The Wonders of The Pursuit of Knowledge

As must be apparent and, most likely, frustratingly repetitive is my very strong stance on lifelong learning and a yearning for education. However, there are hundreds of levels of education. There's the mandatory schooling, the post-secondary, the masters, the doctorate, the career, the skills, the lifelong learning. Then, there is the Tireless Pursuit of Knowledge.

According to Clay Shirky, sociologist and author of Here Comes Everybody, humans are, by nature, group creatures. We find innovative ways to incorporate ourselves and our talents into groups. It is a nature of human behavior - that is not to say that we lose our individuality, hardly! Our individuality makes us of great value to a group. We can specialize or handle various things within a group due to our individuality. However, we still have a natural, in-bred desire to be with people.

One of the aspects of the human behavior of grouping is the sharing of knowledge and resources. Look at blogs - millions of pages of information! Sure, they're slightly selfish and sometimes entirely useless, but they are mountains of knowledge nonetheless. Other information sharing communities - digital or real - such as Facebook, Flickr, various conventions and panels are made into such powerhouses due to the sheer amount of knowledge exchanging hands. Ever played six degrees with Facebook? There's a web of connection that traces through everyone.

The Pursuit of Knowledge on the level of which I am passionate about is that found in debates, certain cafes, lounges and sometimes over bar counters. However, one of the most prestigious of stages upon which to speak about knowledge of any sort is, without a doubt, that of TED.

Technology, Entertainment and Design.

Three facets of current society that they can be neither ignored, nor pushed aside. Every aspect of our lives is governed to some degree by technology; our days are spent seeking or providing entertainment; every moment we are confronted by design.

Within TED there are hundreds of speakers who share amazing stories, powerful talks, inspiring tales, beautiful music, awesome art and messages which leave everyone speechless. 

Now, why would I mention something as amazing as TED? Well, simply because I love it. And because I happen to agree with the type beside the three red letters which represent the entire backbone of the annual conference. The type reads - very simply and very boldly - Ideas worth spreading.

I agree, whole-heartedly.

The sort of thing presented within the artists, anthropologists, composers, writers, activists, designers, enviromentalists, politicians - people from all walks of life - is nothing short of an amazing showcase of human genius and talent. There are quite a few things different about TED than the average convention. Firstly, the talks are generally made to be shorter (though quite a few do go beyond the encouraged 15-minute limit and into the half-hour mark). Secondly, the subject matter can vary from the global economy to the individual psyche - anything goes, really, watch a few of the videos and you'll see what I mean. Thirdly - and most importantly - there is no age limit for speakers. Young musicians as young as nine have graced the stage and blasted a hole through the classic myth of "Being Too Young". There are speakers from age nine to much into their elderly years.

I would like to challenge any and everyone reading this post to seriously look at the talks done at TED and allow them to change your thinking. I would especially like to challenge the youth who read this to watch at least three TED talks. For the youth of the world, there can be no greater gift and no greater power than Knowledge. Being able to understand the plight of humanity, the genius within all of us and sheer, raw power that all humans possess is something which all youth should understand. It is my strong belief that if we educated each youth in modern North America with the knoweldge and morals within TED talks (though certainly not limited to them), then the next generation of the world would be hundreds of times better than the current.

Visit this site and change your life.

TED: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Ideas worth spreading.

Challenge the Limits of Personal Knowledge - Everyday.

Namaste,

Clarise