InsightInsight

Its one thing to make a judgement like “ I Its one thing to make a judgement like “ I think that nurses are underpaid”. Its another think that nurses are underpaid”. Its another

thing to analyze the process that leads to thing to analyze the process that leads to that judgement. In other words what that judgement. In other words what

elements happen in the process of knowing elements happen in the process of knowing that leads us to come to a definitive that leads us to come to a definitive

judgement that “nurses are underpaid”judgement that “nurses are underpaid”

InsightInsight

Bernard Lonergan analyzes this process in his Bernard Lonergan analyzes this process in his work called “Insight”. I believe that it is worth work called “Insight”. I believe that it is worth taking a look at because if we analyze the steps taking a look at because if we analyze the steps that it takes to make a judgement then we can that it takes to make a judgement then we can observe our errors in the manner of thinking that observe our errors in the manner of thinking that we may have. we may have.

The Steps in the Process of KnowingThe Steps in the Process of Knowing

There are various steps according to Lonergan, There are various steps according to Lonergan, these steps are analyzed individually for academic these steps are analyzed individually for academic purposes, yet in real life they do not always purposes, yet in real life they do not always happen in any necessary order. They will be happen in any necessary order. They will be presented in an order, however, the reality of living presented in an order, however, the reality of living experience shows that they may happen quickly, experience shows that they may happen quickly, mixed together and in an unconscious manner.mixed together and in an unconscious manner.

External ExperienceExternal Experience

The first step in the knowing process according to The first step in the knowing process according to B.L is the External Experience.B.L is the External Experience.

What is external experience - a fancy word for What is external experience - a fancy word for encountering our living environment.encountering our living environment.

Ex. Touching an apple, eating a fig, seeing a vivid Ex. Touching an apple, eating a fig, seeing a vivid picture, hearing music, smelling a rose in other picture, hearing music, smelling a rose in other words experiencing the world.words experiencing the world.

Internal ExperienceInternal Experience

This is the internal experience of the This is the internal experience of the external. You may see and hear the sound external. You may see and hear the sound of the crash of two cars. But your of the crash of two cars. But your experience of the situation does not end experience of the situation does not end after you experience. You can remember after you experience. You can remember the crash two days after, you can remember the crash two days after, you can remember the sound of the crash and the vision or the sound of the crash and the vision or imagination of the crash. This is your imagination of the crash. This is your internal experience of the external world. internal experience of the external world.

Internal ExperienceInternal Experience

Sometimes the more intense the external Sometimes the more intense the external experience, the more intense the memory. experience, the more intense the memory. Think of some childhood experience that Think of some childhood experience that you can still recall as if it were yesterday. you can still recall as if it were yesterday. That is your internal experience. That data That is your internal experience. That data you can use to analyze, reflect upon, draw you can use to analyze, reflect upon, draw conclusions and it influences your entire life. conclusions and it influences your entire life.

I. E = sense imagesI. E = sense images

Sense images are your imaginations, but Sense images are your imaginations, but they can also be the sounds, the feelings, they can also be the sounds, the feelings, the taste. They are the memory of our the taste. They are the memory of our senses as opposed to our mind. They are senses as opposed to our mind. They are an integral part of your internal experience.an integral part of your internal experience.

The ProcessThe Process

Step 1. The encounter with the external Step 1. The encounter with the external world.world.

Step 2 The encounter with the internal Step 2 The encounter with the internal experience. Ie. sense imagesexperience. Ie. sense images

Step 3 Insight – the intellectual Step 3 Insight – the intellectual understanding of the external world. understanding of the external world.

InsightInsight

More specifically, insight is the mental activity by More specifically, insight is the mental activity by which the mind grasps patterns between things which the mind grasps patterns between things that before were disorganized. The insight was that before were disorganized. The insight was the awakening that made you say “aha, now I the awakening that made you say “aha, now I understand.” This is the third step in the process of understand.” This is the third step in the process of understanding. It is based on the other two understanding. It is based on the other two according to L. First you, have external according to L. First you, have external experiences, then internalization of these experiences, then internalization of these experiences, then upon thinking upon them you experiences, then upon thinking upon them you come to a new understanding or an insight. come to a new understanding or an insight.

Insight ContinuedInsight Continued

Insight is properly of the mind and not the Insight is properly of the mind and not the senses (vision, sound, touch etc) it is an senses (vision, sound, touch etc) it is an understanding which makes sense of the understanding which makes sense of the sense images and turns them into sense images and turns them into something meaningful. A pattern may be something meaningful. A pattern may be observed or a new meaning may be observed or a new meaning may be observed. observed.

Characteristics of the InsightCharacteristics of the Insight

Insight may happen quickly or take a long time - Insight may happen quickly or take a long time - even years.even years.

Insight puts things together, piecing information Insight puts things together, piecing information together. The detective scenario. together. The detective scenario.

Insight involves memory. A good memory are Insight involves memory. A good memory are the building blocks for intelligence.the building blocks for intelligence.

Insight grasps a pattern. Out of things that Insight grasps a pattern. Out of things that seem disarrayed and disorganized the person seem disarrayed and disorganized the person who has an insight sees a pattern. who has an insight sees a pattern.

Characteristics of InsightCharacteristics of Insight

Insight builds upon prior information and Insight builds upon prior information and other insights to construct new insights. Old other insights to construct new insights. Old experiences help new experiences.experiences help new experiences.

Once an insight occurs it is usually a Once an insight occurs it is usually a permanent insight which may be beneficial permanent insight which may be beneficial for the whole human race. for the whole human race.

The before and after the insight are like The before and after the insight are like night and day, why didn’t I see it before. night and day, why didn’t I see it before.

Characteristics ContinuedCharacteristics Continued

An environment where a person has a good An environment where a person has a good memory, prior insights, willingness to memory, prior insights, willingness to experiment and ask questions lead to the experiment and ask questions lead to the acquisition of insights, the opposite is also acquisition of insights, the opposite is also true. A bad memory, lack of prior true. A bad memory, lack of prior knowledge, failure to ask questions may knowledge, failure to ask questions may lead to a lack of insights. lead to a lack of insights.

Insight Answers the QuestionInsight Answers the QuestionWhat is it?What is it?

Insight answers the question what is it?Insight answers the question what is it? You see an object in the bush and you are You see an object in the bush and you are

not sure what it is, so you ask yourself the not sure what it is, so you ask yourself the question, what is it? As you get closer you question, what is it? As you get closer you can see now, it is a deer.” The insight is the can see now, it is a deer.” The insight is the answer to a question, and many times is answer to a question, and many times is preceded by the question, “What is it?” preceded by the question, “What is it?”

Reflection – Is it really that?Reflection – Is it really that?

Reflection is an analysis of the insight and Reflection is an analysis of the insight and asks the question, is it really that?asks the question, is it really that?

You see an animal in the bush and your You see an animal in the bush and your insight tells you it is a deer. In the process of insight tells you it is a deer. In the process of reflection you analyze and ask yourself , is it reflection you analyze and ask yourself , is it really a deer or is it something else. You really a deer or is it something else. You question your own insight. question your own insight.

ReflectionReflection

Reflection solidifies your insight and makes Reflection solidifies your insight and makes you reanalyze the data.you reanalyze the data.

Well I see that it has a white tail, it looks Well I see that it has a white tail, it looks brown, now I can see a small rack, it must brown, now I can see a small rack, it must be a deer.be a deer.

More data is accumulated that further More data is accumulated that further solidifies your initial insight that it was a deer solidifies your initial insight that it was a deer in the bush. in the bush.

Reflection - characteristicsReflection - characteristics

The more data accumulated in reflection, the The more data accumulated in reflection, the stronger the insight becomes.stronger the insight becomes.

The less data accumulated in reflection the The less data accumulated in reflection the weaker the insight becomes. Weaker in the sense weaker the insight becomes. Weaker in the sense that the insight may be wrong. that the insight may be wrong.

Reflection may take long periods of time where as Reflection may take long periods of time where as insight may be sudden and quick. insight may be sudden and quick.

Reflection is like the scientist who is researching a Reflection is like the scientist who is researching a theory. The theory is the insight and the reflection theory. The theory is the insight and the reflection determines whether the insight is correct. determines whether the insight is correct.

Judgment – the conclusionJudgment – the conclusion

After sufficient reflection a judgment is made After sufficient reflection a judgment is made that definitively says what you think. It really that definitively says what you think. It really is a deer in the bush.is a deer in the bush.

You had an initial insight that a deer was in You had an initial insight that a deer was in the bush, you thought about it and after the bush, you thought about it and after further reflection you are now convinced that further reflection you are now convinced that truly a deer is in the bush and you make a truly a deer is in the bush and you make a judgmentjudgment which is definitive. which is definitive.

Judgment - definitiveJudgment - definitive

The judgment is definitive in the sense that you are The judgment is definitive in the sense that you are staking the fruit of your refection and analysis on it. staking the fruit of your refection and analysis on it.

You are committing yourself to a position and you You are committing yourself to a position and you are defending it. You are saying that I think it is this are defending it. You are saying that I think it is this and not a hundred other things.and not a hundred other things.

People do not like to be wrong with their judgments People do not like to be wrong with their judgments because they can be ridiculed. Yet why does a because they can be ridiculed. Yet why does a person make such flimsy judgments and risk person make such flimsy judgments and risk embarrassment?embarrassment?

Judgment – CautiousnessJudgment – Cautiousness

Because a judgment can be so definitive. People Because a judgment can be so definitive. People may tend to cautious about their judgments, may tend to cautious about their judgments, because they know they have such a definitive because they know they have such a definitive nature.nature.

Think of various professions where a final Think of various professions where a final judgment is definitive and the consequences are judgment is definitive and the consequences are grave. grave.

Some people are willy nilly with their judgments Some people are willy nilly with their judgments what does that do to their credibility? what does that do to their credibility?

ConsciousnessConsciousness

This step in the process of knowing can not be This step in the process of knowing can not be found in any one step, it is through out the whole found in any one step, it is through out the whole process. process.

Consciousness is an Consciousness is an awarenessawareness of knowledge. of knowledge. Awareness of external knowledge, awareness of Awareness of external knowledge, awareness of

sense images, awareness of your insight, sense images, awareness of your insight, awareness of your reflection and awareness of awareness of your reflection and awareness of your judgment. It is a step that is continuous and your judgment. It is a step that is continuous and throughout the entire process of knowledge. throughout the entire process of knowledge.

Knowing the Process Knowing the Process

After understanding the process – where now can After understanding the process – where now can we find mistakes in the process of knowing. Where we find mistakes in the process of knowing. Where do they happen frequently?do they happen frequently?

What mistakes happen in:What mistakes happen in: External experienceExternal experience Internal experienceInternal experience InsightInsight ReflectionReflection JudgmentJudgment ConsciousnessConsciousness

In our own knowing processIn our own knowing process

Think about your own thinking process.Think about your own thinking process. What type of person are you in the thinking What type of person are you in the thinking

process?process? What are the mistakes that you make in the What are the mistakes that you make in the

thinking process that detain you from thinking process that detain you from acquiring true knowledge?acquiring true knowledge?