TEDxManipal hosts its first edition of TED Circles!
By Anushka
On 26th September, TEDxManipal organized its first TED Circles event based on "Imagination" over a zoom meeting with 25 participants. TED Circles aims at bringing small groups of scholars together to build honest conversations around significant ideas and global issues. The hosts introduced the event to all the attendees and familiarized them with the guidelines. Dr. Raghu Radhakrishnan, Director of International Affairs & Collaborations, MAHE, was welcomed as the guest of honour for the evening.
The event started by displaying a thought-provoking TED talk by Charles Faulkner. He discussed Immanuel Kant's idea that Imagination is not about what we think but how we think. He quoted Kant's words from 1780, "We do not see the world the way it is; we see the world according to our instruments." He further bridged this theory to the advancement of science through the centuries; explaining how with each technical rise, our instruments advance, extending our Imagination, thus redefining the impossible or the unimaginable.
The other spectacular idea that he proposed during his 17-minute talk is how language and past experiences come in the way of our Imagination. Humans generally tend to follow "the law of similarity"; we trust people who look cheerful and pleasing. We elect those who appear tall and confident, something that looks shiny means new, thus creating a reality through the illusion of objectivity. The problem arises when our mind applies this to ourselves, limiting our identity or how we perceive others by adhering to one part of the situation and reaching a decision. He further questioned that if we all follow this endless pattern, when do we unleash the Imagination?
He concluded by putting forward the concept of Imagination and Logic being complementary, how Imagination gives rise to ideas; these ideas then infest our minds to look for logic, thus advancing humanity.
After this insightful session, all the participants were directed to their respective breakout rooms to discuss their ideas and thoughts on the TED Talk. Various powerful concepts such as "the origin of imagination, how it has developed over centuries" and "how the world's perception will change in the next 100 years" were discussed. Everyone engaged in a healthy discussion while listening to peer perspectives and providing their own.
After the 45-minute discussion ended, everyone was redirected to the central meeting from their respective breakout rooms. An eventful evening drew to a close with Dr. Raghu's vote of thanks. He shared with us how he didn't even imagine the world to be the way it is now; he stated that what is real now was once imagined or even far beyond Imagination.
Even though it was in a virtual setting, TEDxManipal had successfully hosted the first edition of TED Circles. The event opened up a new sphere for meaningful discussions, where people can engage, learn and connect by sharing varied perspectives. It's an excellent opportunity for intellectuals to immerse themselves in note-worthy conversations!
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