How The World Seeks Out For Truth?

The beginning of life is so enigmatic 

1. Questions about the existence of universe

From his book “The Grand Design”, the late Professor Stephen Hawking argued and said, “Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing.” 

Professor John Lennox responded and questioned Hawking’s thought. Lennox insisted that the law of gravity is not nothing at all. It is something. As to why or how it existed are lines of thoughts that Lennox expressed to further convey his views. 

2. Concept of chance or probability

In Mathematics, how could a chance exist from nothing? Something divided by zero is undefined. It does not exist. There is no chance at all for your existence if there is non-existence of a sample space in the first place. But we are here. That makes our existence enigmatic. So mysterious. So beautiful yet uncanny. 

3. Greatest puzzle of all

Life including the entire universe puzzled mankind since time immemorial. Even the greatest scientists or philosophers, the lovers of wisdom, fancied all throughout their lives to unravel the truth or the Theory of Everything. Nonetheless, soon enough after they discovered one important fact, they were again and again faced with myriads of questions. Incapable of answering within the remaining moments of their lives on earth, humans from generation to generation are always on the go searching answers for many questions. I hope I reminded you of the importance of your Philosophy subject. 

4. Matters of philosophical worldview

If your philosophical worldview is more of a positivism, then you are inclined to do a quantitative research of inquiry in understanding the universe. You go for a qualitative research of inquiry if you are more of a constructivist. However, if you are a pragmatist you tend to combine these perspectives. You believe in the importance of the methodology of a mixed method of scientific inquiry. 

Will it be good to just stick to a single philosophical worldview, one being aligned to a specific field of expertise?

Our chosen worldview influences the way we inquire the truth,  and embrace and practice our field of expertise. For instance, academic research is a cycle between quantitative and qualitative approach of inquiry. One is neither inferior nor superior to another.

For mastery purposes, vertical articulation is necessary. However, it is also important to consider horizontal alignment of expertise for open-mindedness and flexibility. In this way, nobody will just end up like one of the blind men in the parable of the "Blind Men and the Elephant." 

About the Author

ARTHELO P. PALMA is a PhD in Development Research and Administration.