What it takes to be both a great human being and a great thinker

The beautiful article “Great thinkers then and now,” (Glimpses, 11/15/24) makes us reflect deeply on the idea that “There can be no great thinker without first understanding what it means to be a great human being.” This triggers anyone to focus on searching and analyzing the characteristics of a great human being before someone can be considered a great thinker.

We can consider the life and character of Marie Curie to exemplify a great human being, which complements her exceptional capability as a great thinker. She is more popularly known as a scientist who contributed discoveries and knowledge in the disciplines of physics and chemistry. However, she is as inspiring for her less known characteristics as a great human being. She worked outside her major interest so she can support first her sister’s studies, and then hers. She persevered to educate herself at a time when very few women could do so, and became resourceful in finding answers to her scientific work. She persisted despite criticisms from others and managed to overcome these difficulties to become the only individual in history to receive two Nobel prize awards with discoveries and knowledge that benefitted mankind.

There are others who are truly great human beings in different fields such as business, religion, sports, and social and environmental advocacies. One of the best leaders in history is Lee Kwan Yew who astonished the world by transforming Singapore from a backwater to a First World country. Singapore’s success can be attributed to his practice of consistent deep thinking and sacrifices so his countrymen can have a better quality of life. He lived a modest life and “believed in the Confucian values of possessing a devotion to education and savings, a spirit of self-sacrifice, and social cohesion” as mentioned by Michael Schuman, a business journalist in Asia for more than 10 years.

In an interview in 1994, he shared insights on the relationship between culture and economic success, particularly practices to help other developing countries grow faster. These are 1) learning and scholarship or continuous learning aside from formal education; 2) hard work or being productive even after regular working hours and on weekends if necessary; 3) thrift or discipline in saving most of our income with the remainder set aside for bills and essential expenses; and 4) deferment of present enjoyment for future gain like completing a bachelor’s degree for better future work opportunities, then simply rewarding ourselves at a later time with a budget for activities associated with pleasure, leisure, and entertainment.

To be a great human being, we should first dedicate ourselves to personal growth and development. Only then when we are prepared to think (cognitive), and behave and act (affective) positively and at a higher level, can we further become a great human being. We can then share our capabilities and be of value to our community/society, our country, and the world. We must not forget that part of being a great human being is to conscientiously preserve the environment for its benefits to mankind.

In real life and in the real world, anyone can be a great human being if we can overcome the negative influences and distractions or “noise” around us. This can only happen if we discipline ourselves to redirect our source of happiness and growth, and trigger happy hormones that lead to caring, kindness, and productive pursuits as did Marie Curie and Lee Kwan Yew, instead of focusing on wealth, fame, position and power. These are also most of the virtues and values that we Filipinos need to establish, that are nonnegotiable, and which we must insist on, fight for, and even “die for.”

In the end, to be a great human being is to have a life with purpose and meaning and the unique gift of using our capabilities to help others. Only by understanding this can one become a truly great thinker.

RAYMUND SISENANDO R. MERCADO
raymund_mercado@yahoo.com