Today I was mopping the floor in the living room while listening to Yuan Tengfei's Q&A. There were two points that particularly struck me. The first one is about the view on theories. He doesn't like theories, but I particularly like theories. So it is necessary to elaborate on this long-standing issue.
The Plight of Speculative Theories#
Mockery of Speculative Theories#
I have loved speculation since I was young. I especially like things that are theoretical and systematic, but my logic is a mess. People call me someone who loves to talk about grand theories. My childhood playmates would say, "What's the use of talking about these things? Almost everyone I've met gives me this feeling." I know. "Grand theories are completely different from history. History can be studied, while grand theories are my personal understanding, in other words, just nonsense. So, classmates who like to talk about history have a certain audience, but I am one of the audience for grand theories. And for someone like me who loves to talk about grand theories, there is often a cheerful atmosphere in the air. Of course, no one likes it when I talk about grand theories, so I talk about them in my mind, which is what I mentioned before in Reflection and Happiness."
The Lowly Nature of Speculative Theories#
Therefore, the more one loves to talk about grand theories and engage in speculation, the lower one is regarded. It is difficult to prove, difficult to investigate, and difficult to exchange. From the perspective of a market economy, Mr. Yuan always says that he is just making a living, which is really too modest. History is a part of the humanities, but it is also a part of the natural sciences. Compared to speculative theories, for the vast majority of people, including myself, there is an urgent desire for real history. So I really enjoy listening to people talk about history.
Speculative Theories and Stories#
There is no distinction between truth and falsehood in stories, and people don't care about the accuracy of history when reading "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Stories contain many hidden truths.
All stories share a set of narrative systems. That is, what happened when and where. When people read a story, they don't need to know many additional concepts; the story itself internalizes them. Any story, regardless of how fictional the background is, is generally close to real life. This makes it easy for readers to understand and also serves as a check on the author. The logic of the story itself restricts the author's writing, and the author gradually respects the characters in their writing. Of course, it not only conforms to reality but is also vivid.
The opposite is true for theories. People cannot feel the conflicts within the story, and while it is concise, it loses its frame of reference. The writer may have some constraints internally, but for the reader, there are various constructed concepts and no standard to judge right from wrong within the work. Therefore, they can only rely on their own experiences, making it easy to dismiss.
Both express something, but stories, especially long ones, allow people to slowly unfold and self-validate through the plot. However, for speculative theories, they tend to be hasty and arbitrary, impatient and dismissive.
The Two Stages of Speculative Theories#
The Motivation for Speculative Theories#
But I still love to talk about theories. It's an irresistible impulse. Let's go back to the initial speculation. After becoming a theorist like Kong Yiji, you gradually distance yourself from the crowd. At this point, loneliness envelops your heart, and you start to appreciate your own broken pieces of iron and copper alone. Speculation was originally intended to better integrate into the group and play with peers with dignity, but it gradually became the culprit for self-exile. I wanted to show off and share my insights on life, but I didn't expect to become a fool in the eyes of others. In the constant ridicule and lonely escape, speculation has already entered the next stage.
Pure Speculation with Self as the Meaning#
Speculation officially detaches itself from the group and embarks on a path of self-appreciation. Individuals must also explain their own speculations, reconnecting speculation with themselves. This path itself is a tragic one because you are getting farther and farther away from the group. It's like the natural selection ship in "The Three-Body Problem," there are no humans in the distance, and the current fuel is insufficient. After reaching one-tenth the speed of light, you can only move forward, chasing hope in the void. Even if you reach Tianyuan IV, there will be no one to share your joy. It is more likely that you will only encounter a meteorite in the void of thousands of years.
Stories are more for others to read, while speculation is more conducive to self-reflection. For someone like me, self-study, self-brainwashing, and self-speculation are enough, and there is nothing worth showing to others. People are like this, facing each other on separate islands, looking but unable to reach, calling but unable to reach.
The Helplessness of Speculative Theories#
The initial physiological traits in life have a huge impact on people. I like to speculate but lack logical reasoning skills. With no place to rely on in life, I can only go to places where few people go. If I had a suitable weapon, I would not detach myself from the group.
The Value of Speculative Theories#
Speculative Theories and Literary Novels#
Of course, I initially liked reading "Nietzsche: At the Turning Point of the Century" by Zhou Guoping. I have forgotten what it was about, but I remember that every point made me want to say a lot. I initially found something interesting and concise about theoretical things. However, I couldn't continue reading many literary novels, such as "The Seventh Day" and "Les Misérables." On the one hand, it is due to my limited appreciation ability, and on the other hand, I personally think, why not just directly state the truths in the book?
Of course, I still enjoy reading erotic novels and online novels. I was really excited about Junichi Watanabe's "Paradise Lost" and the short stories by Osamu Dazai.
Some might think it's a matter of taste. I think books on theories and these online novels and erotic novels give me a similar feeling; they all arouse the inner impulses of people. Even when reading Buddhist scriptures, it also stimulates my curiosity. But I am also curious about what is so good about ordinary literary novels? Why can't I appreciate them? Of course, there is also the aspect of different levels of liking, which filters out a large number of novels. For example, I wouldn't read books like "Brokeback Mountain," "Eat Drink Man Woman," or "The Godfather." But when it comes to movies, they are enjoyable.
The Reason Theories Bring Happiness#
Therefore, whether it's a story or a theory, there is no need to make a clear distinction. In my opinion, they do have similarities. However, the happiness that theories bring is not well understood by many people. When I read the booklet about Nietzsche, I immediately felt a resonance. This itself is a kind of happiness. It soothes my lonely heart. This kind of spiritual exchange between ancient people and translators is intuitive and warm, just like a movie. Secondly, theories directly reveal the answers to many things. It's like what was mentioned in "Deep Thinking," where Rousseau advocated a learning method of self-discovery, allowing students to figure things out for themselves and come to conclusions. In reality, this method is inefficient and has little effect. I think theories are also a direct way. They can quickly satisfy our curiosity and establish an initial model. Then we can refine it through speculation.
In short, whether it's a theory or a story, the effect is similar. The only difference is that theories have more explicit content and are more direct. On the other hand, some theories are obscure and difficult to understand, making people feel like they are just nonsense. But if you are interested in a certain aspect, it can be enjoyable to see how others think about it.