Why Confusion Is Good For You
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- čas přidán 26. 07. 2024
- Companion Blogpost:
rcwaldun.com/blog/the-pleasur...
Books mentioned in this video:
Madness and Civilization by Michel Foucault: www.amazon.com/Madness-Civili...
Understanding Deleuze: www.amazon.com/Understanding-...
How to deal with confusion when you're trying to understand subjects like history, philosophy, and literature.
Links:
There's A Tale To This City (Non-fiction collection) : rcwaldun.com/
Blog/Personal Essays: rcwaldun.com/blog
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My Instagram: / r.c.waldun
It all comes back to the phrase commonly attributed to Socrates "I only know that I know nothing" or something similar, right? I take it as "I know I know something, but compared to all the things that are out there that I know that exist but don't understand and all the things I don't even know that exist, it is so minimal that I feel like I know nothing." I always end up writing big blocks of text here, so I'll just leave as it is for now. I love your videos, you always bring great ideas and topics for interesting conversations.
Paradox
Solo se que nada se ❤ The must humble phrase ever
@@nathalyescobar2950 paradox
There will be always something new to study, always. In a way is agonizing: how many great books we shall never read or even know about?
To quote Neil DeGrasse Tyson, "One of the great challenges in this world is knowing enough about something to _think_ that you're right but _not_ enough about something, to know that you're wrong."
The quote itself, which comes from the trailer video of his MasterClass, is a reference to the Dunning-Krueger Effect where the average person overestimates their ability and competence, but it also talks about mastery in acquiring knowledge in any field. When we try to learn something deeply, we're trying to go from "I don't know what I don't know" to the advanced stage of "I know what I don't know". Basically, when you start learning a field, you don't know anything. In fact, you don't know anything to the point where you can't even really know what are the borders of the subject that you're learning. You just have to start learning and set a foundation in order to learn more. Later, when you've accrued more knowledge and learned more about a subject, now you know what exactly it is that you don't know. You know where the gaps in your knowledge that you have not yet filled are. "I know A, B, and C. And I don't know X, Y, and Z."
Do you get what I mean?
I really needed this. I am writing an essay that is so difficult and I keep thinking, maybe I'm not actually intelligent enough to write this. It feels good to be reminded that it is OK to find something challenging, and not to give up because that's how you grow. Thank you.
Biophysics was my favorite subject at my first year in the med school, but if I’m being honest - at first I understood nothing! I remember I used to attend extra lectures, asking my professor to go through subject once more on the seminars, but still, when I opened the book I understood nothing and ironically enough, it was my favorite subject during the whole course. Then I started writing diaries about my studying process, I made notes about what/how I understood in the beginning, middle and the end of a chapter and every note ended with the phrase: ‘keep going it will make sense in the end.’ This was the best thing I’ve learned about learning so far. Understanding something is not only an achievement, it’s a process and also you’ll never know everything, so just keep going.
Little P.S.
I’m more than excited to follow your journey of understanding process and sharing your understandings.
I love how you write diaries of your studying process, i feel like i need to do the same! 🥺💗
Finding pleasure in being confused is not only useful, but revolutionary.
As humans, we're geared towards certainty and maintaining a specific worldview. It's been helpful for survival but in the pursuit of truth, finding pleasure in being uncertain helps us stay more open-minded...
I don't know how but the timing of this video is perfect. I've just started college and I already feel confused with one of the subjects' readings because it's something completely new.
I resonate with what you said. I think it's also the idea of being ashamed to fail, to not understand all from the beginning. We tend to set to high of a goal when we are experiencing something new and when the reality doesn't match our perspective we panic and tend to run from that situation.
Learning is a complex process, it takes time and patience and you are put in situations when things get confusing. It's normal, it happens and we need to learn to accept it and work with that confusion.
Have fun! Education is a long and satisfying journey if you face it with the right outlook. Take it slow, make mistakes, play with new ideas and give yourself plenty of time to digest what you've read. Best of luck. :)
@@RCWaldun Always a thoughtful person, thank you very much! I'll try to make the most out of it!
If you want some help, I recommend checking out the free "Learning How To Learn" course that's available on Coursera along with the ever invaluable book "How To Read A Book" by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Dorean. Trust me, the former will help you with meta learning, as in learning how to learn which will certainly help you a lot and the latter recommendation will help you immensely in becoming a more active reader and provides plenty of fantastic tips on how to approach reading different types of books. Trust me, for a less than $20 investment, you'll get the value paid back hundredfold with these 2 recommendations to help you with learning.
@@ajiththomas2465 that's so helpful! Thank you very much for this useful advice! I will check it for sure!
@@antoniasandra2064
You're welcome and good luck!
To quote Neil DeGrasse Tyson, "One of the great challenges in this world is knowing enough about something to _think_ that you're right but _not_ enough about something, to know that you're wrong."
The quote itself, which comes from the trailer video of his MasterClass, is a reference to the Dunning-Krueger Effect where the average person overestimates their ability and competence, but it also talks about mastery in acquiring knowledge in any field. When we try to learn something deeply, we're trying to go from "I don't know what I don't know" to the advanced stage of "I know what I don't know". Basically, when you start learning a field, you don't know anything. In fact, you don't know anything to the point where you can't even really know what are the borders of the subject that you're learning. You just have to start learning and set a foundation in order to learn more. Later, when you've accrued more knowledge and learned more about a subject, now you know what exactly it is that you don't know. You know where the gaps in your knowledge that you have not yet filled are. "I know A, B, and C. And I don't know X, Y, and Z."
Do you get what I mean?
As a philosophy student who gets really distracted and overwhelmed on the regular, watching your videos always helps me recalibrate. I always leave your videos with a renewed sense of determination and faith in my abilities that I usually end up questioning. Thanks for this and all your interesting, well-thought out, genuine content :)
I think I experienced that confusion mostly in conversations, when a group of people are discussing and debating about any subject that too complicated for me to understand, so I just stood there as an observer or a listener while slowly learning and trying to understand the subject that entirely new for me, sometimes it feels like being a toddler that tries to get the meaning behind what the adults are talking about. and as I lay in bed at night, I start to replay the conversation that I've recorded in my head, again and again and I started to feel a joy of slowly understanding and sometimes it brings me to more questions to ask, and more mysteries to be solved
your voice is just sooo professional! if i have that voice I'd literally read out loud alllll day!
Very insightful video, Robin! I can empathize with that feeling of confusion when first attempting literature, philosophy, or learning a new language. It can be an excruciating process, but it's such a beautiful feeling once your undertstanding starts growing and you've at least found your footing in the subject. It's also very interesting for me to see the documentation of your intellectual journey like this, as I'm the same age and trying to find my way as well. Your drive for understanding and knowledge in the subjects your passionate about is very admirable to me! ☺️✨
Negative Capability. Keats had it going on. Blake as well “Without Contraries …” Great video. Thank you for the insights and reminders.
yes, yes and yes! Needed to hear this. Keep going R!
It’s so frustrating when you are confused by something, want to solve it and fail over and over again. But it’s more frustrating when people tell you to “take a break”. I understand that they don’t want me to get a burn out but I don’t need a break
I NEED ANSWERS
I’m learning linguistics for the time and as I’m trying to get a handle on everything, this video was exactly what I needed to hear
i needed to hear that, thank you!
I really like this video. I’m my 50s and have willingly spent most of life confused for better or for worse. I read madness and civilization when I was 18 too! Thanks for putting yourself out there and documenting your journey!
In other words, intellectual humility is essential for intellectual growth
I needed this💜
Rare youngins, keep it up!💥
3:31 book
4:48 uncomfort of weird feelings so u avoid
7:59 to still go on
Even though I am almost twice your age, you still are a great source of wisdom
Thank you sir. :)
Bruh you're literally saving my life.
Perfect timing. I am about to start Being and Time by Martin Heidegger tomorrow
Good luck. :)
I believe that most people in the world are generally confused about the deep and tough questions of life. Of course, there is truth out there, but I don't think you'll ever meet anyone that has all the amswers.
I see what you are saying, receptivity to others as a method of overcoming confusion is viable but at the same time that can inhibit creative interpretation. There is a certain amount of trust and play involved when engaging these ideas. If you look through this window trying to see what everyone else is seeing you are potentially robbing yourself of something. This is why I would recommend people ground or unground themselves spiritually and psychologically before they even bother delving into anything metaphysical. Otherwise you will be grappling with your own preconceptions and worse yet the preconceptions of others. Enter metaphysics like a baby, as free from narratives or goals as you can possibly be.
I always love listening to your self- proclaimed rambles. They're highly insightful and again, always a pleasure!
Being confused can be scary and embarrassing, but it's important to remember that we're all students. We're all learners. Just because you've interpreted something wrong or don't understand anything you're reading doesn't mean that you're dumb, it just means that you have work to do and you will eventually come to understand all of these incredibly complex concepts later down the line with the help of your mentors.
They also (somehow) always seem to have some relevance to something in my internal life at the time, as if you're telepathic 😂 it's also very reassuring to know, there's a whole community dedicated to these delicate insights. I feel alone no longer xxx
Being confused is the first step towards knowing you are about to learn something new.
What you probably did not intend is that you've been giving me inspiration on how to read and study the bible. I've already read it, but it's something to consider as daily food. I am a believer, so it is an interest of mine, but as you mention your academic interests, it's all in there, so I'm curious, have you read it?
the thumbnail and the structure of the video also the starting line kinda reminds me of your older vids
I'm making a return to older and more reading-related topics.
I love your voice idk why XD
Thank you so much for this video.
I have many philosophical books on my want-to-read list, but I'm not able to start reading any of them. I tend to think that i am to inexperienced as a high school student and that i should gain more knowledge in this field just to start reading and learning about things that interest me.
Now i know that it's just this feeling of insecurity that holds me back. The act of reading these books will be the best chance to gain this experience which i think i'm lacking.
Also, I have the question for the audience. Do you know any youtuber who will inspire me in the same way Robin does but in more scientific subjects like maths and phisics?
Varitasium, Smarter Everyday and Physics Girl are all really good channels if you're interested in Physics and Mathematics.
I joined AP World history this year, and I came into the classroom not knowing what will happen. I do not know how to take notes. I couldn't understand a word my teacher was saying. I felt a lot of confusion. Usually, when I'm trying something new, there is a point where I stop. When I stop, it's when I feel confusion. I guess the key to that is asking, what am I doing that allows me to stop.
I've an older video on how to study history: czcams.com/video/Ngk09xRRzW8/video.html
Check it out and I hope it'll give you a few nuggets of insight. :) Good luck with your studies.
@@RCWaldun Thank you so much!
What was the name of those two books you mentioned in the first half of the video!!
I'll link them in the decription.
Confusion is a limitation when you refuse being dealt it.
My issue is less intellectual uncertainty than it is general uncertainty.
Yeah....the framing that I resort to now is I think of being clear-pilled when I think about whatever subject I am interested in (as opposed to red-pilled or blue-pilled or black-pilled etc). By this of course I mean that I am thinking clearly about something. I understand if it is poorly written or propagandistic or if it is supporting or dissenting against a particular narrative.
Quick question RC: Does this funneling or narrowing process lead you to any conclusions or does it cause you to have any particular world view that you feel is a (largely) settled position within yourself?
I only ask because the tiny bit of interaction I have had with the postmodernist stuff convinces me that it would be rather difficult to settle on any sort of position, everything would really on ever be capable of being viewed as an ever shifting relative position (relative to everyone else's relative position).
I think it's healthy to have a temporarily position for utilitarian reasons (otherwise we run the risk of not making any arguments at all or do anything at all) but also be open to new readings, experiences and interactions that could destabilise that temporarily stance. Also in my opinion it's also important to maintain a healthy gap between intellectual pursuits and real life, so that we don't go insane when we make a trip down to the grocery store.
@@RCWaldun thank you for reply lad. Very much appreciated. I'm 49 so I think I am pretty comfortable having settled(ish) positions.
But the intellectual pursuit must certainly be stepped outside regularly and you need to interact with daily reality on its own terms too.
As far as reading goes I am halfway through Solzhenitsyn's November 1916.
It's my second time to read it and with my more....ah ...settled world view I am actually enjoying it more second time around! :-)
pls do a book recommendation video
Hey can you suggest any book for understanding eastern culture and their religions?
One that immediately comes to mind is Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. I haven't read too much eastern philosophy yet but I'll definitely dive deeper into it.
What’s probably the most intellectually mind expanding book you’ve read?
Not sure yet. :)
@@RCWaldun fair enough, with that said what’s a a deep read you would recommend?
I don't like confusion as it implies to me a frantic going to and fro between things and thinking hopelessly: which is it? what's the answer? Is anything of it true, these theories chosen to the exclusion of other theories crammed down our throats at school... and we pay for the privilege... treat them like playdoh I say! Pick it all apart, squoosh bits together as you please and form something new or stomp it all under your feet, it's all the same, the important thing is you're having fun.
Nice vid
PROFESSOR?? 😼🙀🙀🙀🙀
Derrida is much easier to understand if you read the bigger philosophers before him. The ones that talk in depth about phenomenology.
Completely. Conceptualizing his work as a response to phenomenology makes more sense, whereas a few years ago I thought Derrida was simply working out another theory of language. Currently going back to Wittgenstein to sort out some loose ends.
@@RCWaldun Wittgenstein is a great choice. Good luck to you finding those loose ends!
Waldrun, have you read Alder on reading? He's saying much the same thing as you are. Here czcams.com/video/fHMRdZqhliA/video.html
Please start a podcast please
The algorithm knows that I like my R.C. Waldun right after watching Iraq combat footage
Please start a podcast.
Man are u single
Hey Robin. Don’t be so hard on yourself. L’Acadamie was actually very good.