Think Logical, Think Scientific!

Mubashara Mansoor

​Author. Enthusiast.

​“If you want to find the secrets of universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibrations.”

This statement always inspires me because it teaches me that what you will learn depends on how you think. After studying mathematics and engineering, you always look at everything from the glasses of science. Interestingly science and logic are knitted together; that is logical thinking makes deductions easy in a scientific journey while science always welcomes the logical conclusions. Science involves great deal of curiosity and observation, for which logic provides software to process information in order to reach a scientific conclusion. Scientific thinking and logic are combinable to achieve a level of thinking in which scientific observations keep the mind busy in making premises and looking for conclusions. Premise or hypothesis is a statement which may or may not be true. Therefore, if the logical processing nullifies the initial hypothesis, the contradiction of your point is true and you are never ever at the losing end. The idea is so captivating for our mind that it eventually starts breaking our day to day matters, observations, and conflicts into different hypotheses and processes it in logical way. It will reject the compartmentalization of knowledge; constructing an equation for each thinking problem, keeping in mind the useful variables and external hazards, will help reaching far better decisions. Scientific attitude is the Elixir for learning and once you train your mind to think scientifically, most of your judgements would be coherent, unbiased and precise. Because what we infer directly influences our choices, and agreement or disagreement on something; and to some extent our beliefs as well.

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Scientific attitude is the Elixir for learning and once you train your mind to think scientifically, most of your judgements would be coherent, unbiased and precise.

When I started looking from the glasses of science at human organ systems, functionality of living organisms and associated phenomenon, I was compelled to say wow! How precisely are we put together to form a working unit or a system! Certainly all branches of science and engineering could be originated by getting inspiration from single human unit; it combines learning process, 3 – 6 DOF (degree of freedom) motions, sensing organs, structure and design, inter-dependence of systems and organs, connectivity and networking through nervous system, communication through plasma and liquid, cycles and loops, control and feedback, perception, energy and ATPs (adenosine triphosphate), forces, balancing of forces, chemicals and reactions, transmitting and receiving mechanisms, programming, signaling, focus, electric current, absorption, diffusion, light, resonance, resistance, friction, thresholds, evolution, time, concept of birth and death, waves and propagation, memory storage and what not. From an Amoeba in this universe to a superior automatic being e.g. human body, everything is scientifically engineered. Mechanical cushioning provided to the baby by Amniotic fluid says so much about fluid dynamics. Sparrow’s stark maneuvers and weightless plunges astonish me how remarkably opposite forces are fighting to keep it in the air. Pendant droplets of water in a perfect shape are signs of how surface tension affects the falling liquid. When my hand burnt from a blistering spoon kept in a pan on stove, I realized what transfer of heat actually is. When I can’t see in dark, I thank for the light that reflects into eyes to give me an illusion of vision. Scientific thinking leads scientists to discover, invent, coming up with new ideas, contradictions and eventually a scientific truth. That’s how new theories emerge and sometimes substitute the old ones. Probably that’s why Archimedes’ principle transpired while he was taking bath and Newton’s thought process stimulated by hit of an apple. From using batteries to throwing ball in the air, children are naively witnessing occurrences which involve conversion of energy from one form to another. A falling pencil changes mathematical relation at every point before it reaches ground. The conversion of day and night translates the motion of Earth which we can’t feel.

We inhale air but or body needs oxygen from that air which comprises 78% of nitrogen. The way lungs filter excessive nitrogen from the air, gives us the idea of using filtration. The exhaled gases, having excessive carbon dioxide, are consumed by plants; it illuminates me how interdependence and cycles are supporting coexistence. Colossal spiral galaxies, disparaging hurricanes, shells of miniature snails, sensitive cochlea in ear, fighting helical pitch of hawk, and seed heads produced in delicate sunflower, are all mysterious illustrations in nature of the same Fibonacci series. From seismic dissipation to ozone depletion, it alludes to some chemistry. Even the holy and most read book, Quran states expressions like "will you not take heed?", "...there is a sign for thinking men". Holy Bible emphasis on thinking in these words, “She does not ponder the path of life; her ways are unstable, she does not know it.” Thus no religion promotes rigidity in the world but how you perceive it, does.

Before we endorse “freedom to express”, we need to inculcate “freedom to think”.

Philosophy is a gradient which needs to be precisely attuned to grasp rationality and accuracy. One reason, among many, that constrained us in producing quality research and prominent scientists in Pakistan, for quite some time, is because we reject the idea of questioning. Suppressing curiosity or satisfying it with pre conceived notions leads to stereotypical mindset. Creative thinking transpires from phases of curiosity, inquiry, investigation, skepticism, contradiction and refutation of ideas, and open-mindedness. Before we endorse “freedom to express”, we need to inculcate “freedom to think”. Don’t stop someone’s journey of finding an answer just because you don’t know it. Let everyone make their own hypothesis and evaluate statistics to come to conclusion, contradict the ideas with evidences and logic. Most importantly, remember not all premises are always true. Get intrigued, and keep questioning, this can be our first step to think scientific.

​“Don't be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.” ― Rumi