What do I think

Reevaluating the Overlooked: The Importance of Questioning Our Assumptions

Many of us dismiss certain issues as insignificant, not realising their profound impact on our lives. This tendency often results from deep-seated prejudices and societal conditioning that influence our values and judgments from a young age. To make informed decisions and reach genuine conclusions, we must first challenge these biases and reexamine our accepted norms.

Prejudices distort our perception, leading us to see what we want to see rather than the truth. We label things as right or wrong based on preconceived notions inherited from society, rather than objective criteria. These notions are often not the result of personal reflection but are imposed by family, friends, and especially the media. Newspapers and television frequently misrepresent reality, depicting the undesirable as harmful and the dubious as desirable, thus shaping our beliefs without our conscious awareness.

When we uncritically accept societal prejudices, we diminish our individuality. We act under external influences, believing we are making independent choices while, in reality, others are directing our behavior. This is evident in the varying moral standards across different cultures. What one society considers immoral, another might accept as normal. Historical examples are numerous: cannibalism was once practiced in some cultures, and following a tyrant like Hitler was deemed acceptable by his supporters.

True wisdom requires transcending societal conditioning and critically evaluating the values imposed upon us. To act wisely, we must question and understand these values rather than merely accepting them. Religion, for example, is a significant area where societal prejudices often dominate. Many people today view religion as irrelevant or burdensome, a perception shaped by media portrayals and societal attitudes.

This dismissive stance towards religion often arises from a lack of independent examination. People who regard religion as irrelevant usually do so out of ignorance or complacency, never seriously contemplating fundamental questions like “What is the purpose of life?” or “Why does religion exist?” They may engage in religious rituals superficially but dismiss many aspects of religion as outdated.

This superficial approach reflects a broader issue: the failure to apply reason and introspection to all areas of life. Our capacity for reason distinguishes us from other animals and should drive us to explore and understand deeper questions about our existence. To truly appreciate the significance of what we might initially overlook, we must challenge our assumptions and approach these issues with an open and critical mind.