I have previously read Thomas More's Utopia, but rereading this excerpt (http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/utopialearning.htm) alone, helped me to apply it directly to my life.
One of the things I hate the most about being well, human, is the limitations imposed by our bodies. I love learning, I would willingly spend just about every moment I could in a classroom, or engaged in some sort of productive conversation. But as was said Tuesday in class, "The problem with knowledge is that there is simply too much of it". And so as I read about the Utopians, I admire their thirst for knowledge, it makes me happy. Because that is the other thing that simply kills me, when people refuse to learn, to expand their world, what is there to be afraid of? But as I believe Plato once said something to the effect of "you can't force people to leave their world for yours...
Hmmmm I would agree that a healthy thirst for knowledge is acceptable, but where do you draw the line between "Healthy thirst" and "Relentless obsession"?
ReplyDeleteErin, I completely agree that there is "simply too much knowledge." I personally feel overwhelmed by the possibilities available online, not to mention the number of published books in the world! I admire YOUR zeal for learning--good for you! May I suggest, however, that there are ways to learn other than the classroom and conversation? Dr. Faustus bemoaned the difference between classroom smarts and real life experience in Goethe's Faust, an issue that struck a chord with me. I tend to be more like you and place a high value on that which I learn in the classroom, but I often do that at the expense of experience. My best friend is in Ukraine right now teaching English for four months. When we spoke about her decision, she would tell me that sometimes she thinks she's crazy for taking a semester off school for this. Then she remembers that she will still learn about people, culture, Russian, public transportation, food, and herself while she's in Ukraine.
ReplyDeleteSo, of course, I can't force you to leave your classroom for Ukraine (and I can't force myself to leave my classroom sometimes, either), but I just want to suggest that learning doesn't occur only in the classroom!
You just reminded me of the time I started going back to school just over 10 years ago. I walked into the library and wanted to read every conceivable book on any topic of interest and devour them ALL! Which wasn't possible of course. I was overwhelmed by the feeling; like a starving emaciated person who was suddenly thrust in front of a cruise ship's all-you-can eat breakfast, lunch AND dinner, simultaneously. I had spent the prior 10 years learning other skills but it was time to dive into my brain instead of a project. I had to stop wanting to know it all and just focus on one subject at a time, patiently. I had to learn to filter out knowledge from other fields I was interested in, in order to focus on one, or I'd have become a "A jack of all trades; master of none."
ReplyDeleteOwen: The line I beleive has to be personal. For me at no point in time should education, or anything for that matter, become to powerful to remove me from my family, or communication with them. Other than that I really don't know...
ReplyDeleteKirsten: Thanks so much for that reminder! I feel like sometimes I have to tell that to myself! I think that part of my thirst for classroom knowledge is that I usually find it easier to understand, because it is presented in a logical, foundational format. Learning about people and more importantly from them I can find extremely frustrating because they don't always flow with the logical part of me.
ReplyDeleteBut thanks again for emphasizing both parts for full human development.
Christy: I really have to say that I admire that you went back to school with those four crazy boys! I can't imagine finding quiet time to study! ;)
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, patience and focus are still two areas I need to develop in regards to my education. Hopefully, declaring a major will help me with that! Otherwise I think I could spend forever at the university level taking every single class!
Lol...I love it. And are you counting Ben as one of the four crazy boys, lol! I know the feeling Erin. I switched majors several times because of an interest in so many topics. I started off toward an Art degree(found out I couldn't stand how flaky the art teachers were), then switched to Horticulture (found out I didn't want to memorize the names AND also the scientific names of every plant on the planet; Didn't Adam already do that?), then finally settled on Psychology (found out I wasn't supposed to use that degree as a counselor though, by trying it out; didn't feel right). Then I finished a second degree in English because it felt right. Turns out that those completely different degrees, in conjunction with my MSOL degree, have helped me to communicate more effectively the need for psychologically healthy work environments. You'll figure it out. It'll hit you time and again when your in a specific class, reading a certain chapter, or looking up a topic; and you'll just know.
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