By Emad M. Afifi, D. Arch.
Noun: hypothesis; plural noun: hypotheses
- a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
- a proposition made as a basis for reasoning, without any assumption of its truth.
We live in a world that wants or pretends to be customized for individual needs. We fall in love with i-this, i-that, My this, and My that. But, fact of the matter is: the digital age has put us all in a programmable mode of existence. The choices are many but are hardly unique or precisely yours! We must follow the procedure, click here or there, drag-and-drop, don’t go back, etc… We got so excited when we became able to zoom-in and zoom-out, touch the screen, swipe, and watch the computer gene respond with all of its might.
Let’s now zoom-in for specific examples. Many of us have tried a custom designed exercise routine, diet, or any other program only to find out that it does not work very well, not for you. We try again and profess that “change is good”. Success often becomes a mirage on the horizon, or a short-lived experience that dissolves in the face of the next temptation or serious challenge. We search the web, again and again. Constant change is sometimes done just for the sake of change; it becomes an escape and an alternative to genuine creativity and a real custom-designed solution. But we often see no problem, we just keep trying… harder. And, while this is a natural part of life that we call “trial-and-error”, it should not be the norm or one’s way of life. We can do much better than that.
The silver lining to this information age is buried underneath the tremendous wealth of knowledge offered freely on the Internet. We can learn from and share with one another all of our unfiltered experiences and know-hows. Yet, we need to recognize the fact that there will be the good, the bad, and the so-so! We need to figure out how to pick and choose, how to weed it all out and how to craft our own individual solutions. Then, methodically test, observe results, and reach conclusions as to what works and what does not work—for you!
In a way, this is the modern day version of the good old collective or “conventional wisdom” humans developed over generations in all cultures, usually in a specific social, economic, and environmental context. But now that most of these conditions we have in common are dissolving in a global melting pot, we need to re-discover individuality in a more meaningful way. In a way, the art of living becomes similar to seeking various design solutions to a common design studio project or assignment. Solutions are all different but they all should be good, viable, and meaningful; some will be excellent or outstanding but there is not necessarily one optimum solution to seek or to emulate or to negate all others.
What is missing and needed for the new “i-age” as I will call it, is the first thing a serious scientific researcher needs to start with—a plausible hypothesis that is specific to each individual or situation, and that addresses exactly what matters to the individual or entity involved. Then we need a possible solution or a carefully crafted set of solutions. Then we can proceed with systematic implementation and observation, then a conclusion: what works and what does not work—for you, not for the entire universe!
This takes patience and perseverance. But, over time, it will build up to individual wisdom. I will call it the “i-Learn” or “i-Wise” approach. Isn’t this what life is all about?
Emad M. Afifi, D. Arch. is a professor of architecture at SCAD.