Saturday, April 23, 2011

Enlightenment

I just visited a bookstall. Yep. Not bookstore. Sells 2nd-hand books there. Suddenly have an overwhelming feeling. Like an enlightenment.

Everyone has differing opinions. Many people wants to convince the world that their opinion is the "truth". Everyone has different interests in different topics. It's like... books. Which book will you buy? The one that is most widely read? The one that is most similar to your own philosophy? Is there really a one best book that can tell you the universal truth? No. I'm not referring to the Bible. For the record, the bible is one of the worst creation the moment it says that the world is flat and has 4 corners. Anyway, when you chose a book and follow its advice/idealogy, will the author be responsible for your life if you screw up? At the other end, the idea of selling ideas irresponsibly is a lucrative one indeed.

In the end, I bought something about condensing what MBA learns within 10 days. Hopefully it's something applicable and enlightening. If not, I'll just be wasting 10 days and $15 anyway. Oh. Btw, different versions of the Bible is on sale too.

This blog is around as a free advice, of some kind. Gives people insight into who am I as a person, whether I'm hopelessly screwed up or wise. But at least, I write my own blog, rather than books that people pay for. I don't tell people that my worldview is the best either, but leaves the judgment to those who even bother to read it in the 1st place.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Saw a friend's status on facebook. Can't help but comment on it, albeit not on facebook, just in case it becomes a debate not worth starting. Will be somewhat Buddhism-related, so probably not advisable for those not interested.

为得解脱而求心安
此乃心住于“安”而生乐
为除极寂而重情谊
此乃心住于“情”而生乐

既求乐,何有智愚之分?
既无心,何有“安”之感?

但愿天下一切众生能惜“有”,也能安住与“无”

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

This is absurd! Probably I'm saying this cos I'm particularly peeved at the fact that years of education under the UK education system (eg. O' levels), esp since I've just got back my prelim papers for my finals. Appears that the quality of argument and assessing the understanding of the students is secondary, compared to being capable of regurgitating what was studied. Probably cos I'm terrible at memorising, that I'm at a disadvantage.

Even more funny is these educators frequently talks about students who could understand the subjects are able to present the subjects in certain ways, like quoting the various arguments of theorists, to prove that we understand them. I could watch a kungfu film and imitate kungfu, but it doesn't means i really do know kungfu, or better still, how to really defend myself. I would have been able to understand the rationality of such approach, if the subjects involved are hard sciences, but soft science like psychology and business studies should be approached in such a way that the students understand the underlying rationality of theories, and hence able to apply or contest them, rather than mere regurgitation of theories and classical arguments.

I would have suggested that such old-British style of education be abolished, and perhaps take on a more American style of education, where the answer is not as important as the process. After all, in the real working world, the capability to recall knowledge is already being aided with the help of technology.

What technology cannot fully replace human, is the ability to analyse and perform decision making. One might argue that where problems encountered are structured and routine, one can compute an algorithm which would help tackle the problem, hence decision making. But in truth, someone MUST understand the problem 1st, and come up with plausible solutions to the problem, in order to program the computer to do it!