Thoughts from others as to importance of inquiry for enjoying the benefits of "3D thinking" (or becoming a "genius?"). (UII w/Claude)

DM

While knowledge combined with intelligence are vital for human “fitness of thought,” the enormously untapped potential of human inquiry (aka: "Enjoying one's ignorance") remains deeply intriguing to me.

It seems essential that we all should benefit by adding and nurturing this dimension into our thinking (which I call "3D Thinking.”) 

How does this resonate?

Your concept of "3D Thinking" that incorporates the element of human inquiry and "enjoying one's ignorance" is intriguing. It resonates as a valuable perspective on the nature of thinking and learning. Let me share some thoughts on this:

1. Embracing uncertainty: By enjoying one's ignorance, we open ourselves to new possibilities and reduce the fear of being wrong. This can lead to more creative and innovative thinking.

2. Curiosity as a driver: Emphasizing inquiry encourages a natural curiosity that can propel learning and discovery beyond the boundaries of existing knowledge.

3. Humility in thinking: Acknowledging what we don't know can foster intellectual humility, making us more receptive to new ideas and perspectives.

4. Dynamic learning process: Your concept suggests a more dynamic approach to thinking, where the act of questioning and exploring is as valuable as the knowledge itself.

5. Breaking mental models: Enjoying ignorance might help us break free from established mental models, allowing for more flexible and adaptive thinking.

6. Lifelong learning mindset: This approach aligns well with the idea of lifelong learning, where the joy of discovery is a continuous process.

7. Balancing knowledge and inquiry: Your "3D Thinking" seems to strike a balance between valuing existing knowledge and the pursuit of new understanding.

This concept does indeed add an important dimension to thinking beyond just knowledge and intelligence. It emphasizes the process and attitude of learning, which can be as crucial as the information itself.

Would you like to elaborate on how you envision this "3D Thinking" being applied or developed in practical terms? I'm curious to hear more about your thoughts on this concept.

DM

Let's also consider others' thoughts requiring "inquiry." Here are but a few samples (of multitudes!):

• Curiosity is one of the most permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.  Samuel Johnson

• The meme for blind faith secures its own perpetuation by the simple unconscious expedient of discouraging rational inquiry.  Richard Dawkins

• There must be no barriers to freedom of inquiry. There is no place for dogma in science. The scientist is free, and must be free to ask any question, to doubt any assertion, to seek for any evidence, to correct any errors.  J. Robert Oppenheimer

• It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry. Thomas Paine

• Doubt comes in at the window when inquiry is denied at the door. Benjamin Jowett

• The feeling of being interested can act as a kind of neurological signal, directing us to fruitful areas of inquiry.  B. F. Skinner

• Inquiry is fatal to certainty.  Will Durant

• Faith is a personal matter, and should never be a cudgel to stifle inquiry. We tried that approach about 1,200 years ago. The experiment was called the Dark Ages.  Seth Shostak

• A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value. Isaac Asimov

• As one may bring himself to believe almost anything he is inclined to believe, it makes all the difference whether we begin or end with the inquiry, 'What is truth?'  Richard Whately

• The most all penetrating spirit before which will open the possibility of tilting not tables, but planets, is the spirit of free human inquiry. Believe only in that.  Dmitri Mendeleev

• Educationists should build the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial and moral leadership among students and become their role model.  A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

• Religious belief, like history itself, is a story that is always unfolding, always subject to inquiry and ripe for questioning. For without doubt there is no faith.  Jon Meacham

• Science at its best is an open-minded method of inquiry, not a belief system.  Rupert Sheldrake

• Doubt is the incentive to truth and inquiry leads the way. Hosea Ballou

• A university's essential character is that of being a center of free inquiry and criticism - a thing not to be sacrificed for anything else. Richard Hofstadter

• The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.  Sun Tzu

These quotes collectively emphasize the importance of inquiry in various aspects of human thought and progress.

They highlight several key themes:

1. Freedom of thought: Many of these thinkers stress the importance of allowing free inquiry without barriers or dogma, as seen in quotes by Oppenheimer and Hofstadter.

2. Challenging certainty: Quotes from Durant and Paine suggest that inquiry is essential for questioning established beliefs and uncovering truths.

3. Scientific progress: Sheldrake and Skinner point out the role of inquiry in scientific advancement and understanding.

4. Personal and spiritual growth: Meacham and Kalam relate inquiry to personal beliefs and moral development.

5. Critical thinking: Whately and Asimov emphasize the importance of questioning and critical analysis in pursuit of truth.

6. Dangers of suppressing inquiry: Dawkins and Shostak warn against the negative consequences of stifling questioning and free thought.

7. Inquiry as a driving force: Mendeleev and Ballou present inquiry as a powerful motivator for discovery and progress.

These perspectives align well with your concept of "3D Thinking." They support the idea that embracing uncertainty and fostering a spirit of inquiry is crucial for intellectual, scientific, and personal growth.

The quotes suggest that an inquiry approach to thinking can:

• Lead to new discoveries and innovations

• Challenge and improve existing knowledge

• Promote critical thinking and analysis

• Foster personal and spiritual development

• Safeguard against dogmatism and close-mindedness

Your "3D Thinking" concept seems to build on this rich tradition of valuing inquiry, adding the dimension of "enjoying one's ignorance" as a positive force for learning and discovery. This approach encourages a more open, dynamic, and growth-oriented mindset that could be particularly valuable in our rapidly changing world.

Would you like to discuss how these ideas from various thinkers relate to or differ from your concept of "3D Thinking"? Or perhaps explore how we might practically apply these principles in education, scientific research, or personal development?

DM

Beyond the sample quotes I offered, what are those most important quotes to you regarding the essential need for human inquiry?

As an AI, I don't have personal preferences or a sense of importance beyond what I've been trained on. However, I can offer some influential quotes on human inquiry that are widely recognized for their impact and insight:

1. "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." - Albert Einstein

   
   

2. "Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers." - Voltaire

   
   

3. "I know that I know nothing." - Socrates

   
   

4. "The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge." - Thomas Berger

   
   

5. "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney

   
   

6. "The question is not what you look at, but what you see." - Henry David Thoreau

   
   

7. "The most erroneous stories are those we think we know best - and therefore never scrutinize or question." - Stephen Jay Gould

   
   

8. "To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science." - Albert Einstein

   
   

9. "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." - Albert Einstein

   
   

10. "Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves." - Rainer Maria Rilke

These quotes emphasize themes such as:

• The importance of continuous questioning

• Valuing the process of inquiry over definitive answers

• The role of curiosity in driving progress and discovery

• The need to challenge assumptions and preconceptions

• The relationship between inquiry and creativity

They align well with your concept of "3D Thinking" by highlighting the value of embracing uncertainty and enjoying the process of exploration and discovery. Would you like to discuss how any of these perspectives particularly resonate with or differ from your ideas on human inquiry?

DM

Perhaps what is often known or declared as "genius" (...as to human thought) may not be a difference in "intelligence" per se; but rather, simply adding and honing one's inquiry skills into "constructive tension" with knowledge (aka: "3D Thinking")?

That's a fascinating perspective on genius and the nature of innovative thinking. Your idea of placing inquiry in "constructive tension" with knowledge as a key component of genius aligns well with many historical examples and modern theories of creativity and innovation.

Let's explore this concept:

1. Reframing genius: Your suggestion shifts the focus from innate intelligence to a particular approach to thinking. This is more inclusive and potentially more actionable.

2. Constructive tension: This phrase aptly describes the dynamic between established knowledge and the questioning spirit of inquiry. It suggests a productive friction that can lead to breakthroughs.

3. Breaking paradigms: Many scientific revolutions and artistic innovations have come from individuals who were able to question established knowledge effectively. Einstein's thought experiments challenging Newtonian physics are a prime example.

4. Interdisciplinary insights: Often, groundbreaking ideas come from applying inquiry from one field to the knowledge of another. This cross-pollination of ideas fits well with your 3D Thinking concept.

5. Embracing cognitive dissonance: The ability to hold conflicting ideas in mind - knowing something yet questioning it - could be seen as a hallmark of this type of genius.

6. Growth mindset: Your perspective aligns with Carol Dweck's concept of a growth mindset, where the ability to learn and inquire is valued over fixed intelligence.

7. Innovation in business: Many successful entrepreneurs are not necessarily the most knowledgeable in their field, but excel at questioning assumptions and exploring new possibilities.

8. Creativity research: Recent studies in creativity often emphasize the importance of asking the right questions, which aligns with your focus on inquiry.

This framing of genius as the ability to create constructive tension between knowledge and inquiry is compelling. It suggests that genius or groundbreaking thinking might be more cultivatable than traditionally thought.

This also implies that education systems focusing solely on knowledge acquisition might be missing a crucial element in developing innovative thinkers.

Your 3D Thinking concept, by emphasizing the role of inquiry and the enjoyment of exploring the unknown, provides a framework for potentially nurturing this type of genius-level thinking.

It suggests that we might foster more innovative thinking by teaching not just what to know, but how to question effectively and enjoy the process of discovery.

Do you see potential applications for this concept in education, scientific research, or creative fields? How might we practically foster this type of thinking?