– Frank Herbert (1920-1986), American SciFi writer, author of “Dune”
Too often we’re seeking something we can understand, or seeking to understand.
Herbert’s take is that in order to learn, we have to find something we don’t understand at all — something that makes us stop and say, “That doesn’t make sense!”
Hypothesis and theories are important — and they can guide us to new places. But completely setting aside hypothesis and theory when we come upon something we don’t understand is powerful stuff, indeed.
Watch a child do something for the first time. See them enter in to the new activity with no clue whatsoever about what is happening or why. Then, observe closely as they figure it out. Whether it’s the pyramid of blocks for a pre-toddler, long division for a middle schooler or the complex negotiation technique for a seasoned pro — the magic of the moment we find something that we don’t understand — and the probing and challenging to which it leads, is pretty powerful stuff.
Not understanding is not a sign of weakness. Rather it is the key to a door, behind which lies new hallways to wonderful places, if only we’ll press through and open it.
Danny says
Great post Steve. Abraham Maslow said “it’s not what we don’t know that’s the problem, but what we know and aren’t aware of.”