The art of asking the right questions | Tim Ferriss, Warren Berger, Hope Jahren & more | Big Think

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  • Опубліковано 17 вер 2020
  • The art of asking the right questions
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    Traditionally, intelligence has been viewed as having all the answers. When it comes to being innovative and forward-thinking, it turns out that being able to ask the right questions is an equally valuable skill.
    The difference between the right and wrong questions is not simply in the level of difficulty. In this video, geobiologist Hope Jahren, journalist Warren Berger, experimental philosopher Jonathon Keats, and investor Tim Ferriss discuss the power of creativity and the merit in asking naive and even "dumb" questions.
    "Very often the dumb question that is sitting right there that no one seems to be asking is the smartest question you can ask," Ferriss says, adding that "not only is it the smartest, most incisive, but if you want to ask it and you're reasonably smart, I guarantee you there are other people who want to ask it but are just embarrassed to do so."
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    TRANSCRIPT:
    WARREN BERGER: The idea that questions are becoming more valuable than answers, it seems kind of counterintuitive, but it's actually an idea that's being really embraced these days in Silicon Valley and other areas and other centers of innovation. And the reason why is if you look at a lot of the innovations and breakthroughs today and you trace them back as I did in my research to their origin, a lot of times what you find at the root of it all is a great question, a beautiful question. A great definition I saw for questioning is that questioning enables us to organize our thinking around what we don't know. So, in a time when so much knowledge is all around us, answers are at our fingertips, we really need great questions in order to be able to know what to do with all that information and find out way to the next answer.
    HOPE JAHREN: The real joy for me is that I can take things that are already familiar to you and by sharing the story of how I've learned to look at them you can see those things you've been seeing a little differently. So I talk about curiosity driven research as questions that we try to answer. why is that tree growing successfully in that place, but never in that place? That's a curiosity question. It's the kind of question a little kid could come up with. Why don't we have those trees at our house? Now, buried in the answer might be something that could give us better fruit someday that we can sell in the marketplace and feed hungry people with. But that result, that application to growing food for people is buried several steps below that answer. My part of that is to look at that first answer. What is that tree? What does it do? Why is it there? And we call that the curiosity driven piece because that answer will be basically turned over to other experts who know how that might play out into something that is important for the marketplace. But there's no substitute for that first step, for that little kid question.
    BERGER: The research. A four-year-old girl is asking as much as 300 questions a day and when kids go into school you see this steady decline that happens as they go through the grade levels to the point where questioning in schools by junior high school is almost at zero. There are a lot of reasons why questioning declines as we get older, but one of the key issues is that in schools we really value the answers and there is almost no value placed on asking a good question. In fact, the teachers now are so stressed to teach to the test and to cover so much material that they really can't even entertain a lot of questions even if they want to. So it becomes a real problem in our school system, in our education system. I think people are starting to address it, try to deal with it. In my research I found a number of teachers, schools that are trying to place more emphasis on questioning.
    JONATHON KEATS: I often start any project by asking a naïve question. So naïve that most likely you ask these sorts of questions when you were a child, but at a certain age you learn that these were not appropriate. Or even if you ask them to yourself you never really followed through to try to see what would happen if you were to do something that was kind of patently absurd. But we can still for our own sake, the back of our mind, ask those sorts of questions and let them play out. We can fully develop them and even if it's only in our own mind that we are fully developing them that process can take us to something that is more concrete, something that is more actionable in an adult responsible world that we don't really need to say we came to it through that naïve question...
    Read the full transcript at bigthink.com/videos/how-to-as...

КОМЕНТАРІ • 456

  • @bigthink
    @bigthink  3 роки тому +49

    What topics should we tackle next?
    Subscribe for weekly videos: bigth.ink/GetSmarter

    • @waynecoons9695
      @waynecoons9695 3 роки тому +1

      Question. Take a flashlight in your right hand. Turn it on and shine it at your left hand, two feet away. You can see the light spot on your left hand and where the light is leaving the flashlight, that part of the light is bright. But in the space between the light and your left hand, you can not see the light beam

    • @waynecoons9695
      @waynecoons9695 3 роки тому +1

      The light beam is invisible. I know why the photons are invisible. Otherwise everywhere we looked there would just be a fog or cloud of photons. We could see nothing else.
      What I don't know is HOW the photons are invisible.

    • @johnnybecerra2647
      @johnnybecerra2647 3 роки тому +1

      Can we achieve world peace?

    • @jesuschristbiblebiblestudy
      @jesuschristbiblebiblestudy 3 роки тому

      Can the Coronavirus be contained?

    • @csilvermyst
      @csilvermyst 3 роки тому +1

      Will the US have a second civil war?

  • @JamesCastilloTV
    @JamesCastilloTV 3 роки тому +639

    "It's better to look dumb, than to be dumb." -Unknown
    Ask whatever you need to.

    • @keepthefaith9805
      @keepthefaith9805 3 роки тому +1

      know,,,but before that ask why you need

    • @carknower
      @carknower 2 роки тому +2

      You can tell a lot about a person by the type of questions a person asks. - Mark Cuban
      You can quickly find the dumb ones and not hire them- probably Mr. Cuban

    • @MindfulMaverick29
      @MindfulMaverick29 2 роки тому +1

      what about asking questions, google can answer for you?

    • @larrycarter1192
      @larrycarter1192 2 роки тому

      I assume I am dumb and can't smell. Will that direct me to the norm?

    • @renzocruz1308
      @renzocruz1308 2 роки тому +3

      @@carknower how then will you spark knowledge-driven curiosity out of these "dumb" people?

  • @QuestionEverythingButWHY
    @QuestionEverythingButWHY 3 роки тому +875

    “Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.”
    ― Voltaire

    • @prakharanand7012
      @prakharanand7012 3 роки тому +5

      Has a deep meaning...

    • @onxiaftw
      @onxiaftw 3 роки тому +14

      "Post a comment on multiple Big Think videos containing a quoted though of someone else so that someone might see my channel"
      ― Question Everything - Thought Provoking Ideas

    • @chawza8402
      @chawza8402 3 роки тому +11

      I think both are equally important.

    • @maulanasatyaadigama3408
      @maulanasatyaadigama3408 3 роки тому

      Chawza Dark same.

    • @prakharanand7012
      @prakharanand7012 3 роки тому

      @@chawza8402 yes right..... Becuz the thinking in his answer also reflects....

  • @BenRyherd
    @BenRyherd Рік тому +291

    As a design engineer I've learned to embrace the compulsion to ask "dumb questions". Leaving college I felt that stupid questions were not to be asked for fear of ridicule by superiors/elders (what a horrible thing to be teaching in school). As I progressed in my career it became more and more important to ask the "dumb" questions. For example I had a customer say "We're having issues with our product touching this part of the machine and causing issues, we'd like to redesign it but it has to stay the same shape, be made from something less hard than the product and also withstand substantial heat. I then stated "Perhaps this is a dumb question, but do we need that part at all?" Turns out the problem part was part of the machine for a feature they don't use and simply taking the part out is way faster and cheaper than making a complicated alternate design.

    • @a.whychild6591
      @a.whychild6591 Рік тому +14

      A perfect example of the right question to ask. Plus it is a great scenario to have in case your in the position of an interview, I would assume.

    • @azharzack
      @azharzack Рік тому +10

      I also like dumb questions, and they only need to be asked once and that's not dumb anymore

    • @anoopg7006
      @anoopg7006 Рік тому +1

      Well said! That's very true

    • @pe4153
      @pe4153 Рік тому

      You could have billed them 1000 hours to redesign it though. Good engineer, bad business move.

    • @HevaNaisdey
      @HevaNaisdey Рік тому +3

      @@pe4153 you're a con artist. Not a businessman

  • @georgegordner7795
    @georgegordner7795 3 роки тому +294

    “Those who wish to succeed must ask the right preliminary questions.” -Aristotle ...

    • @MRInuzaki
      @MRInuzaki 2 роки тому +5

      But how does one ask the right questions?

    • @yaboiavery5986
      @yaboiavery5986 2 роки тому +1

      @@MRInuzaki have you found out yet? I have the same question

    • @MRInuzaki
      @MRInuzaki 2 роки тому

      @@yaboiavery5986 nope :\

    • @aloevera7422
      @aloevera7422 2 роки тому +2

      @@MRInuzaki questions that prevent you from making catastrophic mistakes.

    • @larrycarter1192
      @larrycarter1192 2 роки тому

      @@aloevera7422 only learned from hindsight. Predicting the future might be problematic.

  • @apoloniaarteaga2520
    @apoloniaarteaga2520 3 роки тому +312

    this made me realize that I never stopped asking questions. throughout all of school i’ve been the one in the front row, asking questions, staying after class. it was sometimes embarrassing but I felt my peers were missing a big opportunity

    • @ChristApologetics1
      @ChristApologetics1 2 роки тому +19

      I was like many never asking any questions, you are a rare kind ty for sharing blessings

    • @Myeyesburnbabyburn
      @Myeyesburnbabyburn Рік тому +20

      Sadly us shy people really would depend on ppl like you 😭 thanks from a fellow introvert

    • @sigfreed11
      @sigfreed11 Рік тому +13

      I was the same, people in college would tell me they were happy I was in the class because they knew my questions would help them pass the class. Just ask, the worst that can happen is you “appear” a little silly. Best case you learn a critical new piece of information 👍

    • @timemagnet
      @timemagnet Рік тому +4

      Same, but the difference is, I always thought that it's cool to stay after class and asking questions haha. My friends thinks otherwise and we often disagreed a lot

    • @vir9857
      @vir9857 Рік тому +1

      @@timemagnet i applaud you for your interest towards understanding the class! are you guys still friends?

  • @STEAMLabDenver
    @STEAMLabDenver 2 роки тому +176

    I’m a teacher and the comment about kids losing their inquisitiveness is very true. I constantly have to tell them that it’s not always about getting the correct answer and that the process is so important!

    • @eggi4443
      @eggi4443 2 роки тому +7

      you sound like a great teacher

    • @vantruong8495
      @vantruong8495 Рік тому +3

      However I don't think it's enough to just simply tell them to place more questions. I come from an Asian background where obedience and following what you're told without asking back is the unbreakable rule. There I see many teachers complain that the students rather ask other students in the class or just don't ask any questions at all. So as long as the society still frown upon people raising questions, no teacher alone can solve this problem

  • @donald-parker
    @donald-parker 3 роки тому +76

    If Google has taught us anything, its that answers are a dime a dozen, but real power comes from asking the right question.

  • @QuestionEverythingButWHY
    @QuestionEverythingButWHY 3 роки тому +186

    “The important thing is to never stop questioning [or learning].”
    - Albert Einstein

    • @r-leanmygirl-gj2kt
      @r-leanmygirl-gj2kt Рік тому

      “Questions and Ideas, Don’t Forget them,” …The title of a journal that encourages you to keep the journal with you, and particularly in places where ideas seem to come to you. This is another journal by this author that I use consistently (fairly consistently anyway) You could probably create your own journal or notebook to accomplish this, but I like how this one is laid out.

  • @Chaos.Brigade
    @Chaos.Brigade 2 роки тому +78

    I'm in college at 35 years old, and while I am doing research for papers, I had that same epiphany; asking the right or the most weird questions will lead you to interesting answers or to more interesting questions.

  • @ReynaSingh
    @ReynaSingh 3 роки тому +196

    We come into the world very curious and as we age, society forces us to unlearn our natural wonder. We spend our life trying to get that curiosity back

    • @gptcorleones
      @gptcorleones 3 роки тому +11

      Society values answers. We are more apt to follow a man with mediocre answers than one with ingenious questions.
      We're... shallow. And it's ruining us.

    • @decibel333
      @decibel333 3 роки тому +14

      Don't be one of these adults who tell children bullshit answers because they don't like to say "I don't know" to a child's question... they learn from their elders.

    • @Krobelux
      @Krobelux 3 роки тому +2

      ​@@decibel333 Growing up my parents didn't know a whole lot and as a result, my questioning as a kid was never rewarded, but I think this is a blessing in disguise because I find myself unafraid now, at 30, to look like I know nothing when I ask questions about anything and everything. I've always wondered why, despite procrastination and fear to step outside of my comfort zone I still had success in all of my relationships and this video sorta makes that make sense. People gravitate towards me because they understand I might see things differently and maybe pose a question with little bias simply for curiosity sake, allowing the receiver to interpret it from a new perspective.

    • @Klissaura
      @Klissaura Рік тому

      Emm no lol

  • @healingv1sion
    @healingv1sion 3 роки тому +126

    My anatomy teacher taught me to always ask these questions when coming up on a topic: who, what, when, where, and how. If you face each topic with these questions in mind to be answered, you'll learn the whole history of the topic.

    • @kidusassefa
      @kidusassefa 2 роки тому +10

      Nice. I think there's that hierarchy of the WH questions and at the end of the road is always the question... "why?" It takes on a dimension of it's own and little children often get stuck and freeze just naively processing the question. Tells you the power of that particular question in every dimension.

    • @piranha1347
      @piranha1347 2 роки тому +1

      you forgot the why

  • @kkwargs
    @kkwargs Рік тому +698

    Did anyone else miss the part where they educate you on "how" to ask quality questions? All I learned from this video is "why" to ask questions.

    • @briaf3370
      @briaf3370 Рік тому +55

      Yup, don’t care why, tell me how

    • @gztdrummer
      @gztdrummer Рік тому +147

      Now that’s a great question

    • @Marrow9000
      @Marrow9000 Рік тому +104

      Stopped watching at 30 seconds. Thanks for saving me time.

    • @pohkeee
      @pohkeee Рік тому +21

      Because qualifying a question before it’s asked defeats the entire premise! Further, you won’t know if it’s the right question, until you find a quality answer!

    • @kkwargs
      @kkwargs Рік тому +30

      Qualifying a question to which you don't know the answer is the whole premise. You won't find a quality answer until you ask a quality question.
      That's "why" you ask quality questions. Now the question is "how" do you find a quality question, and that's still unanswered.

  • @ReflectionOcean
    @ReflectionOcean 6 місяців тому +4

    - Embrace the value of asking questions for innovation. (0:12)
    - Encourage curiosity-driven research to uncover new applications. (1:03)
    - Address the decline of questioning in education systems. (2:26)
    - Utilize naive questioning as a tool for creative problem solving. (3:31)
    - Practice asking "dumb questions" to challenge assumptions and think laterally. (5:21)
    - Use journaling to explore and expand on these questions for deeper insights. (7:50)
    - Overcome embarrassment to ask obvious but overlooked questions. (9:43)

  • @majdavojnikovic
    @majdavojnikovic Рік тому +2

    20 years ago, when I was working as a ux designer ( we were not call d that, but user interface designers) when working with back side programmers I would start with asking stupid questions. As there was not much experience, reference or resources, as technology changed quickly, we had to "invent every wheel", so this was my intuitive way to get to the most natural starting point. I would even announce it:" now, I am going to ask several stupid questions, would you please answer them seriously. "
    People really apriciated that once we start, while answering they could see things from another angle, and ideas were popping out the whole time. Those meetings were always dynamic, everybody talking and at the same time writing down pages and pages. Like those questions opened pipes :)

  • @apoloniaarteaga2520
    @apoloniaarteaga2520 3 роки тому +19

    I would argue the last example isn’t actually a dumb or simple question. Rather, it takes a lot of intelligence to get to the root of a problem to be able to ask such a concise question.

    • @victorportes6876
      @victorportes6876 Рік тому +2

      Super thanks Apolonia! That is what I is miss in this video.

  • @TimeToImprove
    @TimeToImprove 3 роки тому +23

    The art and science of asking questions... is the source of all knowledge!

  • @deebefree
    @deebefree 3 роки тому +13

    I'm a simple man. I see Tim Ferriss, I watch.
    Was not disappointed, other guests also very interesting and informative.

  • @importantname
    @importantname 3 роки тому +13

    our society tells you what you must know. You are assessed on what you can remember from what you were taught. Questioning is rebellious.

  • @ibewcountry
    @ibewcountry Рік тому +23

    In my younger days, I once sat on a grand jury and sincerely wanted to do a great job as I felt it to be my civic duty. I figured I would want like minded people on a jury of my peers, especially if I were falsely accused. I studied the subject and learned a grand juror had the right to ask pertinent questions and even ask for a more detailed explanation of evidence here in FL. So, I did. Without giving details, I'm sure my questions were relevant and were important, at least to me. The next morning I was handed a check for my time and told I would not be needed any longer and that an alternate juror would take my place. That's also the day I learned they do not want critical thinkers on any jury. Sad but true 😕

    • @reschamanda
      @reschamanda Рік тому

      You inspired me to be inquisitive to find the answer.

    • @jasminecontreras7341
      @jasminecontreras7341 Рік тому

      Wow. I believe I would’ve done the same thing in your position. Good for you.

  • @workingguy6666
    @workingguy6666 3 роки тому +40

    When I was a high school teacher, I used to tell my classes that growth may not come from the answers we get, but instead from the better questions we develop through the time and practice of asking questions. Great to hear Silicon Valley is hitting on what many others have figured out decades, generations, and centuries ago. Thanks so much for making a 10-minute video about a common practice, and a skill that good teachers intentionally align their students with.
    2:45 this presenter is being disingenuous, or he is basing his claim on what high school was like when HE was growing up. Even good teachers in lower-socio-economic schools teach questioning, and perfecting questioning (one perhaps never truly perfects it - it's a growth skill all of our lives) to their students these days.

  • @stillkickin3919
    @stillkickin3919 3 роки тому +6

    "How are you doing l'm not doing very good at all."
    The amazing question /follow-up combination.

  • @cmonster67
    @cmonster67 3 роки тому +167

    School actually makes most people less curious. Take a moment to think about that.

    • @sonhadorpr
      @sonhadorpr 3 роки тому +17

      Schools are deliberately designed to keep us dumb! We need a new curriculum of free thinkers that challenge governments, OH WAIT, THEY DON'T WANT THAT!

    • @mtn1793
      @mtn1793 3 роки тому +10

      Too many answers and not enough questions? Or is it that the answers can’t be questioned? And where did those answers come from in the first place?

    • @cmonster67
      @cmonster67 3 роки тому +1

      @@mtn1793 All in all, there just isn't enough actual THINKING.

    • @mtn1793
      @mtn1793 3 роки тому +8

      @@cmonster67 True that man. It’s all emotion these days.

    • @sam_asare
      @sam_asare 3 роки тому +1

      Maybe that's bcos it's already a place where most answers are. No need for questions

  • @ocean1498
    @ocean1498 2 роки тому +8

    "Asking questions is half of the knowledge "
    Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (as)

  • @evieeeee9373
    @evieeeee9373 Рік тому +9

    I started serving 6 months ago. Throughout this little time I’ve been working, i got told a few times that i ask too many questions. This video indeed made me feel better

    • @mapplemoore197
      @mapplemoore197 Рік тому +3

      Thank you for your service!
      I wanna remind you too, that it's definitely not a you problem. The military discourages questions because an army only works with 100 yes men.
      Retain your questions!!:)))

  • @NathanHarrison7
    @NathanHarrison7 Рік тому +18

    Excellent video content and guest selection. Confident people generally, in my experience, are the ones asking the difficult, “dumb“, questions. In my past life I was a technical project manager for a $2 billion company. Asking the dumb questions helps to ensure everyone’s on the same page, and opened up the door for others to ask their “dumb” questions. Creating team cohesion and leading to greater project success. The only challenge with this methodology can be… if people begin to believe you are dumb. That’s when professional acumen and a high EQ can help mitigate that possibility.

    • @anoopg7006
      @anoopg7006 Рік тому +1

      Very good advice shared through good experience

  • @Zordiak
    @Zordiak Рік тому +2

    As a software engineer I was afraid to ask questions at work until I met a senior engineer with some 20+ years of experience asking the same questions I had. That gave me the confidence to ask dumb questions and I understand how to do my job so much better now. I've had nothing but positive experiences by asking "dumb" questions.

  • @danielly_kaufmann
    @danielly_kaufmann Рік тому +1

    "curiosity driven research" - that's beautiful!!!

  • @americanexpat8792
    @americanexpat8792 2 роки тому +7

    As a consultant, we would often ask a couple questions in a row. The first would be, "For this particular area, on a scale of 1-10, how would you rate yourself, your organization, your goals, blah, blah, blah" You get the idea. Since people rarely will answer 10, the follow up question is ALWAYS, "What would it take to get to a 10?" At that point, the person will open up and tell you all the issues. You politely listen and follow up with more pointed questions as need be. However, you will almost always get a treasure trove of information to ponder.

    • @karthidrive55
      @karthidrive55 2 роки тому +1

      Thank you. I am a business analyst. You have given me an excellent question... Appreciate it

    • @americanexpat8792
      @americanexpat8792 2 роки тому

      @@karthidrive55 Glad I could help. We learned this technique in Sales training. I use in both my business and personal life. Amazing how well It really works.

    • @hamkaboo543
      @hamkaboo543 Рік тому

      I see this as a brilliant way to to keep a conversation going with anyone, but what would you advice on if I were to apply this sort of question asking method with my friends, lecturers or even strangers?

    • @americanexpat8792
      @americanexpat8792 Рік тому

      @@hamkaboo543 This works in most situations. Like everything, there might be exceptions, but I have found it to be highly effective on even the people you have mentioned. Try it out and see how it works.

  • @allthingsblue6990
    @allthingsblue6990 Рік тому +3

    I love that they focus right in on the economic value of a good question and ignore any other reason. Ask good question because money. Love that we’re living our values.

  • @bonafidechamploo
    @bonafidechamploo 3 роки тому +19

    "I know that I know nothing"- Socrates. This video is a dissection on what Socrates use to do to everyone and what all the great philosophers have done. Ask!

  • @Geecheeboi
    @Geecheeboi 3 роки тому +3

    thank you for giving me more words to explain how I think

  • @simi6153
    @simi6153 3 роки тому +6

    I currently jot down ideas as statements or phrases. Should I start turning them into questions?

  • @ncedwards1234
    @ncedwards1234 Рік тому +15

    I think more than "how" to ask questions, I believe this video more accurately explained what types of questions have high value. Similar.

    • @B.A.72.108
      @B.A.72.108 Рік тому

      "Chanakya Niti" Book explains n gives more wisdom than whole University

  • @fridamonlund
    @fridamonlund Рік тому +2

    I have gained so much knowledge and connection from feeding my curiosity rather than my social insecurity! There are some comments about this video talking about why and not how to ask the right questions, but that is just how to do it.

  • @Szchandler
    @Szchandler 3 роки тому +6

    I hear from my coaches and trainers that there's no such thing as a dumb question. However, when you ask questions to simply know something instead of understanding, you are dumbing down the power of your inquiries. More important than what is how, more important than how is why or when. WHAT < HOW < WHY❓

  • @duyluu3354
    @duyluu3354 2 роки тому +1

    Wow. This has been informative to my question about questions.

  • @CalicoCooperFan
    @CalicoCooperFan 10 місяців тому +2

    I'd like to see Tim Ferriss go deep about his process and approach to asking questions both of himself and the people he interviews. I've listened to dozens of his podcast episodes and the guy is a master at asking questions. What does he see as the components of a great question? What is his approach to asking follow up questions? What resources does he use to learn to write better questions?

  • @89dirtybird
    @89dirtybird Рік тому +7

    I love content like this that strengthens my career goals! 20 years as a mechanic then engineer and now a preschool teacher. As a dixlexic infj I've gather allot of deep seeded knowledge and see how it is slipping bye my son in school. He told me the other day he believes I can keep us alive if something was to happen to the world. I now feel the need to make sure he feels the same about himself. If it's only 20 or so I have a chance at creating something beautiful of then so be it. If I care. We care

  • @slorter10
    @slorter10 3 роки тому +6

    Why does it have to be important for the market place ? Now that is a good question !

  • @Ncop343
    @Ncop343 Рік тому

    0:43 "why questioning?"
    2:48 "why our questioning activity decline?"

  • @canadiannuclearman
    @canadiannuclearman 2 роки тому +10

    A wise man once said
    " there are no dumb questions'

  • @fikayoawokunle2794
    @fikayoawokunle2794 2 роки тому +17

    I have a question though, I watched a video where the host and her Japanese friend were explaining how rigid the knowledge system is in Japan. However they are one of the leading countries in technology and innovation, so how do they marry curiosity with rigidity to innovate?

    • @JAYL195
      @JAYL195 Рік тому +2

      Technology and innovation transcends culture and even at times language (e.g binary numbers system). Questions need to be asked and answered in order to innovate.
      A CEO/Director may be asking how can we make more money? Or how can we surpass the competition? These questions inevitably lead to more questions amongst the mangers/workers, how can I make this product faster? More efficient? Etc
      This no doubt encourages the expression of ideas resulting in technological advancement.
      At least this is my take on it.

  • @WaterproofSoap
    @WaterproofSoap 2 роки тому +2

    No answer can satisfy like a great question. It's as palpable as 'hope' ever becomes.

  • @kenskafeteria4897
    @kenskafeteria4897 2 роки тому +17

    The reason we cease to ask questions in school is because we're already taught every answer before we ask for them. Thus, our creativity to think outside the box (the book) diminishes

  • @mr.k905
    @mr.k905 Рік тому +1

    Please upload in HQ. We’re not in the 1990s anymore.

  • @paulmetdebbie447
    @paulmetdebbie447 3 роки тому +10

    Best 2 questions in life:
    1. Who am I?
    2. Is it really so?

    • @junhotan2096
      @junhotan2096 2 роки тому +1

      And What for lunch today.

    • @piranha1347
      @piranha1347 2 роки тому

      one of the BEST, most powerful questions to ask is, "how is whatever is happening to me, how is it helping me fulfill my life's mission/purpose?

  • @joelarmenta9638
    @joelarmenta9638 Рік тому +1

    The best way to build rapport with a customer is to ask questions and listen to ask more questions.

  • @spikenike6181
    @spikenike6181 Рік тому

    Before i bumped into this content, the concepts of questioning is been on my mind like since yesterday, about "a one good question that could receive or create a general and specific answers needed in so many way." So i was thinking of a profession or job career who do really ask not a good question but the best one of all times. It seems to me that questions must be over more than the answers.
    Alright I'll continue watching now, hope I enjoy it while waiting for my tinder app to get installed

  • @pugmanick
    @pugmanick 3 роки тому

    Incredible.

  • @_romeopeter
    @_romeopeter 2 роки тому +1

    As some who wants to live that sparks curiosity and productivity, I needed this.
    Btw, those dropping quotes, do you actually abide by them?

  • @Adam-ui3yn
    @Adam-ui3yn 2 роки тому +3

    My favorite thing to do is ask a question that challenges that status-quo and get scoffed at. Only to investigate a little deeper and have the other person admit they don't actually know and that they're now curious what the real reason is.
    Like why do wedding rings needs to be so expensive ? Might come off like I'm being cheap, but the real answer is a combination of two things that have nothing to do with love.
    1. De Beers a large diamond corporation has a tight hold on the supply of diamonds in the market, so by holding them back they artificially raise the price far beyond what they're actually worth.
    2. In the context of evolutionary psychology it functions as a Zahavian handicap. The most full proof way to gauge the genetic health of a member of your own species is by having them demonstrate they're ability to waste/take on burdens. For peacocks they prove this when they're well fed and disease free enough to grow huge vibrant feathers. For antelopes it might looking like jumping to intentionally be visible to lions, which demonstrates they're healthy enough to outrun a predator.
    For humans it looks like blowing money on things with little utility, like cars, making it rain in the club, and of course wedding rings.

  • @dogethsamurai2390
    @dogethsamurai2390 Рік тому

    Thank you
    People have a tendency to stop asking questions because they fear that doing so will make them feel bad about themselves. Instead of asking questions and focusing on the response, it is preferable to stop and think about what you are learning or doing.

  • @laurieabo1866
    @laurieabo1866 Рік тому +1

    Interesting ideas. What is the source of the research that shows how the number of questions decreases as age increases?

  • @ozzyg82
    @ozzyg82 Рік тому +11

    I’m in my 40s and when I grew up I, and others I know, were told “you ask too many questions!” There was a culture, at least in parts of Britain, of: “children should be seen and not heard”. These sorts of insalubrious fallacies are partly to blame for the ruin of many young, brilliant, curious minds.

    • @RedRideRVT1R
      @RedRideRVT1R Рік тому +1

      it's a shame that the wave of ignorance was instilled from their own parents' ignorance inherited from generations like a forced on hand me down

  • @mstra2341
    @mstra2341 6 місяців тому

    True! People are not asking what's on their minds. I most likely ask the questions7 that most are afraid to ask.

  • @philawsonfur
    @philawsonfur Рік тому +1

    My life mantra: Ask the right questions

  • @a.lexandra03
    @a.lexandra03 Рік тому

    Hope Jahren!!!! 🥰 I love her book!

  • @a.whychild6591
    @a.whychild6591 Рік тому +1

    Asking the right questions is an amazing topic. Even in the workplace, I’ve come up against question asking being devalued.

    • @r-leanmygirl-gj2kt
      @r-leanmygirl-gj2kt Рік тому

      “Questions and Ideas, Don’t Forget them,” …The title of a journal that encourages you to keep the journal with you, and particularly in places where ideas seem to come to you. This is another journal by this author that I use consistently (fairly consistently anyway) You could probably create your own journal or notebook to accomplish this, but I like how this one is laid out.

    • @a.whychild6591
      @a.whychild6591 Рік тому

      @@r-leanmygirl-gj2kt you commented just in time. I totally forgot to journal the weird experience I had today at work. I need to do that. Thanks for sharing!

    • @r-leanmygirl-gj2kt
      @r-leanmygirl-gj2kt Рік тому

      @@a.whychild6591 My pleasure.

  • @robertcalamusso4218
    @robertcalamusso4218 Рік тому +4

    Asking the right questions ...leads us to new areas of discovery.
    🧠 🌈

  • @shivprasad8945
    @shivprasad8945 Рік тому

    Very important video for current times

  • @mosin9105
    @mosin9105 Рік тому

    Thanks

  • @ivanbarbosa81
    @ivanbarbosa81 Рік тому

    I love this channel

  • @conradmanove8749
    @conradmanove8749 29 днів тому

    The right question is the answer!

  • @danielly_kaufmann
    @danielly_kaufmann Рік тому +2

    "Questions are the new answers!!"😍

  • @Monkhaus
    @Monkhaus 2 роки тому +1

    I really like the idea that people can have a better life if they can ask better questions. I'm working on a free platform that will hopefully allow people to find the right questions for situation in life.

  • @asmalahmira4264
    @asmalahmira4264 2 роки тому +1

    Gracias

  • @OneAboveALL-ud3un
    @OneAboveALL-ud3un 2 роки тому +5

    "Millions saw the apple fall but Newton was the one who asked why." ~ Bernard Baruch

    • @briaf3370
      @briaf3370 Рік тому

      Millions? Try everyone since we started walking upright

  • @architecturesupport7386
    @architecturesupport7386 Рік тому

    Curious to learn more about how to spark that curiosity in tertiary students (again)? We experience a frustrating lack of this...

  • @liusjuliano5694
    @liusjuliano5694 Рік тому

    Damn, this video’s really struck me to the brain & heart

  • @tomiputra3720
    @tomiputra3720 Рік тому

    When do i lost that behavior? thx you for these video no i know what is missing from my life

  • @jason_yun
    @jason_yun 2 роки тому +31

    3:05 Instead of asking the students a bunch of questions and expect them to answer them on an exam, why don’t we redesign the exams so that the students are presented with issues or cases and they are required to write down the questions they can think of. Whoever asks the best questions gets the highest score.

    • @sararichardson737
      @sararichardson737 2 роки тому +1

      Yay!

    • @Zero-ef4sc
      @Zero-ef4sc Рік тому +3

      I like where you're going but such an exam will be extremely hard to grade and too subjective. I remember getting poor grades on presentations just because the teacher didn't agree. This is only the start, we can improve it make it a thing, I think.

  • @Sew_OzzyWar_Made_This
    @Sew_OzzyWar_Made_This Рік тому

    I'm never stopping asking questions. 🤠

  • @ferndaily5377
    @ferndaily5377 Рік тому

    Thank you for making this video Mr. Burgers.

  • @drsand3671
    @drsand3671 2 роки тому

    The answer to life is simply this, "to make connections within yourself, the world around you and with others."

  • @MrSterlingjw
    @MrSterlingjw 3 роки тому +12

    I attended public school in Utah until 2011 and have been in and out of community college course in california to the present day. There has always been teachers and professors who liked questions, encouraged questions.
    Big think should avoid generalizations.

  • @chiarajacobitti3522
    @chiarajacobitti3522 Рік тому +1

    Having a little paper, on the side of the table, to jot down the questions that you have.
    The ones that come up during lessons, homework, research... so even if you don't wanna answere them now, you still have them in hand! 😄
    Best wishes for ya all 😃🤙🌌💞

  • @asmalahmira4264
    @asmalahmira4264 2 роки тому

    THANK

  • @timeandattention3945
    @timeandattention3945 2 роки тому +1

    questions are more powerful in mental concepts

  • @MelFinehout
    @MelFinehout 2 роки тому +2

    When asked the meaning of life Elon Musk said (close paraphrase) "obviously the universe is the answer, we just need to find the right questions" It was so profound to me.

    • @bwenluck9812
      @bwenluck9812 Рік тому

      What does that even mean? Sounds like word salad.... 🤔
      Why do you find it "profound"? Because you don't understand his answer? Because I don't understand it, but to me it isn't profound--just a bunch of gobbilty gook....

    • @MelFinehout
      @MelFinehout Рік тому

      @@bwenluck9812 The universe (reality) is all that there is. There isn't anything even possible that isn't "the universe" so how could any other answer be right?
      The reason for the need for a "right question" is the necessity to align out thinking with reality. By "the right question" I don't think he means one bounded by quotations and ending with a question mark.
      I think he means, the right place to inquire, the right things to think about, the right thing to do with our finite and bounded existence to bring about a better condition in reality. What to spend your life doing, is "the question" and THIS IS MEANING.
      In this way you dedicate your life to serving the whole, by "asking" something like "what is the best use of my life, in order to serve the entirety of existence?" But not as a bounded question, but as an orientation towards reality.
      The universe (existence, reality whatever) isn't here for US! We are here for the universe. Thus, the universe is the answer to the meaning of life. "The Question" is, how will YOU (and I, and Elon) serve this greatest possible thing given our present capacity and opportunities?
      If that doesn't make sense it's probably just words salad and you should call me a weirdo and move on.

  • @spikenike6181
    @spikenike6181 Рік тому

    The experimental philosopher 🙌

  • @marissanguyen257
    @marissanguyen257 2 роки тому +1

    One of the guy wasn’t blinking for a long time

  • @sotzou
    @sotzou Рік тому

    good question

  • @dorianphilotheates3769
    @dorianphilotheates3769 2 роки тому

    Thanks, Socrates.

  • @artashesvardanyan763
    @artashesvardanyan763 3 роки тому +1

    Guys while watching this video (or similar informative and insightful) what is the one thing you would like to do here in youtube but you cannot?

  • @Akshayshaha902
    @Akshayshaha902 3 роки тому

    How does the massive objects have ability to drag and curve the space-time fabric?

  • @thedailyokeli1885
    @thedailyokeli1885 2 роки тому

    Does first principles spring to mind?

  • @BIGGELATO
    @BIGGELATO Рік тому +1

    My problem is not knowing which questions to ask myself 🤦‍♂️

  • @SEPICUY
    @SEPICUY Рік тому

    nice content

  • @RickDelmonico
    @RickDelmonico 3 роки тому

    Profound absurdities link perception and imagination. If we take the intangible and encapsulate it within the vessel of reason, then we turn it this way and that looking for clues, we may discover something unexpected or we may have to discard the thing and move on. There is an awful lot to sift through, and all too often no clear direction, we do this however, because we must.

  • @kennethgarris2370
    @kennethgarris2370 2 роки тому +2

    The only "stupid question" is the one you're scared to ask...
    If you don't know ask. Most situations looking back on seem to come to one conclusion : you should have ask or if you don't know or understand just ask.

  • @ajruvmnzur4379
    @ajruvmnzur4379 2 роки тому

    Great

  • @luizvictoriobaptistaneto1561
    @luizvictoriobaptistaneto1561 Рік тому +1

    The entire video narrows itself down to one sentence: "ask dumb questions."

  • @cho-gyelwangmo3450
    @cho-gyelwangmo3450 Рік тому

    ‘’Don’t think about why you question, simply don’t stop questioning. Don’t worry about what you can’t answer, don’t try to explain what you can’t know . Curiosity is it’s own reason . Aren’t you in awe when you contemplate the mysteries of eternity , of life , of the marvelous structure behind reality? And this is the miracle of the human mind - to use it’s constructions , concepts, and formulas as tool to explain what man sees , feels and touches . Try to comprehend a litter more each day . Have a holy curiosity ‘’
    - Albert Einstein

  • @asmalahmira4264
    @asmalahmira4264 2 роки тому

    شكر

  • @andmicbro1
    @andmicbro1 Рік тому

    I've always thought that asking good questions is the true sign on intelligence. Take the discovery of penicillin, when Alexander Fleming's experiment was ruined by mold, most people would take a note of the oddity, but then toss it out and start over on their original experiment. But Fleming thought, "hey, this mold inhibits the growth of bacteria! Why is that?" It was his curiousity that led to a major breakthrough in medicine. And whenever I listen to interviews with very smart people I'm always interested to see what questions they ask. Or just seeing how they respond to questions with a lot of thought before they ever get around to answering the question.
    It belies a way of looking at the world differently. While people may be in a rush to accomplish something, they may miss the interesting details that can teach us a deeper lesson. So many innovations have come from unexpected places, often from what would be considered a failure as well. Like the guy who invented Slurpees, Omar Knedlik. His soda machine broke at the Dairy Queen he was running, and so he started serving bottled sodas that he chilled in the freezer. But he saw that his semi-fronzen "pops" were quire popular, he came up with the idea to make frozen slush drinks, a machine that got the ratio right, and while it took a while before it really took off, eventually through some smart business moves, like leasing his machines to businesses, his idea became amazingly successful.
    So yeah, asking questions, being curious, thinking about things deeply. These are the things that can change the world when the right person asks the right question.

  • @shawbyoutube
    @shawbyoutube 2 роки тому

    For a video describing the importance of questions, it should've also included the importance of truly understanding the fundamental nature of readily observed reality.
    And, if the above statement made sense to you, it increases the truth value of this thought. So, am I nuts or could it be possible that Big Think didn't think it big this time? hehe

  • @haniefsofi
    @haniefsofi 3 роки тому

    Well said. The teachers NEED TO PONDER OVER IT.

    • @decibel333
      @decibel333 3 роки тому +1

      People love to shit on schools and teachers, but if you think about it you'll remember hearing adults tell children complete nonsense answers rather than being honest and saying "I don't know". Most adults seem to have a real problem telling kids a) "that's a great question, I never thought to ask that"

  • @whizmotovlog
    @whizmotovlog 3 роки тому

    Present !!

  • @mariacamillapetroni3553
    @mariacamillapetroni3553 11 місяців тому

    Thank you very interesting I like dumb questions I'll start asking more 🤪🥰😊🤭Good day. MC