ClassX Video Lessons Your Mind is an Excellent Servant, but a Terrible Master – David Foster Wallace
Greetings to the graduating class of 2005 at Kenyon College. As you embark on this new chapter, let’s explore a story that offers profound insights into our everyday lives. Imagine two young fish swimming along when they meet an older fish who asks, “How’s the water?” The young fish swim on, puzzled, until one asks the other, “What is water?”
This tale reminds us that the most obvious and significant realities are often the hardest to perceive. While this might seem straightforward, it holds deep relevance in the complexities of adult life.
Today, I want to discuss the true value of your liberal arts education. It’s often said that such an education teaches you not just what to think, but how to think. You might find this notion a bit condescending, given your academic achievements. However, the real lesson here is about choosing what to think about, which is far from trivial.
Reflect on the fish story and consider how recognizing the obvious can be incredibly valuable. This awareness is a crucial part of your education.
Consider another story: two people, one religious and one atheist, are in a bar in Alaska. They debate the existence of God. The atheist recounts a time when he was lost in a blizzard and prayed for help, only to be rescued by passersby. The religious person sees this as divine intervention, while the atheist attributes it to chance.
This illustrates how experiences can be interpreted differently based on personal beliefs. It’s essential to understand that our perspectives are shaped by our choices and experiences. Recognizing this can help us appreciate diverse viewpoints.
We often fall into the trap of being overly certain about our beliefs. This certainty can blind us to other possibilities. Learning to think involves cultivating humility and being open to the idea that our convictions might be flawed.
We all tend to see ourselves as the center of our universe, interpreting everything through a self-centered lens. This is a natural human tendency, but it’s crucial to consciously adjust this perspective.
Academic education can sometimes lead us into abstract thinking, detaching us from reality. However, the true lesson is about controlling our thoughts and choosing what to focus on. If we don’t make this choice, we risk becoming overwhelmed by our own minds.
The saying “the mind is an excellent servant but a terrible master” holds true. Many people who struggle with despair do so because they are trapped by their thoughts. Your education empowers you to navigate life consciously, avoiding this trap.
As you transition into adulthood, you’ll face routine and frustration. Imagine a tedious grocery shopping trip after a long day. It’s easy to feel irritated, but this is where the work of choosing how to think becomes vital.
Instead of viewing these moments as personal affronts, consider the experiences of others around you. This shift in perspective can transform frustration into empathy and understanding.
The true freedom of education lies in deciding what holds meaning in your life. In adulthood, everyone worships something, whether it’s material possessions, beauty, or intellect. These forms of worship can lead to dissatisfaction if left unchecked.
The world often encourages us to operate on default settings, perpetuating fear and frustration. However, the most valuable freedom involves awareness, discipline, and caring for others.
This perspective may not seem grand, but it represents a fundamental truth about life and education. It’s about being aware of what is essential and often hidden in plain sight. This is water. Staying conscious and engaged in the adult world is a lifelong endeavor, and your education is just the beginning of this journey.
Take some time to write a reflective journal entry about a recent experience where you might have overlooked the “water” in your life. Consider how this awareness could change your perspective and actions in similar situations in the future.
Join a group discussion where each member shares a personal story that was interpreted differently by others. Discuss how these differing perspectives can enrich your understanding and appreciation of diverse viewpoints.
Participate in a debate where you argue either for the importance of certainty in beliefs or the value of remaining open to new ideas. Reflect on how this exercise influences your own approach to certainty and openness in your thinking.
Attend a mindfulness meditation session focused on becoming aware of your thoughts and choosing what to focus on. Practice this skill in your daily life to enhance your ability to control your thoughts and reactions.
Engage in an empathy exercise where you observe a mundane situation, such as waiting in line, and consciously shift your perspective to consider the experiences of those around you. Share your insights with the class.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided transcript, removing any informal language, potential offensive content, and maintaining a respectful tone:
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Greetings and congratulations to Kenyon’s graduating class of 2005. If anyone feels the need to express themselves, please feel free to do so.
There are two young fish swimming along when they encounter an older fish swimming in the opposite direction. The older fish nods and asks, “Good morning, boys. How’s the water?” The two young fish continue swimming for a while, and eventually, one turns to the other and asks, “What is water?”
This story serves as a reminder that the most obvious and important realities are often the hardest to see and discuss. While this may sound like a simple statement, in the daily challenges of adult life, such observations can hold significant importance.
Today, I am expected to discuss your liberal arts education and explain its intrinsic value beyond mere material gain. One common assertion in commencement speeches is that a liberal arts education is not just about acquiring knowledge, but about teaching you how to think. As students, you may feel that this claim is somewhat patronizing, given that your admission to such a prestigious institution suggests that you already possess critical thinking skills.
However, I propose that this notion is not insulting at all. The essential education in thinking that you receive here is not merely about the ability to think, but about the choice of what to think about. If you find this idea too obvious to warrant discussion, I encourage you to reflect on the fish and water analogy and consider the value of recognizing the obvious.
Here’s another illustrative story: Two individuals are sitting together in a remote bar in Alaska. One is religious, and the other is an atheist. They engage in a heated debate about the existence of God after a few drinks. The atheist recounts a time when he was lost in a blizzard and prayed for help, only to be rescued by two passersby. The religious individual, puzzled, suggests that this experience should affirm the atheist’s belief in God. The atheist dismisses this, attributing his survival to the help he received.
This scenario highlights how the same experience can hold different meanings for different individuals based on their belief systems. In our discussions, we often emphasize tolerance and diversity of thought, but we rarely explore the origins of these beliefs. It is essential to recognize that our perspectives are shaped by personal choices and experiences.
Moreover, we must acknowledge the tendency toward arrogance in our convictions. The non-religious individual is certain in his dismissal of the possibility that the passing individuals played a role in his prayer for help. Similarly, many religious individuals exhibit a strong certainty in their beliefs. This closed-mindedness can be so profound that one may not even realize they are confined by it.
Part of what it means to learn how to think is to cultivate a degree of humility and critical awareness about our own certainties. Many of the beliefs we hold may ultimately be misguided. I have learned this through my own experiences, and I anticipate that you will too.
One example of this self-centeredness is the belief that we are the center of our own universe. This perspective is common to all of us, as we tend to view our experiences as the most significant. While we may not often discuss this self-centeredness due to its social implications, it is a default setting inherent in human nature.
The challenge lies in recognizing that our natural inclination is to interpret everything through a lens of self. This is not a matter of virtue but rather a conscious effort to alter our default setting. Those who can adjust this perspective are often described as well-adjusted, which is fitting in this academic context.
An important question arises: how much of this adjustment involves knowledge or intellect? The danger of an academic education is that it can lead us to become lost in abstract thoughts rather than engaging with our immediate reality. Staying aware of our internal experiences is challenging, yet it is crucial.
The cliché about learning how to think actually refers to a deeper idea: the ability to exercise control over our thoughts and to consciously choose what we focus on. If you cannot make this choice in adult life, you may find yourself overwhelmed.
Consider the saying that “the mind is an excellent servant but a terrible master.” This reflects a profound truth. Many individuals who succumb to despair do so because they have become prisoners of their own thoughts, often long before they take drastic actions.
The true value of your liberal arts education lies in learning how to navigate life consciously, avoiding the trap of living in a state of unconsciousness.
As you transition into adulthood, you will encounter aspects of life that are often overlooked in commencement speeches, such as boredom, routine, and frustration. For instance, after a long day at work, you may find yourself facing the mundane task of grocery shopping. The experience can be tedious and frustrating, filled with long lines and crowded aisles.
However, it is in these moments of frustration that the work of choosing how to think becomes essential. If you do not consciously decide how to interpret these situations, you may find yourself feeling miserable. Your default setting may lead you to view these inconveniences as personal affronts, focusing solely on your own needs and frustrations.
Alternatively, you can choose to consider the experiences of others. Perhaps the person in front of you is dealing with their own challenges or has a story that you cannot see. This shift in perspective can transform your experience from one of frustration to one of empathy and understanding.
It is important to recognize that this conscious choice is not always easy. It requires effort and awareness, and there will be days when you struggle to maintain this perspective. However, if you cultivate the ability to pay attention and choose your thoughts, you will find that you have the power to experience even the most mundane situations as meaningful.
Ultimately, the freedom that comes from a real education is the ability to decide what holds meaning in your life. In the daily realities of adulthood, there is no such thing as atheism; everyone worships something. The choice lies in what you choose to worship.
Worshiping material possessions, beauty, or intellect can lead to feelings of inadequacy and dissatisfaction. The insidious nature of these forms of worship is that they often operate unconsciously, becoming default settings that limit our awareness.
The world around us encourages us to operate on these default settings, perpetuating a cycle of fear and frustration. However, the most valuable kind of freedom involves awareness, discipline, and the ability to care for others.
This perspective may not seem particularly uplifting or grand, but it represents a fundamental truth about life and education. It is about being aware of what is essential and often hidden in plain sight.
This is water. This is water. Staying conscious and engaged in the adult world is a lifelong endeavor, and your education is just the beginning of this journey.
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This version maintains the core messages while ensuring a respectful and polished tone.
Awareness – The state of being conscious of something, especially within the context of critical thinking and self-reflection. – In philosophy, awareness of one’s own biases is crucial for objective analysis.
Education – The process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, and critical thinking. – A well-rounded education in philosophy encourages students to question and analyze different viewpoints.
Beliefs – Convictions or acceptance that certain things are true or real, often without immediate evidence. – Philosophers often challenge the beliefs held by society to uncover deeper truths.
Perspectives – A particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view. – Engaging with diverse perspectives is essential for developing a comprehensive understanding of philosophical issues.
Certainty – The quality of being reliably true or the state of being confident in one’s knowledge or beliefs. – Descartes sought certainty in knowledge by doubting everything that could possibly be doubted.
Choice – The act of selecting among alternatives, often involving a decision-making process. – Existentialist philosophy emphasizes the importance of individual choice and responsibility.
Meaning – The significance or purpose of something, often explored in philosophical inquiries about life and existence. – Philosophers like Viktor Frankl have explored how individuals find meaning even in the most challenging circumstances.
Empathy – The ability to understand and share the feelings of another, crucial for ethical reasoning and moral philosophy. – Empathy allows us to consider the moral implications of our actions on others.
Understanding – The ability to comprehend or grasp the nature and significance of something. – A deep understanding of philosophical texts requires careful analysis and critical thinking.
Philosophy – The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline. – Philosophy encourages rigorous questioning and the exploration of complex ideas.
