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Opinions, Scientific Proofs, and The Worth of Experience
- Oliver Mbamara
A reader once commented about the lack of scientific foundation in the conclusions of my writings. This person urged me to do more scientific research. Probably, this person is a scientist or perhaps a strong believer in the sciences. There is no intention to offend the scientists, but given the applicable circumstances I hope to continue sharing my thoughts through my writings, and as I do that, I hope to remain open to new understanding. By no means do I expect that my writings will please all readers. Most human perspectives, opinions, and believes will always vary because that is “natural.” Oh, I am sorry; there I go again, making a non-scientific conclusion (since I have no scientific proof that human perspectives will always vary), but again, I know this by experience and my experience remains my authority. No one can take such authority away from another individual, unless the individual lets that happen.
Isn’t it more gainful to be open to learning more about life rather than bothering on what the means or source is called – religion, philosophy, science, geography, astronomy, etc? The man who believes that he knows it all thereby leaves no room for any additional or different knowledge. I will continue to admit that I am still learning because life is still teaching me like many of us will concede, and that to me is my own scientific research. If one’s understanding of life and the recognition of oneself as Soul is helped by science, religion, philosophy, astronomy, or any other source of education, shouldn’t one gladly acknowledge the source rather than quarrel over which source is better? Nevertheless, one must always do one thing for oneself – endeavor to check the veracity of fact or knowledge by experiencing for oneself through one’s experience (primary or secondary,
which includes observing and learning from someone else’s experience) That way one could boldly cite the experience of such fact or knowledge as one’s authority.
The man who acknowledges that he is a student of life and that he still has much to learn, will not condemn a theory or believe as being false simply because he has not experienced it yet. He may not propagate or promote it since he is yet to prove it for himself by his own experience, but he will certainly do all he can to respect it for what it is. The man who opens his heart to learn gets wiser by the moment. Life is a learning process and until a lesson is learnt the substance will remain unknown (or forgotten).
I will only be expressing the ignorance of my ignorance if I posit that someone else’s opinion or belief is wrong or without basis simply because it does not follow the same premise as my own. Mathematicians insist on theories and the principle of following laid down equations to arrive at the true answer to a mathematical question, yet they also agree that the answer to a mathematical question may be arrived at using different or variable calculus or equations. The man who propagated the fact that the earth was round and not flat went through tough times trying to convince the then authorities accordingly. Should we fight over his background? Whether he achieved as Soul, or through science, geography, astronomy, philosophy, or any other name called?
Man has been wrong before in some of his beliefs (or believes) and so has science. Man has been right in some cases before and so has science. Such is the nature of life – it is all a learning process. The ability to appreciate this simple fact would go a long way in helping man’s progress whether he believes in religion, science, philosophy, astronomy, psychology, geography, or nature. That is my understanding, and I am still learning.
Opinions, Proofs, And Experience
Opinions will always vary
Perspectives must always differ
And so must premises of conclusions
Shall we dwell on differences
And question the basis used
To come to revelation of fact?
Or shall we approach with open heart
The doors of wisdom and education
Willing to gain from the substance?
The choice we make will truly tell
If humbly we will learn and grow
Or in ignorance remain unchanged.
©Oliver
O. Mbamara, 2004
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Oliver Mbamara is an Administrative Law Judge
with the State of New York. He is also a filmmaker and a Published Poet
and playwright. For more on Oliver, please visit www.olivermbamara.com
For
background/research reference on this piece, click on this link
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