Companion Piece
The written word should instead be a scaffold for your body of ideas rather than the entire building block itself.
This is what an original idea or thought means: not that no one has thought, spoken, or written about it before. Not that it does not exist somewhere in the universe. It does not mean that you are the first to talk about it. It is not “new.” Rather it means that you found it on your own through introspection and personal observations of the world. Most of which are accidental.
I recall reading in one of Nassim Taleb's books that his Black Swan theory is not exactly new. At least it is well known with Karl Popper and also known in some circles with Benoit Mandelbrot. Nevertheless, his conceptualisation of the Black Swan is fresh and uniquely arrived at. And I think that makes for originality.
I don't expect people to forgo the written word. It will be folly to do that. The written word should instead be a scaffold for your body of ideas rather than the entire building block itself.
On exposure to memes, one can easily argue that although we may all be exposed to something, not everyone can do something fruitful (thought-wise) with what they see. Some of us unwittingly swallow everything that comes. Some of us take time to question them - even if it is just for the amusement.
First principles then will look like been offered something readymade but you then taking it apart to build it back up again. For example, an apprentice to a Priest may rediscover - on inquiry - why certain rituals are done rather than just mindlessly following the script. Between him and another apprentice who follows the script mindlessly, the outlook may be the same. But the guy who chose to peer beyond the ritual's opacity may find "meaning" behind the veil.
To think for yourself will be reconceptualizing things that you caught based on your observation even if they have been done by someone else. Or at least, combining and recombining all that you have learned to discover new forms.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance.
