Questions

When I was a kid, I asked my parents questions. Their answers helped me understand the world around me. I didn’t know it at the time, but this was the basis of learning everything in life.

When a teacher teaches, he or she is telling us something that is the answer to a question, whether asked or not. At some point, the question was voiced and the answer researched and acquired. Then that information was shared, and teaching began!

If I’ve learned anything in life, it is this: All we know is the result of having asked a question. You or I, or someone else, the question was posed and someone studied facts to generate the knowledge that answered the question.

That’s how it works. That’s life.

Later in life I worked for the University of Illinois at Chicago. I thought we taught students about a lot of things, then organized those things into major fields of study, granted degrees to those students so they could take their gathered information out into the world and work to accomplish things worthy of an annual income.

Oh sure, in the main, that is the activity of the institution then and now. But the teaching cannot be done without the questions and following research. The base of knowledge at any given time is the result of much research. Done by thousands or millions of people over the years. In research institutions, mainly public and private universities. Some corporations do this research as well, but in the main, they buy the results of research done at universities to add to their own specific knowledge base where they then build competitive, unique products and services.

Our society generates a lot of fresh information this way and expands the base of all knowledge accordingly. So do many nations and universities do this.

But it all starts with questions. Surprising where the questions come from. So simple and direct, not always from kids, nor from researchers. Usually, questions come from people engaged in the activities of the world and confront unknowns. Constantly they confront the unknowns. They ask questions. And soon, research follows.

My kids used to ask me questions. Just like your kids. Mostly I told them, “It’s basic physics.” And surely most answers are basic physics. The more I live the more I learn this is true. Of course, our family laughs at that answer today, but the truth of it remains.

Rather than shrink from the unknown and the unnerving experience of confronting unknown questions and answers, be involved in activities that raise those questions. It is vital that we do this. Everyone can do this.

The question most evident today is: “how do we restore American democracy and safeguard it for all time to come?” Now that’s a great question!

June 18, 2025