FARHAN ABDUL MAJIID

I recently came across an article in the Quarterly Journal of Economics from Oxford University Press, simply titled “School Cognitive Training Cognitive Endurance and Training”. Its opening line truly resonated with me, stating that school is not just about the transfer of knowledge; it’s fundamentally about training cognitive endurance.

Cognitive endurance is defined as a person’s ability to think continuously for a long period. In our current technological era, where convenience can lead to over-reliance and a delegation of our thinking to AI, this concept is more crucial than ever. While using AI is perfectly fine, we must remember our “agency” as humans; AI is merely a tool. The myriad of theories we explored this semester, from Economic nationalism to Mercantilism, Liberalism, Feminism, and Environmentalism, were all part of this vital cognitive endurance training. The research in the journal even showed that in over 1000 poor schools in India, children who trained their cognitive endurance had a greater likelihood of future success, despite their challenging starting points. My hope is that this training will equip us with better cognitive endurance for our future careers, social interactions, and family lives.

This idea also reminds me of Daniel Kahneman’s book, Thinking, Fast and Slow. Kahneman, a psychologist and Nobel laureate in economics, proposed that human thought operates through two systems:

• System 1: Fast and reflexive thinking (like knowing 1+1=2 instantly).
• System 2: Slower, more deliberate calculation (like multiplying 279 by 489).

By developing cognitive endurance, we are essentially enlarging the capacity of our System 1, allowing us to solve problems that would typically require lengthy System 2 processing much faster. Beyond acquiring knowledge, which strengthens our System 1, gaining experience—through organizing, making friends, and facing challenges—also leads to more accurate decision-making. As we mature, we make an increasing number of decisions. The goal is not just to consider possibilities, but to understand the probabilities of our decisions leading to greater future success.

Finally, I want to share a piece of advice from Ibnu Atha’illah, which my teacher once shared: “Bury yourself in the Earth’s womb, because something not planted will not grow well”. This means that as learners, we must deeply immerse ourselves in the knowledge we acquire. We are like seeds; if we merely stay on the surface, we won’t grow big. We must plant ourselves deeply so that when we emerge into society, we can bring fruit, flowers, and benefit to all.

Remember, “Fa inna ma’al usri yusra” – indeed, with hardship comes ease. For every problem, there are at least two solutions, and facing challenges will open up many more opportunities and conveniences in the future.