Why do humans ask questions?
This question fascinates me.
Here is what I have been learning from my observations :
1) Children tend to ask questions that are driven by curiosity. If these questions are refined, they turn out to be philosophical. Eg: Why do we live?
2) Adults tend to ask questions that are generally connected to economics. On average, their questions are more on ‘how’ than on ‘why’.
3) A dialogue is actually a volley of questions and answers. We somehow tend to under-appreciate this. What we generally ascribe to Socrates is something present in all cultures. It is worth exploring this questioning tradition in all cultures. Eg.: Tarka shastra.
4) A great way to engage with a book is to read it as a series of answers to implicit questions. I am amazed to see how interesting and active reading becomes. This also works for research papers and sometimes even on fiction.
5) A collection of questions is a sub-set of knowledge. The answers derived from these questions can lead to further questions. Following this process will give you a ‘body of knowledge’. There is some fractal nature to this.
6) Scientific thinking is essentially a systematic way of asking questions. The operational word here is ‘systematic’. The structure of these questions is such that it fosters further enquiry, but it is also open-ended. That way, it gives us room for creative thinking.
7) Creative thinking, in essence, is a question of effective combination. It becomes ‘creative’ when the sum of parts creates something new AND relevant. The conjunction is its vitality.
8) Finding an error in our thinking also originates in questioning. In fact, error analysis is a form of questioning from a different viewpoint. It requires us to shift our perspective, and the central question is where and when to shift?
9) Questioning is an inherent human quality. Fostering this is not only existential but also very useful. Etymologically “systematic treatment of an art, craft, or technique” means technology. If you observe, its roots are connected to scientific thinking (see 6).
10) Questioning is generally considered a part of the means to an end. If you observe, it is a means that never ends. Worth asking – Why?
