Something we all seem to be addicted to is the news. Let us remember that the word “news†stems from the word “newâ€. Proto indo European “newosâ€.
Why new?
Something I am addicted to and endlessly fascinated with is innovation. That is, creating new. New things, new innovations, new approaches, etc.
I have this funny habit of scrolling through a random amount of websites on the near daily level, which includes the tesla.com website, apple.com website, the yeezysupply.com website, etc. 99% of the time I am disappointed, because frequently there is nothing new. With the exception of the easy supply.com website, where Kanye is always releasing a new sneaker.
Even a critique with Kanye West and Yeezy; when the Yeezy sneakers first came out, they were insanely different and innovative. However it seems as of late, the new trend is simply releasing slightly different color ways, perhaps to appease the crowd. I think as a result, Yeezy has lost her dominance, eclipsed by the “Air Jordan†brand. For example, now if you visit the stockx.com website, you don’t even see Yeezy as listed as one of the top brands.
How to make new?
Some practical thoughts include attempting and experimenting with new techniques and approaches. For example, something very innovative I think I have been doing is experimenting and innovating new ways of lifting weights at the gym. This includes a new philosophy technique and approach of increasing the weight, reducing the range of motion. Contrary to popular belief, I have still been making monster gains, both in terms of muscle, and overall vigor. For example my 6 plate rack pull.
For example, there is this bias in weight lifting that in order to do a “proper“ deadlift, you must lift the weight directly off the floor. And for some reason, to lift the weight higher off the floor is seen as “cheating“, or “improper“.
Also, form. A lot of unindependent thinkers think that they must do a deadlift with a “conventional“ form. Yet this is foolish, as doing a sumo stance increases your leverage, thus allowing you to lift more.
On going to a different or new country
One of my greatest gains of traveling to Phnom Penh Cambodia this summer was discovering the new trap bar and hex bar. Also, switching to lifting weights in kilograms, in which I am not intimidated by the numbers, as I have no concept of kilogram numbers.
For example, in my mind I know that five plates at the gym, five of the 45 pound red plates, around 500 pounds is heavy. However, if somebody tells me something is 250 kg, I have no idea if that is heavy or not.
Therefore, a huge pragmatic thought is that in order to innovate, or think new, or break out of traditional motive thinking, you must not live in your own country forever. You must travel, explore new places, and expose yourself to new thoughts.
For example, I believe that a lot of the early ancient Greek thinkers actually traveled to India, where they learned pseudo-Buddhist forms of thinking, also, to Egypt, where they learned Egyptian notions of reincarnation, etc. For example, it seems that the notion of eternal life, or life after death is a mostly Egyptian notion; for example, read Tacitus Histories Book V — (full text here)
Also, if you read a lot of the ancient pre-Socratic philosophers, that is, the philosophers who have come before Socrates, such as Democritus, Heraclitus, etc., a lot of their thoughts on impermanence sounds very much like modern day Buddhism or Zen. Even in the ancient world, interaction between ancient Greece, Egypt, and India crated lots of new forms of thinking.
Or more recently, going to South Korea, both in Seoul and the mountainside of Hadong. Whether I like it or not, a lot of my cultural upbringing, and ethics in mode of being is from Korea, namely, Confucianism, neo Confucianism (new Confucianism). Also, my delight in seeing all the new Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis cars.
One of the good thing about being in foreign places is that it forces you to think differently. For example, even though my Korean is not that great, spending some time in South Korea is good for me, as thinking more in Korean, reading more Korean being exposed to Korean things, and speaking Korean gives birth to new thoughts.
Critiquing is good for thinking
Another thought is that when it comes to thinking, challenging your traditional modes of thinking, and beliefs, is to judge and critique is good. I think critique and the art of critiquing is good if it favors birth to new thinking. For example, to simply a critique or criticize something without planning on changing anything I think is a little bit futile.
For example, my critique on Korea and Korean society; to judge the pros and cons of Korean society, as a lens to better analyze and critique American society.
What does it mean to critique? I believe in the art of a constructive critique, that is a critique that actually goes somewhere and does something positive. To critique simply means to judge an ancient Greek, “kritikosâ€. However, the reason why so many people fail at the art of critiquing is because they lack the courage to base their thoughts on their own self, experiences of their own, and feel as if they always need to quote some other famous thinker or philosopher.
For example, I never trust anybody who quotes Martin Heidegger, notions of the Panopticon, any French thinkers or philosophers, etc. Why? A lot of the modern day philosophers, essentially any philosopher in the last 200 years, their thinking is too convoluted, to abstruse, to bloated, and also to pretentious. My personal theory is that a lot of these so-called philosophers simply wanted to become as strange and convoluted as possible, and to become as incomprehensible as possible, in order to not be critiqued or judged by anyone, because they are so understandable.
How do you judge a true thinker? A true thinker never needs to quote anybody else and simply speaks their mind. And then if you think about it, most kids are philosophers, as they actually have the courage to question things, and, their rebelliousness might be annoying to some parents and teachers, but should be encouraged. Why? If it wasn’t for the rebelliousness of us Steve Jobs, we would not have all of these beautiful Apple tools and creative devices, something which has even been insanely great for my son Seneca, at one year nine months, he can make beats on GarageBand, and even record his own voice as a part of his musical instrument. The iPhone and iPad, if use correctly, is one of the greatest creative devices and creative instruments known to man.
