The Why Question.

I remember as a young boy how I drove my parents mad with the dreaded constant why. Later in life my own daughter put me through an intellectual marathon of incessant why questions and at the back of my mind was the thought and realisation that she was actually playing with me.

Yet the why question is such a fundamental tool not just to understand the world as it is but to explore and re-evaluate things that are so easily accepted as the normal and correct way of life.

There are times as an adult when I realise living in a democracy has an appearance of freedom of expression yet like many societies it could be personally dangerous to voice a why to questions involving political, social or religious world views. Even the environment, animal rights and sexual expression can be a cause for violence rather than an in depth discussion.

Is the world becoming less tolerant and suppressing the why that is so important for social and cultural development? Maybe it is the technology and speed of instant news that could be distorting reality.

My grandmother was an avid reader of a certain national newspaper that specialised in reporting highly salacious stories that she would quote to all. My grandmother too would ask the question of why did they do that? I thought it was helping her to suggest she did not buy and read the newspaper but this was not the case. The newspaper was like a comic for my grandmother and it was a pastime that she enjoyed.

The simple why has propelled all human knowledge throughout civilisation. Striving to understand can not begin until the important why has been posed.

The important point about why is it is never ending and that really is a good thing.