Transcription
001 CURIOSITY, WHAT IS IT? Perhaps there are as many definitions of “curiosity” as there are people. But there is one that synthesizes very well what many of us intuitively understand what “being curious” means. We find it in the Merriam-Webster dictionary: “curiosity: desire to know, to know.” It is about not remaining unchanged before something, but about worrying about discovering what is "behind," asking questions. There are elements of a certain cognitive rebellion, of mischief, in curiosity.
Being curious is being RESTLESS; it is not staying as it is before something. It is wanting to inquire, deepen, reveal the little secrets of something that appears to us as challenging. It is an inclination to learn what is not known. The term in most Western languages comes from the Latin curiositas, and this from cura (to take care of). The meanings of the term have been increasing: curiosity as something rare or singular; be curious as someone who likes to finish things well, be in the details. Therefore, curiosity is not only wanting to know but also appreciating the difference, the singularity.
In his Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes says that curiosity is what distinguishes us from ANIMALS, in addition to reason. It is a "singular" passion, perseverance in the pleasure of generating new knowledge, which, he tells us, "exceeds the short vehemence of any carnal pleasure." He synthesizes it in the concept "the lust of the mind," which seems subtle and precious to me. Being curious makes us human. It is what, today, also distinguishes us from the "intelligent MACHINES" that are already beginning to appear on the horizon.
SCIENCE depends on human curiosity. In the COMPANY, innovation is fundamental, and it arises from curiosity. Curiosity is a new form of currency: Being curious creates value. There are companies that already have their CCO, “chief curiosity officer.” Even companies like IKEA have defined the position of CPO, "chief player officer," for which they HAVE LOOKED FOR "a curious person between 4 and 12 years old obsessed with games and adventure."
In ART and culture, curiosity is the essential energy. And stimulating curiosity will play a critical role in re-inventing EDUCATION. If you have come this far, it is because you were curious about the word curiosity. In other videos, we talk about how to APPLY curiosity, how to STIMULATE it, how it emerged in science, how we use it to INVENT new businesses. And also because on some occasions curiosity has not been well seen, as that phrase "curiosity killed the cat" synthesizes very well, a phrase with which someone is warned not to get involved in certain matters.
ARE YOU CURIOUS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CURIOSITY?