I Learn, Therefore I Exist

By: Riva Julianto

Contrary to the social media trend that promotes "I selfie, therefore I exist," in the realm of education, the maxim "I learn, therefore I exist" should be the philosophy for everyone. This maxim is indeed inspired by the famous statement cogito ergo sum (I think, therefore I am) by René Descartes, a medieval French philosopher.

He expressed this thought as a response to the situation and conditions of that time when religion (represented by the Church, which held power over knowledge) was the focal point of all knowledge and societal thinking.

All advancements in knowledge and thinking were controlled and had to gain approval from the Church. This thinking became the foundation for the development of science and resistance against the suppression of knowledge after the medieval period.

Is this thinking still relevant today, especially in Indonesia? Oh, absolutely. It not only strengthens but becomes a necessity for everyone. Not just for educators, learners, families, or communities. Every individual is a lifelong learner. Humans are inherently born as learners and can be educated (homo educandus) and rational beings (animal rationale).

So, fundamentally, every human is a learning being from birth until death. Without guidance or a teacher, humans can actually learn through self-learning. Nature is the best teacher for humans. The story of the character Tarzan is a classic example, where a human child is educated and raised by nature.

The present era is the age of the information revolution, thanks to the presence of the internet and digital technology. Millions, even billions of pieces of information are scattered across the virtual world. All types of information are available here, from state secrets to social media gossip. That's why everyone is expected to be able to process and learn from it. The digital world and the internet are just repositories of data and information that still need to be processed and learned. The role of nature is increasingly being replaced by the internet network.

More and more people prefer to learn from the internet rather than from nature. Learning from nature not only requires cognitive knowledge but also empirical experience. Humans must personally experience the phenomena and grandeur of nature. It is through shared experiences with nature that humans can construct knowledge, as Newton did by dropping an apple or Benjamin Franklin did by flying a kite.

Humans can survive and become rational beings because they can learn. Without learning, humans will not exist and may even face extinction. Human extinction is not only due to natural factors but also because of human actions and behaviors. Intelligence and cleverness, if not used wisely, can threaten human existence.

The knowledge acquired is not used to sustain life but to pursue the satisfaction of consumerist desires and worldly pleasures, thus depleting limited natural resources. However, with the knowledge they possess, humans continuously seek alternative resources to sustain their lives, including exploring other planets like Mars.

Education is a process for individuals to understand the universe and life through knowledge that can be inherited, learned, and explored. Unfortunately, the knowledge learned is not value-free. Why? Many crimes are committed and occur using the knowledge acquired by the perpetrators. Knowledge can also be used for personal gain by oppressing others or exploiting nature.

So, how can humans prevent the misuse of the knowledge they acquire? The answer is moral and ethical education. Moral and ethical education must be the primary foundation to support and produce a morally and ethically upright generation. If borrowing President Jokowi's slogan, this awareness is what is referred to as the process of mental revolution.

However, the issue that then arises is that morality and ethics are the truth and guide for everyone. Certainly, morals and ethics are found in the teachings of every religion, customs, and values that exist in society. But in the context of living in a state and society in Indonesia, Pancasila (The Indonesian Five Principles: 1. Belief in the One and Only God; 2. Just and Civilized Humanity; 3. The Unity of Indonesia; 4. Democracy Led by the Wisdom of Deliberations among Representatives; 5. Social Justice for All Indonesian People) has been agreed upon as the basis for the morality and ethics of every Indonesian citizen, which should be internalized, learned, and practiced both in the world of education and in daily life. This morality and ethics are important because they can guide humans towards the sustainability of their lives, not towards destruction and extinction.