Discussion»Questions»Communication» Why? Humans have a need to know "why"? What difference does it make? Knowing "why" changes nothing. Why not just accept without question?
Good point m'dear. Of what value is understanding if nothing comes from it? Sometimes knowing why is counterproductive and exacerbates rather than illuminates. Thank you for your thoughtful answer Rob and Happy Valentine's Day Tuesday to you! :)
The quest to know why is a defining characteristic, perhaps the defining characteristic, of being human. What would medical science be without the quest to know the why of disease? What would personal and social relationships be without trying to know the why of peoples actions? The same for all our technology, history and well, anything.
It is not human to know why or what. This is a product of Western civilization. We are taught from birth to think "cause and effect" Even our language is cause and effect based. Some civilizations (and languages) are not cause and effect but rather relationships. For example a researcher was on an island in the South Pacific (sorry, I do not recall the name) and the natives said.. We are going to the other Island to hunt turtles and turtle eggs as today is a good day for turtle hunting. On asking "Why today?" they were unable to explain other than today was a good day for turtles on that Island. They just knew. They did not use cause and effect. It was all relationships. We would have said, its a full moon, the right time of year, and the winds are in the right direction (or some such thing) It is very difficult to not think cause and effect if you have been taught to think that way.
Still thinking cause and effect eh! :) Perhaps, but I do know the other way of thinking is not only possible, but it exists. Even the Chinese speak in relationships rather than cause and effect.
"Relationship" is the very definition of cause and effect. Without some understanding of cause and effect one will not survive long. One looks right and left before crossing a street because one understands the relationship, cause, of a fast moving, relatively massive object colliding with a rather fragile biological body, effect. High death rates of mothers giving birth was very much lessened by understanding the relationship, cause, of unwashed hands and infection, effect. (Dr. Ignatz Sammelwies). Cholera and dysentery are mitigated by understanding cause and effect of contaminated drinking water.
The islanders presumably had an understanding of some cause and effect for their turtle hunting even if they did not express it as such. It is unlikely the decision to go to the other island was just arbitrary. Availability of food on the other island. Water currents. Mating needs. But not just some unfounded guess.
Robster 