There are many things I do not know. True! but I love the fact that I do not know everything because it gives me a reason to wake up everyday.
I love learning, discovering new theories, trying to look at things from different angles (very difficult sometimes), to test different worldviews...and wait a minute, I just wrote worldview...but what is a worldview? it consists of what? is it something we can think of, discuss about it? change it? remove it? erase it and make another one?
Can you guess what was my first reaction after asking myself all these questions about worldviews....yes you are rigth...I went to my teenager's room and I asked him, what is a worldview?
He looked at me, first, puzzled and then, as usual, his answer came out full of wit and charm, "Am I asked what is 'my' worldview or what is 'our' worldview?
hummmmm great question....does that mean that I am not applying the rules of democracy ...I mean democracy principles, the ideals of universal freedoms, such as the right to free speech...in our home? NO, this cannot be possible ;) right??
What guides
a person's decision making? This question may seem abstract and philosophical,
but it is actually very practical. When decisions need to be made, are there
guidelines to follow?
Everyday
decisions, as well as abstract and philosophical decisions, are influenced by
one's worldview. For example, deciding which political party to support,
choosing how to make financial decisions, and many other practical matters are
decided on by one's worldview.
Most people
who encounter the concept of worldview first do so during their college
education. But even as adults, few people take the time to think about,
examine, and identify their own worldview. Many consider the topic too heavy or
too philosophical, yet whether it is perceived or not, each person has a
worldview that impacts their life.
Decisions
are all determined by a person's worldview. If people understand their own
decision making process and can explain it, they are well on their way to
understanding and articulating their worldview.
What is a
Worldview?
According to Nash, "It is a
conceptual framework, pattern, or arrangement of a person's beliefs. The best
worldviews are comprehensive, systematic, and supposedly true views of life and
the world" (Nash, 1999, p. 13).
According to Sire, "A
worldview is a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially
true, or entirely false) which we hold (consciously or subconsciously,
consistently or inconsistently) about the basic make-up of our world"
(Sire, 1988, p. 17).
Many
authors who write on the topic of worldview use a common analogy to explain
what a worldview is and how it influences our thinking.
A worldview is like a
pair of eyeglasses that influences how one sees the world. The purpose of
eyeglasses, of course, is to bring the world (reality) into clearer focus.
Eyeglasses should help a person see well. Some glasses change the way things
appear because of colored lenses.
The origin of the prescription becomes the
foundation of worldview.
Hoffecker
(2007) noted that worldviews impact every area of life. "One's worldview,
or world-and-life view, consists of one's most basic beliefs and framework of
understanding Directly or indirectly, basic beliefs influence every
dimension of human life" (p. xi).
WHAT IS YOUR WORLDVIEW? I am going to tell you about mine next time..
Have a great day!
