Recently, I have been exploring Taoist philosophy, which dates back to 300 BC. A central theme in Taoism is the importance of maintaining an open awareness of the world and trusting in one’s inner self. When this state of being is lost, we may begin to look outside ourselves for answers, potentially creating systems that restrict our personal freedom.
“When they lose their sense of awe, people turn to religion. When they no longer trust themselves, they begin to depend on authority.”
—Stephen Mitchell, Tao Te Ching
Senses vs Measurable Scales
This is an interesting idea to contemplate. Reflecting back on the Age of Enlightenment, which sounds ideal in many ways, I’ve come to understand it as a time when we stopped relying on our senses for truth. Instead, we outsourced our understanding to ‘experts’ and ‘measurable scales.’
While I appreciate that the Enlightenment encouraged us to think more broadly and not accept dogma, I also feel it may have limited what we allow ourselves to consider. It’s as if something can only be true if it can be proven by some measurable device.
Does our need for proof limit our capacity for wonder?
Though scientific materialism has its place, I believe there is far more to the world that we don’t know and cannot prove. We have yet to create the necessary measuring devices to understand everything. Does our need for proof limit our capacity for wonder?