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Jordan White

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What is your scientific approach to life?

At the top of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is Self-Actualization. Maslow identifies this need as a desire to arrive at a place of self-acceptance. We accept the world around us and anticipate life-growth.

As a business major I was used to measuring things so it was natural for me to force this approach on other parts of my life. A person's needs are like thoughts or knowledge. They're difficult to measure. However, intangible concepts can be made real if you learn how to measure them.

I learned how to learn from my mistakes. I measured successes/failures - a ratio of sort. After that, I started paying attention to the rate at which I could transition from being mostly wrong to mostly right. You can only imagine how used to being wrong I am.

If you've ever asked someone a question and their response was, "You will just know." I think that may be self-actualization.

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Topics: Mindset Outcome Measurement change goals ideas worth spreading life living purpose scientific method self discovery
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    Nicholas Lukowiak 50+

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    Jul 10 2012: Interesting, you ask the question "What is your scientific approach to life?" but talk about Maslow whom was driven personally into his research (an originator) which was an attempt to create paradigms for psychology - the entire process of which is not scientific but philosophic. What Maslow was attempting to assert as a system, would be the (re)interpretation prior to scientific exploration.

    I don't think a scientific attitude towards life is good at all. I would say it is important to accept scientific data, but what that data dictates as being reality is entirely cultural and individualistic - objective truth is what we want, but there is no such thing, so why not anticipate the fact of constant subjective-reflection as being the reality behind, well everything, even scientific discovery. A philosophy in which accepts the 'middle ground' and attempts to be tolerant towards all ideas is a great foundation prior to scientific discovery, otherwise privatized intentions can be easily formed - esoteric trends and what not.
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    Adriaan Braam 20+

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    Jul 10 2012: Science is there, I think, to support and make a useful life.

    It allows me to have a healthier body, to use faster and more reliable equipment.

    Science makes great cars, but also great guns. It is how we use either (or anything science comes up with) which determines who we are.

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      Debra Smith 200+

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      Jul 9 2012: Mine is: Read the literature and get today's best answers rather than settle for the guesses.
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    Linda Taylor 50+

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    Jul 9 2012: There is theoretical science, and there is experimental science. My life is pretty much one giant experiment.
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    Lejan . 30+

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    TED Translator
    Jul 7 2012: All of my life decisions are based on my 'gutt' feelings, which, as much as I understand about it, would be just the opposite of an scientific approach.

  • george lockwood 20+

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    Jul 7 2012: In my early days in college I was around Scientists. The physicists seemed to apply the scientific method to many routine things in life., but remember that you can always be blindsided in this sales driven world. Read Cuildini on influence. Watch our for salespeople and politicians who all now use the latest techniques.
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