Arriving at the Same Conclusion, Through Different Methods
that’s when it hits you that this question is beyond any of us individually, and then you approach it again
This piece is related to “Socratizing with Bethpage High School”, which can be found here.
You arrive one evening in the middle of New York City and you do what anyone does who is there for the upcoming event: think.
In the midst of anticipation comes time for expectations. We wonder how many people would take the time out of schedules they’ve made too hectic already to sit down and embrace conversation.
Socrates Cafe has invited us to see what a conversation can be — when the topics race through your head as complete strangers pitch them and vote alongside you. It allows us to embrace a field of ‘argument’ but where there is no right or wrong; through a relaxed environment where all thought is equally valued because it all accomplishes the same goal: to make us think.
Given the topic of “if humans truly appreciate what they have,” there are three simple answers: “Yes!” “No!” “Someone tell that lady with the guitar to move so I can hear!”
In no time at all the group turns to a crowd and this question becomes proportionally as large. Personally, I marvel at the idea that while we’re all trying to prove either that we do appreciate things to whatever degree (let’s call this concept “A”), or that we don’t appreciate things to an equally vague degree (let’s call this concept “B”), you begin to notice that C and D undeniably leads one to conclusion A, while another is led by these same ideas of C and D to conclusion B.
What’s even more amazing is how two people can arrive at the same conclusion, but through completely different methods. That’s when it hits you that this question is beyond any of us individually… and then you approach it again.
In the end what you’re left with is a new hope for people to truly communicate, a new and more in-depth approach to life, and a mindset that is saying, “Hey, I appreciate that we have the gift of music to bless our ears, even if it is frustrating me right now while I’m listening to this talk. So, play on.”
Written by Nick Lobosco, Senior at Bethpage High School at time of original publication.
