




We all think selfishly don’t we? This is just the default way of thinking, hardwired in our brain.  To truly break free of the “default-setting”, what the author calls it, way of thinking try considering what other people go through, the day that they could be having, and the situation they might be in. This isn’t an easy thing to do because the “default-setting” that we all have is natural and deep-rooted within us. The repeated use of “default-setting” consistently points out how selfishly we all think. 

The first quote that I am going to be using explains that the way we all naturally think is very self-centered. “a matter of my choosing to do the work of somehow altering or getting free of my natural, hard-wired “default-setting”, which is to be deeply and literally self-centered…” (Wallace 2). The author uses “default-setting” here to show that thinking self-centered is rooted within us. This furthers the authors point that altering your “default-setting” will let you unlock the next level of thinking and not be so self-centered. If we allow ourselves to be self-centered, our outlook on life will not allow us to look for self-improvement because we think of ourselves as perfect. 

The term “default-setting” begs the idea of something that is given, automatic, or without active consideration. Which brings me to my next quote: “People who can adjust their natural default-setting this way are often described as being “well adjusted,” which I suggest to you is not an accidental term.” (Wallace 2). This quote explains that people who have been able to adjust or alter their way of thinking from the “default-setting”, will find a more sense of belonging and purpose to life. The word “default-setting” right after natural to further his argument that the “default-setting” is instinctive and adjusting it will let you live a much more adjusted life to the people around you.

Another very good quote that really explains how important altering the “default-setting” of thinking really is: “a slave to your head and to your natural “default-setting” of being uniquely, completely, imperially alone, day in and day out.” (Wallace 3). If you always use your natural “default-setting” of thinking, then you will always be alone because you can’t understand other people’s perspective. Again the author uses the word natural before “default-setting” to extend the fact that it is deep-rooted in us from when we were born. The more you let your natural “default-setting” rule over your life the more alone you will feel and actually be.

We are all the center of the universe because in everyone’s mind they think that they are the center of the universe just as much as the next person.  We see the world from our perspective, from our thoughts, and from our actions. This makes it very hard to think that we aren’t the center of the universe. “There is no experience you've had that you were not at the absolute center of. The world as you experience it is right there in front of you, or behind you, to the left or right of you, on your TV, or your monitor, or whatever. Other people's thoughts and feelings have to be communicated to you somehow, but your own are so immediate, urgent, real” (Wallace 2) This idea that we are the center of the universe points back to the “default setting”, this also gives us an idea on what the author is thinking when he says “default setting”. 

At the beginning of the short piece, This is Water, two young fish are asked, “How’s the water?”. The two fish reply questioning what even is water. This begs the question, how would they not know what water is, it’s all around them. But this isn’t really surprising at all. We as humans don’t question the way we think day by day it just happens. “you just gradually slip into, day after day, getting more and more selective about what you see and how you measure value without ever being fully aware that that’s what you’re doing.” (Wallace 7) We are the fish and the water is just the way we think, you never really think about it until someone points it out.

In conclusion, the author uses repetition of the term “default-setting” to paint an image and express how hard-wired, deep-rooted, and selfish the “default-setting” way of thinking is. We all think that we are the center of the universe and this allows the author to explain in more detail what the “default-setting” way of thinking is and how to recognize it. He also lets people know that once you move from the “default-setting”, you become better adjusted and live a more fulfilling life. The author’s purpose of repeating the phrase “default-setting” is to emphasize the idea that almost everyone in the world thinks of themselves before anyone else by default. He uses this to try to get the readers to gain a new perspective in life and have a more positive and friendly outlook. 


