IAN LESLIE: Why your future depends on getting curious
Sep 12, 2023
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Ian Leslie, a British journalist and curiosity expert, discusses the importance of cultivating curiosity in a world obsessed with predictability. He explores why some people lack curiosity and the barriers preventing us from being more curious. Emphasizing the need to engage in mysteries rather than puzzles, he shares insights on surviving the future by reclaiming curiosity. This conversation highlights the value of asking clever questions, the evolving nature of work in the age of AI, and the paradox of happiness and mental health.
Cultivating curiosity is essential to navigate an uncertain and complex world.
The internet and technology can hinder curiosity by providing easy answers and discouraging exploration.
Curiosity is linked to happiness, satisfaction, and a more meaningful existence.
Deep dives
The Power of Curiosity
Curiosity is a key quality for success, as it opens the mind, expands knowledge, and fosters a sense of exploration. Curious individuals are more adaptable to change and better equipped to handle unpredictability. In a world that is becoming more uncertain and complex, cultivating curiosity is essential. It allows us to absorb diverse influences, develop a unique individual voice, and navigate the challenges presented by technology and AI. Curiosity also plays a role in building resilience and embracing hardship, leading to greater satisfaction and fulfillment in life. By valuing curiosity, we can tap into our human potential and contribute to the ever-changing world.
The Decline of Curiosity
While curiosity is a valuable trait, there are concerns that it is declining in society. The internet and technology, while providing vast amounts of information, can also hinder curiosity by providing easy answers, discouraging exploration, and promoting polarization. As AI technology advances, it is crucial to nurture and prioritize curiosity as a human attribute that distinguishes us from machines. Curiosity allows us to adapt, collaborate, and ask meaningful questions in the face of uncertainty. Embracing curiosity and valuing diverse knowledge can help us navigate the complexities of the modern world.
The Link to Happiness and Satisfaction
Curiosity is not only essential for adapting to change and uncertainty, but it is also linked to happiness and satisfaction. Engaging in curiosity-driven learning and building a diverse range of knowledge can enhance our sense of purpose, direction, and contentment. Different types of happiness, such as pleasure and fulfillment, are intertwined with curiosity and learning. Embracing the challenges and mysteries of life, rather than solely seeking answers, can lead to a more meaningful and enriching existence.
The Role of Liberal Arts
In a world driven by specialization and automation, the study of liberal arts can play a crucial role in cultivating curiosity. Liberal arts education offers a broad view of humanity, encourages critical thinking, and nurtures the ability to ask complex questions. By embracing a wide range of influences and perspectives, individuals can develop a unique voice, build resilience, and navigate the uncertainties of the future effectively. Liberal arts education can foster curiosity and equip individuals with the necessary skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Embracing Uncertainty and Unpredictability
Curiosity is essential for embracing the increasing uncertainty and unpredictability of the world. As technology rapidly evolves and disrupts various fields, curiosity allows individuals to adapt, collaborate, and find creative solutions. Embracing uncertainty can lead to personal and professional growth, as well as greater resilience in the face of challenges. By valuing curiosity and continuous learning, individuals can navigate the complexities of the modern world and contribute to positive change.
Ian Leslie (British journalist, curiosity expert) is worried the world has become too fixated on absolutes and predictability just as our life circumstances are swinging the other way. The fix, he says, is to cultivate curiosity. He got curious about curiosity and wrote a book called, yep, Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It and we met in London at the WeAre8 offices to talk about why some people are incurious, what’s stopping us from being more curious, the role of cities and travel and the need to engage in mysteries instead of puzzles.
In this conversation we get quite urgently to this very wild point: To survive going forward we need to reclaim our curiosity. And we share ways to go about this.