Time to Think!
We all get so caught up in the day-to-day aspects of our lives that we forget to take some time away from everything to just think.
As a student of Philosophy at UCLA, I spent four years thinking through very complex issues ranging from the assumptions underpinning our political system to practical ethics to the possibility of different worlds. Philosophy is a very intense field of study that allows no room for error in logic or judgment.
What is it that determines my identity?
Is it my memory?
Is it a vital organ in my body?
If I lost my memory and woke up on a remote island in the South Pacific, would I still be me?
I didn’t realize this when I was sitting up in my dorm room at 4 a.m. writing a paper on “Retrograde Amnesia; Am I Still Me?” but my education in philosophy has been critical in every aspect of my life.
I am not suggesting that every artist should study philosophy for 4 years at UCLA (Heavens no!) but I do believe that it is important for us to take time to reflect, think and improve our mental faculties.
Examples could be:
• Picking up a book on philosophy and actually reading it
• Taking 10 minutes every day without distractions to think and reflect
• Thinking through complex issues systematically and critically
This “stretching of the mind” sharpens our judgment and clarifies our focus. In turn, this ignites and sparks our creativity.
Tags: Philosophy, Reflect, Think, UCLA