One of the things that's involved in creating new knowledge is asking new questions. Asking questions that other people aren't asking. And in the videos that we just saw, Thomas Friedman showed us an example of that. The example had to do with the relationship between the universe and consciousness. So throughout history, lots of people who've appreciated the intricate workings of the universe, who've understood how well-adjusted the different parts of the universe are to the operations of other parts of the universe. Many such people have thought that the intricate workings of the universe were evidence of a divine creator, of a supremely intelligent creator. Because only a magnificent intelligence like that could've created such an intricately working piece of machinery as the universe we see around us. But Thomas Friedman raises another possibility. What if the intricate workings of the universe aren't evidence of a divine creator? They're evidence, rather, that the universe itself is a conscious being just like we are. If you look at conscious beings like us, for instance, you'll notice that we work pretty intricately. Our parts are pretty well-adjusted to one another. And if you notice how well adjusted to each other the different parts of the universe are, you might think that's evidence that the universe itself is a conscious being. Obviously, a much bigger conscious being than we are. But maybe, the divine being, if there is one, is not the creator of the universe, but the divine being is the universe. That's a possibility worth keeping in mind. That's one example of how considering new possibilities, raising new questions can lead us to new knowledge. Here's another example. Consider the map behind me, right there. Okay now, tell me. Is that map of the Earth right? Well, you might think, no, it's not right, it's upside down. But why do you say it's upside down? Well, you'll say it's upside down, because it's upside-down relative to the other maps of the Earth that you've seen. But why don't wethink they're upside down? Why do you think this is upside down? Can you think of a reason that would make one rather than the other map upside down? Upside down relative to what? That's an example of the way in which looking at the same body effects, through a different lens, from a different angle, can lead you to appreciate things that you didn't appreciate before. In this case, that there is no privileged perspective relative to which you could say that the Earth is upside down. Now, in the videos that we're about to see, from my college Kathleen DuVal, in history, we'll see other examples of how new questions and new methods of investigation can lead us to new knowledge. I hope you enjoy them.
