The Power of “Why?” and “What If?”

An article that appeared in the New York Times titled “The Power of ‘Why?’ and ‘What If?’” describes the way that people are going into the workplace not knowing how to be inquisitive or ask good questions to learn. This has harmed them. The author Warren Berger writes, “One might assume that people can easily ask…questions, given that children do it so well. But research shows that question-asking peaks at age 4 or 5 and then steadily drops off, as children pass through school (where answers are often more valued than questions) and mature into adults. By the time we’re in the workplace, many of us have gotten out of the habit of asking fundamental questions…” The “Plunder the Egyptians Method” that is often encouraged in schools teaches students to look for clever answers instead of seeking to learn by listening and asking questions. Without the ability to ask good questions and listen, people struggle to be successful in situations that are not rigidly determined. It is virtually impossible to learn or reason without the ability to question.