The right question

In education and research, asking good questions is key to learning, innovation and new directions. Religion, philosophy, institutions, science and superstition all try to answer our basic need to know why and how stuff happens. 

Some cultures tend to encourage questions in learning more than others and I hope the whole world is moving towards that. While some fear asking stupid questions, others are encouraged to be inquisitive, curious and investigate freely.

In the movie IRobot, the avatar of a dead scientist has a limited list of responses so it is up to Will Smith to ask the right question. Life is simple enough without the way we add so many requirements, don'ts, have-to's, world views, grudges, debts, limits that the right question is probably so simple, it still eludes us.

For example, in mathematics which is a logical model of the world, the concept of zero and infinity is absolutely essential in innovation such as quantum mechanics (which gave us semi-conductors and therefore the digital age)... We only had arithmetic and other simple number crunching before that using tools like the abacus which I think 21st Century kids will never have heard of.

Being a geek and nerd at heart, I see how key the simple concept of zero and infinity is, as does Mr. Kahn of khanacademy.org. Neither concept actually exist in real life. We can never find nothing or endlessness as examples.

It also translates to real life. Many commentators of the last Century said we no longer needed God in modern times. I beg to differ.

If we need the non-existent concepts of zero and infinity in math. and science to make sense of the world, we also need the concept of nothing and endlessness in life to make true sense. Some would call this concept: God.

And questions I ask Him everyday is: how do I connect with fellow humans to overcome our desperation? I hope this is the right question.