The world does not change simply because of your thoughts; real change comes from your actions.
Our understanding of the world in our minds is based on existing experiences and knowledge, which may not fully reflect reality. For example, in the past, people firmly believed in the geocentric and heliocentric theories, but these ideas have been replaced by new scientific theories. This shows that our cognition can change and develop.
All the realities we perceive are projected in our brains, forming corresponding models.
The world we live in is called reality, but the world we perceive is not entirely real, but shaped by the "world model" in our brains.
Agree? Keep reading.
People without a sense of smell cannot perceive odors, color-blind people cannot perceive normal colors, and the world in the perception of ants is a two-dimensional world... all of these illustrate that our perception is determined by our physiological functions.
People's perception does not come directly from the world, but through various organs that transmit information to the brain. The brain decodes this information and constructs an "external world model" through which we perceive the world.
External world -> physiological organ perception -> signal transmission to the brain -> model parameters assigned -> perception of the world
The world has always been the same world, but because of the different "world models" in our brains, we perceive the world differently.
What causes the differences between people with the same physiological functions?
The differences between people lie in the differences in the "models" in their brains.
For example, Xiao Shuai is good at math because he has a well-developed mathematical model in his brain; Xiao Mei is good at English because her English model is excellent. Speaking of this, I can't help but ask, what is intelligence?
According to Baidu's explanation, intelligence quotient (IQ) is an index that measures a person's intelligence by comparing their intelligence test scores with the average scores of their peers.
In short, a person's high IQ is usually manifested in their high test scores. And this may be because their thinking model and problem-solving strategies are more excellent.
To enter a good university, you need to perform well in subjects such as math and English. To achieve good grades in these subjects, you need to have an excellent "learning model".
The differences between people are mainly caused by the differences in the "models" in their brains.
Simply put, everything you see and hear will form a model of the world in your brain. Your actions are based on this model and the interaction between it and your innate instincts.
Take the 16th question of the college entrance examination math test as an example. Your existing knowledge (model) can tell you that options A and B are incorrect. You choose option C, possibly because option D does not look like the correct answer (you dare not choose D, so you instinctively reject it).
Although everything happens in the external world, our perception and understanding of the world are carried out through our brains.
The philosophical master Itachi in "Naruto" once said when describing illusions: "The so-called reality may just be a mirage." This is an apt description of this phenomenon.
After writing so much, I need to establish a central idea or say something profound, so I will continue writing.
Going back to the point at the beginning of the article, having ideas alone cannot change the world; real change is achieved through action.
All thinking is an adjustment to the model in your brain. Your ideas may be great, but the model in your brain is not equivalent to reality. Reality is an objective existence independent of the model in our brains.
Only through action can we truly influence and change the real world.
If you can accept the viewpoints that "people only understand the world through perception" and "people cannot fully understand the true reality," then the following viewpoints may help you cultivate a lifelong learning mindset.
"Your brain contains your cognitive model of the entire world, your actions are your exploration of this real world, and your thinking is the adjustment and correction of this 'brain model'."
- The reason we think is to have a more accurate and effective model for future actions.
- The reason we take action is to make our model closer to the truth of reality.
The goal of lifelong learning is not just to constantly acquire new knowledge, but more importantly, to establish a more accurate world model through continuous exploration, reflection, and adjustment. This is a cyclical process: obtaining feedback through action, exploring the world, thinking, and adjusting the model, and then taking action and thinking again.
The real world cannot be fully known by anyone.
Although we cannot fully understand the entire world, we can choose to become experts in specific fields. For example, through in-depth study of painting or writing, we can establish a richer "painting model" or "writing model" than others.
Over time, we may become masters of painting or writing.
In other words, "world model" is a general term that includes various sub-models, such as "painting model," "writing model," "thinking model," and "running model."
What matters is not the number of actions or the frequency of thinking, but whether we can establish an accurate and effective model.
The key is the quality and accuracy of the model.
Therefore, what I want to express is: exams in the education system are a finite game. Those who see through the education system may collapse - most people in exams are destined to fail and cannot enter prestigious schools. If life is also doomed to failure without attending a prestigious school, then this world is truly cruel.
Finite games often lead to the phenomenon of internal competition and make people feel anxious. So, how can we transform it into an infinite game mode? The answer is to set the goal of action as "obtaining the correct model." In this process, adjusting the model becomes an infinite game mode. Once you have established an accurate model, achieving good results will no longer be difficult.
Think more about these words.
Aside
Why do we need "truth" (universal truths applicable to everyone)? I think it is because humans desire to find certainty and stability in the world. Uncertainty causes fear, which is deeply rooted in our genes. If there is no truth, reality may appear too cruel and chaotic.
Therefore, people are eager to explore the truth, but cannot find absolute answers.