William James was a highly influential American psychologist. (He was brother of Henry James, the novelist, and came up with the term ‘stream of consciousness’, but that’s by the by.)
William James said that there were two paths for any thinker: Seek truth, or avoid error.It’s a brilliant way to assess what you do.
Avoiding error isn’t just about playing it safe. It’s about believing that there is a formula for success – and that if you follow its rules, no matter what the circumstances or context, you won’t fail. It’s about fitting in and looking cool – teens avoid error. It’s about covering your backside with ‘out’ clauses rather than ponying up and having real skin in the game. The best thing that can be said about avoiding error is that it implies conscientiousness. But quality control is not the same as quality.
Seeking truth, on the other hand, takes nerve. It means not challenging the accepted wisdom if you have doubts (but also being brave enough to accept it when it really is wisdom – you’re not always the smartest person in the room). It means exploring the whole context you’re operating within, and putting yourself in others’ shoes so you fully understand the effect of what you’re proposing. It means trying something new if that’s what’s required, but not just for the sake of being noticed. It means caring enough about the result to share responsibility if it fails as well as when it succeeds.
Seeking truth? Or avoiding error? What are you doing right now?
William James was also the source of the famous quote: ‘A great many people think they are thinking, when they are merely re-arranging their prejudices.’