“This is Water” by David Foster Wallace- A Brief Summary
An impactful commencement speech, a novel idea, and a new way of looking at our lives and surroundings. Let’s dive in!
A commencement speech is a routine affair. There are thousands of such speeches given, broadcasted, and shared every year. So, it’s difficult to find stand-out ones that contain timeless ideas. One such stand-out specimen was delivered by David Foster Wallace, in 2005 at Kenyon College, Ohio.
In his speech, now famously known as the “This is Water” speech, he goes on to elaborate a thought pattern that fundamentally shifts our relationship with life and, everything in it.
Mr. Wallace starts with a parable of an old fish meeting two younger fishes. The older fish asks the younger ones, “How’s the water fellas?” and goes on his way. The two younger fishes continue their path and after a while one asks the other. “What’s water?”.
He pointed to the fact that we too are like those young fishes, often failing to recognize the reality that we are in. We tend to be so absorbed in our thoughts, wants, and worries that the outer world ceases to exist in our immediate consciousness.
Most of us operate in life from this standpoint, which Mr. Wallace defines as the “Default setting”. This is the cruise control version of ourselves where we move through life without much intentional thought or effort. We follow the broad guardrails of society and consider ourselves to be the center of the universe.
He argues that this self-importance is the root cause of our distaste for life, along with frustration, and rage. We should make it a priority to gain awareness of our default setting and then try to break free from it. Whether we believe it or not, it is ultimately up to us to give meaning to our lives.
So, choosing the right meaning is the linchpin to a fulfilled life. Mr. Wallace alludes to the role of right education in helping individuals craft their unique meanings. This, according to him is what true education should be, helping people become more critical thinkers while continuously nurturing the virtue of compassion.
But this type of mindset is not a one-time deal. We all must continuously be vigilant about our thought patterns and resist falling into our default settings. It is through the adoption of this mindset, that Mr. Wallace believes we can become more compassionate and empathetic.
He elaborates that more people should start looking at the world from other’s perspective. This will give rise to tolerance, patience, and a feeling of collective empathy. In a world that is constantly dividing “us” from ”them”, be the one to hold multiple perspectives and see what the other person has to say.
This is what critical thinking should ultimately yield; a compassionate, yet deep thinker who understands nuance and is aware of the trappings of our default settings. So, go out and live your life with conscious effort and always be aware of the water around you.
