So, today’s post is based on an interesting observation a dear friend made sometime back. Before we get to that though, let’s start with some background.
For the curious mind, there are just too many questions out there. When did something happen, who did what, what was the reason for something, how things work, where things come from and go, etc.
There can be no end to questions, I think. The more we know, the more there is to know further. Look at science. There was a time when the atom was the smallest thing. One would’ve assumed that knowing that would be the end. But, no. Because even with that knowledge, we didn’t stop questioning. We wondered about what the atom itself was made of, how it worked, etc. Because of these questions, now we know that even the atom’s not the smallest thing (they are made of quarks, if you were wondering). And now, scientists are delving even further into these building blocks (the quarks).
And it applies to almost everything, not just science. Look at history, economics, human behavior, etc. Whenever we think we have nailed down something as an underlying fact, if we continue to ask more questions after that point, we can always find another level of detail.
The point is that questions are never-ending. There are always more questions we can ask, and when we do, we always get more answers. It may take time, but eventually, we get there.
But, even though questions are inexhaustible, fundamentally, they all belong to one of these types: who, what, when, where, how, and why.
And this is the interesting observation that my friend made: these questions are not all equal. We can have an infinite number of questions, and we can funnel them into these six types, and although all of them have their own value, there’s one type that is most important, and also the most difficult one to answer. And that is the class of questions asking, “Why?”
It may not seem that big of a deal initially, but when I thought about it more, I realised how much more significant this question is, compared to the others, and how much impact it has in our lives.
The other questions are definitely important. But they are more… how should I put it.. “superficial” in a way. They are based on facts. If we have full knowledge of all the variables in the system, we can answer them.
But “Why?” That is another beast. It pushes us to explore outside the boundaries. It goes deeper, and wider, and surrounds us, and subsumes us.
As before, it’s not restricted to one domain. Any domain you look at, “Why?” is perhaps the most important question. Science, history, law, human behavior. Especially, human behavior. It’s even become somewhat of a corporate mantra these days, as popularized by Simon Sinek.
Compared to all the other “materialistic” questions, “Why?” is the “philosophical” one. It leads us to think about and discover new questions we didn’t even know we wanted to ask.
But, it’s not for the faint of heart. When asked openly and courageously, it can show us a brutal reality we may not be ready to face. It can also lead to desperation, a feeling of helplessness in not knowing the answer.
Or it can open our eyes, expand our horizons. It can take our awareness to another level in the journey of discovery. It’s more insightful than anything we know of. As someone who likes to think about these things, I was really taken in by how much more significant and profound “Why?” is compared to the other questions. It’s head and shoulders above the rest.
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Once we realize the power of “Why?”, and can inculcate the habit of going back to it in our daily lives on a regular basis, it can be an eye-opener, and a guide for life. Here’s a simple exercise: think of any three things that are happening in your life right now. Something that you are working on, something someone said, something that happened at work. Anything. Even if not three, think of at least one such thing. And then ask “Why?”
It’s scary, and it’s beautiful.
And it’s worth asking. Every. Single. Time.
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