Being ignorant is great fun. Only a fool thinks they know everything. I know some things but there are some major things that I know we don’t know and that I would like to know.
There are some fools who think that if we do not know something that it is proof that science is wrong. I do not believe that. We are at the early stages of science. We have learnt many wondrous things in a very short time. There is much still to understand. The things we do not yet understand may or may not be understood in the future. If they are not understood that is not proof that they are supernatural. It just means that we do not understand them yet.
Consciousness
Consciousness is one of the great unknowns. How that convoluted pink, throbbing blancmange in my head manages to create thoughts, form pictures, make me aware of myself and the universe and give me a sense of identity is a wonder. Can it really be the result of interconnecting neurones, chemicals and electricity?
The Start of the Universe
We know when it began – it’s about 13.82 billion years old, plus or minus a day or two. How it came into being and what was there before is all conjecture. Isn’t that amazing?
The Origin of Life
We know the Earth is 4.5 Billion years old and that life began approximately 3.8 Billion years ago (on a Monday morning). We know all about the building blocks for life and how they could have been spontaneously formed. We know that they can join in the laboratory to form cellular type ‘organisms’ called coercervates. But when it comes to complex cells incorporating DNA and developing organelles we are speculating. It is immensely interesting.
These known unknowns cause certain people to assert that these things are too complicated to happen naturally – that they are conclusive evidence for ‘the hand of god’. I say that it is a big universe with a lot of time on its hands. Anything that can happen will. I say that not knowing is not proof of anything. I say that not knowing is great as long as you try your damnedest to find out.
Ignorance is bliss – as long as it leads to questioning, research, an open mind and a desire to find out.