The advancement of human civilization is like a winding, turbulent river, surging forward ceaselessly. Along this river, countless dazzling sparks of wisdom have emerged, lighting our path in exploring the unknown. Upon carefully savoring the thoughts of these great figures and their epoch-making innovations, we can discern a shared core: critical self-growth. Whether it is the continuous refinement of intuition by physics giant Chen-Ning Yang, the dialectical spiral advancement of philosophical titan Hegel, the deep self-reflection of ancient Greek sage Socrates, or even the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto and the philosophical ideals embedded in Bitcoin’s design, all profoundly affirm one truth: true growth originates from continuous self-criticism and cognitive iteration.
In the halls of science, Chen-Ning Yang is undoubtedly a milestone figure. He did not rely solely on initial flashes of inspiration but used rigorous logic and an unyielding spirit of exploration to constantly examine and refine his theoretical intuitions. From parity nonconservation to the Yang-Mills theory, every major breakthrough was inseparable from his questioning of existing ideas and meticulous analysis of new evidence. Like a tireless craftsman, he meticulously carved the picture of science, eventually building a more precise theoretical system through repeated negation of negation. This kind of critical self-correction is a powerful driving force behind scientific progress. It encourages us to resist blind faith in authority, avoid complacency, and bravely challenge the boundaries of existing knowledge.
In philosophy, Hegel’s dialectics—with its profound depth of thought—revealed the inner logic of human cognitive development. His “thesis-antithesis-synthesis” dialectical process is not a simple repetition, but rather a spiral ascent. Each “synthesis” is a transcendence and sublation of both thesis and antithesis—it retains the rational components of both while overcoming their limitations, thus pushing understanding to a higher level. This dynamic and self-negating growth model emphasizes the central role of contradictions in the development of things and the importance of critically examining opposing views to ultimately achieve cognitive breakthroughs.
Looking back to ancient Greece, Socrates’ “midwifery” and the philosophical maxim “know thyself” also point to the significance of critical self-growth. Through relentless questioning and probing, he guided people to reflect on their ideas and beliefs, exposing their contradictions and inadequacies. Socrates believed that an unexamined life is not worth living, and that only through continuous self-examination and doubt can one recognize their own ignorance, thus opening the door to wisdom. This deep introspection is the cornerstone of personal growth. It encourages us to bravely confront our limitations and pursue truth unremittingly.
Amazingly, this concept of critical self-growth has even permeated the seemingly cold digital world. The core mechanism of Bitcoin, designed by Satoshi Nakamoto, also contains similar philosophical thinking. Bitcoin’s longest chain is essentially the result of miners (as “selves” within the network) continuously verifying and confirming the transaction history. The generation of each new block is accompanied by a critical review and consensus on previous transactions. Moreover, Bitcoin’s difficulty adjustment mechanism functions like an external “challenge,” forcing the entire network to adapt and evolve in response to potential attacks and changes. Each successfully linked block is like a step forward in human cognition—by constantly overcoming difficulties, the Bitcoin network is able to operate and develop in a stable and sustained way.
Bitcoin’s longest chain is not fixed—it is continuously extended through the competition and validation of countless miners. Any attempt to tamper with history—a “fork”—will ultimately be surpassed by the longer and more honest chain. How similar this is to the development of human cognition! Erroneous theories and one-sided viewpoints will eventually be eliminated under the scrutiny of time and critical review, while ideas that are more aligned with facts and insights will gradually become dominant.
To summarize, whether it’s the theoretical innovations of scientific giants, the dialectical systems of philosophical masters, the enlightening wisdom of ancient sages, or the disruptive designs of modern technology, they all point to the same truth: critical self-growth is the engine of progress. It requires us to maintain an open mind, dare to question existing understandings, and constantly engage in self-examination and revision. It is precisely this continuous criticism and growth that drives human civilization to ever higher stages, while shaping our personal cognitive systems toward greater perfection. This path—built upon countless moments of critical thinking and self-transcendence—will lead us to continue exploring unknown realms and embracing a broader future.
