I remember years ago in my philosophy class in college, the professor shared with us a story about a philosophy class that he had taken when he was student. It seems for the final exam of the class, an exam which would count for fifty percent of their grade, the instructor had told them it would be an essay question reviewing materials they had covered for the entire semester. My professor, along with the other students, had started studying reviewing their notes, and testing each other in preparation. Well, except for one student. Isn’t there always at least one person who just kind of takes things leisurely and does not seem to really care whether they pass or not? That was this guy.
The exam day arrived. The instructor handed out the page with the test questions along with several blank pages for them to write on. You see in those days; they did not have computers yet. The exam question, there was only one it turned out, was simply the question…Why? My instructor said he looked, and was bewildered, surprised, and worried. It appeared by the look on the faces of his fellow students that they were feeling the same. Well, except for that one leisurely guy who never seemed to care anyway. The students started hurriedly writing down their thoughts, taking into consideration all the different theories they had covered and by the end of the class, most of the blank pages were now full of words. Well, except for that one guy. He had completed his exam in only a few minutes and turned it in then left.
A week later, the instructor handed back the graded exams and said that while most of the papers were okay, there was only one student who scored an A, and one who had miserably failed. They all of course knew who must have failed…that leisurely guy. Who got the A? Once they received the exams with the grades marked in red at the top, they looked around the room at each other to see who scored the A, since it was not one of them. My instructor said he received one of the next highest grades, a B. So, who did get the A? You may have guessed it by now, the leisurely guy. His answer was two words. Only two. Why not?
This was one of many great stories I learned from this philosophy instructor and along with my political theory class, these were my two favorite courses. It was from these two classes I learned the importance of never taking something just at face value, when having to make important decisions. In my political theory class, we covered Plato, and discussed the debates that Socrates would often find himself in. I have adopted in many situations what I call …Socratic Method of Questioning. It is rather simple actually and has worked well for me with my own life’s challenges and decisions. I have, like Socrates, found myself in trouble several times when using the Socratic method on others.
The method? I simply ask, why? You say you are a Republican, a Democrat, a Libertarian…. why? You say you like sports or do not like sports…. why? You say you do not believe in something…. why? On a topic that hits closest to home for me is on my faith. I say I believe in God…. why? I say I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God…. why?
I say I believe we will all live for eternity, but not in the same fleshly body we have now…. why? I believe in salvation through Jesus Christ…why?
My challenge to each of you, ask yourself why you believe what you believe? Be honest. Ask others why they believe what they believe. I have found this helpful in shaping my own beliefs. Do you have a question for me? Ask!
