Description:
Basic school maths had always bored me - to the extent that I never got any interest in advanced maths.
A while back I started wondering if there was a way to apply what I recall about the subject on my own work.
This is what came out of that idea...

W = S / D

What does that even mean?     Well, maybe a mathematician could answer you that – at least in mathematical terms I can’t… so far as I am concerned, in a vacuum such as this – it means bugger all…
Allow me then to provide you with some context:
At first glimpse it seems like an anagram – don’t worry – I didn’t misspeak – since this is fully scripted, I could not allow myself such a profound misstep. 
I obviously meant the word acronym – I just thought it’s funnier to slip that in…
And yes, if you isolate the 3 letters, they might seem like an acronym indeed – considering the name of my page.
But I assure you it’s not that either – I merely wanted to point that coincidence out.
I will admit though, the S in this equation is not an accident – I made the best use of what little wiggle room I had available.
With the other 2 letters determined by outside factors, the use of an S was little more than the combination of logic and artistic freedom.

So what does it mean then?

Simple – it’s the mathematical equation for Wisdom:

Wisdom equals Smarts divided by Doubt

Note: Instead of Smarts I could have used Intelligence, Cleverness, Knowledge etc…. but after noticing the acronym (and silly joke to go with it) only works in English (at least among the handful languages I am proficient enough to create the equation in) I found Smarts was the obvious choice. 

So what does it mean?

It’s my own interpretation of an observation made by René Decartes hundreds of years ago. Good chance he wasn’t the first to declare that doubt leads to wisdom – and as of today, he’s definitely not the last one.
Like many old and ancient truths, it’s a fact that seems to be forgotten in modern society – especially the virtual elements of it. 

The internet is full of people that just know things. And many don’t shy away of proclaiming they know better than anyone else – in particular whoever it is they’re addressing at that very moment. Modesty and humbleness are concepts the internet wasn’t made for. If anything, the opposite is true.

So how does the formula work in practice:

Actually, it’s really simple:
The more you know, the more you should doubt what you know.
I can’t help thinking that this might be what Yoda meant when he told young Luke that he has to unlearn what he learnt. Maybe not quite to the same extent as my statement – but in essence. 

In other words: there’s must be a direct correlation between knowledge and doubt.

If the value of “S” increases by 5 then “D” must be increased by say 50 (I could say ‘at least by 6’ – but since I am posting this document online and declared it’s not place built on or for minimalism and such, I go with a 10x multiplier (and besides it’s easier mental arithmetic this way).

Mind you, these are just sample numbers – I can’t give you calculated figures…

Yes, yes – I hear you go “but that means “W” is shrinking disproportionately.

And you may go one step further and say that’s a bad thing.
And I would say “I never once said or even implied that it’s going to be easy for your ego, your brain to accept that (maybe your toes or fingernails won’t take offence… but hey, you can’t win them all…). 
Tell you what, the worst part is this: your brain is programmed to disagree with that – because makes your brain feel really stupid… and if there’s one thing your brain hates more than being wrong it’s having that sad fact thrown in its face by its own hand.”

But here’s the thing – once you wrap your head around it, it’s one of the most liberating experiences you ever had. 
Imagine this: you walked through your whole life with your head shoved so far up your own butt that the head came back out on top – and then one day, with all your might – and under considerable pain – you pull out it back out– your torso and spine are no longer knotted into what sounds like a human doughnut.

It’s the single most excruciating thing you can do to yourself – metaphorically speaking, of course – I firmly believe that Seppuku is more painful – but also more devastating and finite. Call it a compromise or an allegory.

So where does that leave us in the end?

How is this helpful? Like, what’s the use of being doubtful of one’s intelligence. 

Usually when talking someone and you go the extra mile to show just how smart you are, the other person will think of you as a Smart Alec/Alice/Ali (or some milder or more vulgar version of that expression) – they may think it, they may say it, they may look past it, or worst of all, they may hold it against you – that’s not the point I am making here. 
The point I am making is that admitting to yourself that you really have no clue about anything whatsoever, the better off you and everyone else is. Words like humility and pleasant come to mind. 

Human history is full of people a lot smarter than I will ever be. 

If you can’t take my word for what I said here – if you want to doubt every letter – be my guest – in fact – I advise you to question my own observation. 

But here’s the thing – the moment you decided that it’s rubbish, that’s when you stopped doubting what you think you already know. 

Try this: the most unforgiving aspect of truth is that it’s self-evident – at least in retrospect.

And I know you won’t believe me any more, when I break it to you:
You are so full of your own shit you’re all but drowning in it already. And there’s a good chance by the time you notice it you’re so used to it, it feels like a mud bath – cuddly and warm and oddly nutritious and being used to smell you won’t notice the stench anymore.

If someone throws you a life preserver and you bite a whole into it with your own teeth or slash it with your claws – well, I am sure someone will be sad when the inevitable happens – but it sure won’t be me…
and just like that I have made myself become the bad guy – nice job me.