9. Question Authority
In order to explore consciousness as the source of liberating freedom we must be vigilant in bringing the highest standards of disciplined empirical inquiry to bear upon the process of perception.
Nietzsche defined freedom as “the will to be responsible to ourselves.” This to me means the ability to respond to the instinct for freedom that is innate within ourselves—ability here meaning competence and skill.
In other words, wise discernment and intellectual rigor play vital roles as we open to the contents of consciousness and examine the role of perception as the architecture of reality. And to extract anger and ignorance from “misperceptions of freedom” requires courage, intelligence, and kindness.
This means not hiding in “axiomatic truths” or “ideological hysterias” with their promises of escape into a realm of “perfect whatever-ness.” There are no absolute answers, not yet. Favor the question, always question.”
Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace laureate Elie Weisel reminds us. “Do not accept answers as definitive. Answers change. Questions don’t. Always question those who are certain of what they are saying. Always favor the person who is tolerant enough to understand that there are no absolute answers, but there are absolute questions.”
Developing our reverence for mystery as we explore the universe, inside and outside, and map the architecture of freedom, is the best safeguard against fanaticism and totalitarianism.