What an individual actually needs to dread is neither mediocrity nor excellence but the utter absence of thought. Mediocrity is the stepping stone of originality.
One should have a good grounding in mediocrity to graduate to originality. The articles written here are a part of my graduation process; a part of my effort to learn mediocre views-- only to ‘de-learn’ it gradually. I understand the risk that I take—the risk of getting grounded in mediocre views. But where else I have to start with?
Mediocrity results from a limited knowledge or reasoning. I don’t hold on to reason as the ultimate infallible guide. But I do believe that reason is the only way forward. Reason in my opinion is not wide and limitless. On contrary it helps chart our way and set the limits. Any effort to outwit mediocrity leads to an intellectual void—where reason is sacrificed at the altar of agnosticism. Mediocrity can only be undermined only by first learning mediocrity.
Our world is permeated with superfluous words and actions that excellence is rarely appreciated. Originality is like a pot of gold hidden in earth. One digs on till he finds the gold. The articles I write are like searching for gold. And once I recognize that I have hit the gold, I may not dig any longer. And so I fantasize that one day I will cease to write and “will go for a pilgrimage to
Bernard Shaw was once asked if he was willing to die for what he professed. His reply was: “No. I may be wrong.” Likewise, I’m under no compulsion to prove or defend my arguments. The articles are only a part of the process of my self-discovery and not the product of my enlightenment or self-discovery. The greatest mistake of the intellectual man is the false-consciousness that he is an intellectual. It is then, that he gets caught with the intellectual snare of mediocrity. So let me assume no assumptions. And let me remain a layman—simple and pragmatic.
