December 15, 2005
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Topic: why learn?
Isn’t it strange how the idea of “being intellectual” and “thinking” are typically earmarked for our school years only…and as it happens for most people, school years are the age when young people thrive off of being anti-intellectual and mentally lazy? I think the true meaning of being a life-time learner is exactly what we’re doing here on this site, but most people fail to realize the benefits. Whatever future jobs or relationships you encounter, you’re sure to benefit from both the knew knowledge you acquire, in addition to the ability to communicate and relate to people more on a larger variety of topics.
A month ago I had no idea what globalizatoin meant, or at least, I had my own created idea that I would likely have used to get at least a B on a college paper at the prestigious Washington University in St. Louis:
“Globalization is the idea of things being more global. Globalization is good, because it is good for the world to be more connected so we can better understand each other. If things were not globalizaed, we would be more isolated and distrustful, and this could lead to misunderstandings, and even war. Therefore, I conclude that globalization is good.”
Yes…if there’s two things I learned from school, it would be:
1) I know how to bullshit and work the system in my favor,
2) I didn’t really learn much from my bullshit or about how the system actually works.
If a term like globalization was important, like capitalism, or socialism, I never got beneath the words to start reading how those “academic” sounding words, (words which don’t come up in natural everyday conversation w/ my friends and family) are just “tools” to understand things that happen day to day.
I think that’s something I want to explore further. Amongst other things, learning is the process of acquiring the tools to better understand the world. This is beneficial for people of any age, 5-105, because understanding the world allows people to make decisions in their own lives that will allow them to better achieve the life that they are uniquely attracted to.
As I’ve been thinking more about the mind, I’ve been thinking about the “tricks” the mind plays on us. For example, when making a decision, it sometimes “seems” as though there are other people besides ourselves in our brain telling us what to think. As I’ve just finished a book about a drug addict, I got a glimpse into their minds, “Should I smoke crack, or should I not…I need the crack, rather…you need the crack…I’m your addiction…I’m stronger than you…no….I need to be strong, you can’t tell me what to do…I know you’ll only hurt me in the end.”
Inner monologue…or dialogue…or plurolog (if there’s many voices). We all have it. It’s what makes us human. It’s what drives our everything. You even have dialogue between mind and body:
ex) Stand up. Sit down. Smile. Punch the keys on the keyboard. Say hello. Order a bagel.
and the body communicates back.
“gurrgle…gurgle…gurgle…” transltated = you had too much vodka last night
“creak…creak…creak…” translated = you need to strengthen your muscles and keep them stretched and limber
Does anyone have any thoughts on the realtionship between the mind and itself, as well as between the mind and body? Why do you feel strong emotions in your chest? Why do you feel nerves in your stomach? Why do your limbs trevel out of fear? Hint…there’s probably a scientific answer for all of these!
-dan
Comments (5)
Hi, Dan. I answered your question on my site.
Interesting questions. But to heck with the scientific answers for things.
Science may be interesting–definitely useful–to know at times, but science isn’t the be-all and end-all of life. I think the imaginary and metaphorical connections between mind and body are just as important and useful, and science is wrong to ignore these things, or to view them simply as chemical reactions. In Buddhism, one has a third eye in one’s heart. I think science is wrong to ignore the heart as a seat of knowledge. It does so at the world’s peril. Without the knowledge of the heart, we all become machines, soulless bundles of chemicals, with no reason to do anything except that it enhances our own ease or pleasure, and the rest of the world be damned because we feel nothing but a mechanical connection to it.
Sorry, I hope that didn’t sound rude. It doesn’t take much to hit a sensitive spot with me, which I guess is why I don’t post much anymore.
Hi Dan!
I enjoyed reading your post–there is definitely a difference between intellectual and book smart–intellectual I believe comes from learning through experience, but there is a chance for both to overlap.
I did a paper on globalization my freshman year, and I was HUGELY antiglobalization, until I started doing my research…now I think it has to be tweaked in order for everyone to benefit, but I learned so much, I actually acquired an argument…
This semester has been difficult personally and academically. I realized coming from a NYC public school, a private college like the one I go to now can really bring out the loopholes in my education. I had no tutors, no fancy schmancy classes, I am an artist and my art came before anything. But as for papers and the like, I learned NOT to bullshit this semester–in fact I had not one exam this semester only papers and means finals as well (final papers).
I know I am not getting a 4.0 GPA, but I realized that it is no longer about me getting a 4.0. I needed to be humbled, and boy am I humbled!! This is the first time ever that I am not chasing a high GPA and I actually got MORE out of my studies than in any other semester (high school OR college). Besides I even created my own major so that I can explore all kinds of things, and a 4.0 doesn’t mean that I learned, it meant I knew how to work with the system (or manipulate it)
As for the questions, I am not scientific so I won’t go there, but I do know that the mind is a powerful thing, and the body knows its limits–every part of us is intelligent: the cell, for example, and how it functions on the smallest level, but how incredibly efficient it is. We are fragile and complex, simple and strong…all of these things…
we are fortunate =o)
ryc: hello again!
I will be in NYC for a month, starting this Sunday the 18th. My AIM is tainaphoenix: I am usually away, but leave me a message anyway! Thanks
Teaching English abroad sounds like a great idea for you. Have you checked out the AERO website for job opennings? Did you make any good connections last night? Keep going to these alternative education events and you’ll be meeting the right people to get you the job you’re looking for.
As for science and emotions, my question is which comes first, the emotion or the chemical reaction associated with it? It is scientifically proven that our thoughts and emotions affect our body. It doesn’t necessarily go chemical reaction first, emotions next. Emotions and mental reactions also create chemical changes in the body. I think this is a chicken and egg question that we often assume goes one way (chemical reactions cause emotions) and forget that the opposite is also true (emotions cause chemical reactions).
A lecturer friend of mine and I had this great conversation the other day about the collective mind. He was very interested in the “mind” of a mob doing horrible things (like rioting looting and other awful things) each one in the mob would not do any of those things without the others. So that mind is central to the group. Where does it actually exsist? The conversation went round and round for ages. Thanks for your post Dan