Is it a good thing to question your motives, to decide values, priorities and convictions independently?

Question

Wayne Dyer tells a story from his grade school days. He came home and said his teacher had called him a "scurvy elephant."

They called the teacher to find out exactly what the teacher meant by that.

"Oh, that Wayne, he gets everything wrong. I didn’t say he was a scurvy elephant. I said he was a DISTURBING ELEMENT!"

Not to take anything away from Dyer, who has a lot of good things to say about psychology and personal growth, but a "disturbing element" he is NOT!!!

Dyer went on to observe that being a disturbing element is not necessarily a bad thing.

Is it a good thing to be the person who questions the culture’s holy writs, and insist that every form of authority has an obligation to justify itself?

Do you agree it’s just a really good thing to think for yourself in an informed and thoughtful way?

But society’s nonconformists do not usually have an easy time of it, at least not while they’re alive.

Are you an independent thinker?

In what way?

Answer 1

To answer your initial question, if you are a decent
person of good ethics, consult your conscience.

Live right, do right and act right. It's as easy as that.
The rest falls into place.

We should not need a book of rules in any way, shape
or form to know how to live like decent human beings
among one another.

Answer 2

I am an independant thinker to some extent. I will try things diferently from what I am told, just to see how things turn out.

For instance, If we need to solve problem A. and you say, "Ah, we have a documented solution for that!"
and you go on to give me detailed documented instruction as to how to solve this problem. I may glance at the document and read how it was done....but I may not follow it...because there might be other ways to resolve the problem.
Sometimes you need to do things differently to get new results! Getting the same results may resolve the issue at hand, but are you learning anything different.....even if the new ideas I have are all failures...thats ok, because I can apply it later.

By the same token...I am not independant enough to voice contrary positions in a crowd of people who I know will not appreaciate it. Or dress a certain way, to incite a reaction. The reason being it that it might alienate me in that crowd and blow my chances of them ever listening to my suggestions.

So I guess I am a free thinking conformist ;-)
To me, "Disturbing Element" is someone who not only has free thought...but will push their ideas until everyone turns there head and looks (and maybe listens....) this can cause unwanted animosity and may even cause prople to reject what they otherwise might have given a chance.
That is not me at all...

"Is it a good thing to question cultures holy writs...that every form of authority has an obligation to justify itself".....
Well, in the scientific community, you bet, but culture norms and deviates is an evolving structure.... you can question, but it seems not without reprecussions.
Is it a good thing?...I think it depends on what the individual is willing to give up for the price of that free thought....I think it is healthy to question...but also just as healthy to first understand why it is so in the first place...What are the motivators and do they still fit.

I'm I a informed individual? ....I am not sure how to answer that...I can always be better informed. I can't even compare myself to my peers, as I am never sure how informed they are either...People suprise me all the time!

Answer 3

It is a good thing because it encourages progress.

But for the individual it can be a very difficult existence. People don't like being told they are living a lie, or that their purpose and meaning in life is based on myth.

Answer 4

One instance is when I was 12, I snuck out to my moms car to try a cigarette on the 1947 Chevy cigarette lighter. Since I didn't have a cigarette I used Toilet Paper instead, he he, the experience was so terrible I decided right then never to smoke. Same with drugs and alcohol, people all my life have tried to get me to start. But I ignore them. :)

Answer 5

Yes, it's your decisions, feel free to think what you want

Answer 6

i belive it is wrong to base all your morals and ideas on what they taught, you gotta see both sides of things and consider them yourself

Answer 7

Yes, I was not consulted when the damn laws were made.

Answer 8

who isen't an independent thinker!?!

Answer 9

not as much as i would like.. with all the other outside influences and all...

Answer 10

think what you want believe what you want, and always try to consider all perspectives....