Thinking is Highly Overrated
My daughter was waiting for me to pick her up at the beach. Next to her were a couple of girls whom she didn't know, also waiting. They were about a couple of years younger than her and talking about subjects they would have to study next year in school. One of them was philosophy. One of the girls asked the other, "What do you study in philosophy?" "What they said years ago, the philosophers and stuff they thought about. And I don't know why, because it just doesn't interest me at all." My daughter, who is studying philosophy at college, was doing a jaw-drop in her mind.
That's the way it generally is. Teenagers usually develop an allergy to thinking about anything other than the here and now. Most kids have never been taught that today is a step to tomorrow, not just a day to lie about, do nothing, and get drunk as a skunk. While that has happened in every generation, it seems to be reaching epidemic proportions now. Where does the fault lie? In Spain I would have to say both with the parents and the school system. Today's parents were once yesterday's teenagers with strict parents who expected their children to follow certain rules, and when they didn't the consequences would come down on them. So now most parents don't want their children to live according to rules, but to enjoy childhood. They tend to let them play all they want as a way to learn, but without any guidelines in that play that would involve introspection on part of the children. Therefore the children don't learn from their play because their parents don't explain any aspect of it. They don't explain consequences or reasons. Children end up believing the world is a fun place where they can decide the rules.
At school the humanities curriculum has been trimmed to the bone and other things introduced that may well help children in finding a job in today's market, but do nothing toward helping them understand anything about how we have arrived where we have. Or why we do what we do. In most history and literature classes the only things studied are names, dates, and arguments. Never do children have to read anything by an author they are taught biographical facts about. Nor do they have to delve into the reasons for any historical event. In philosophy class that the girl was so negative about, the only thing they have to learn is names of philosophers, when they lived, what they wrote and their main arguments. They don't have to discuss the different arguments or give any of their own, just memorize facts and then vomit them on the exams. Period. Children grow into adults who study toward a job, learn how to do what is necessary in it, and who are totally ignorant of almost everything else in this world.
Thus the enormous popularity of soccer, reality shows, everything and anything that does not involve thinking. And when it does, it's shallow thinking, about things that do not impinge upon our comfort. Because that way we are comfortable and do not upset the reality that surrounds us and let ourselves be manipulated for the benefits of others' amibitions. My daughter understands that, and is not willing to be manipulated. Which is one reason why she was astounded and ultimately saddened by the comments she heard yesterday evening.
And Socrates is probably turning over in his grave. For, the more things change, the more they stay the same:
That's the way it generally is. Teenagers usually develop an allergy to thinking about anything other than the here and now. Most kids have never been taught that today is a step to tomorrow, not just a day to lie about, do nothing, and get drunk as a skunk. While that has happened in every generation, it seems to be reaching epidemic proportions now. Where does the fault lie? In Spain I would have to say both with the parents and the school system. Today's parents were once yesterday's teenagers with strict parents who expected their children to follow certain rules, and when they didn't the consequences would come down on them. So now most parents don't want their children to live according to rules, but to enjoy childhood. They tend to let them play all they want as a way to learn, but without any guidelines in that play that would involve introspection on part of the children. Therefore the children don't learn from their play because their parents don't explain any aspect of it. They don't explain consequences or reasons. Children end up believing the world is a fun place where they can decide the rules.
At school the humanities curriculum has been trimmed to the bone and other things introduced that may well help children in finding a job in today's market, but do nothing toward helping them understand anything about how we have arrived where we have. Or why we do what we do. In most history and literature classes the only things studied are names, dates, and arguments. Never do children have to read anything by an author they are taught biographical facts about. Nor do they have to delve into the reasons for any historical event. In philosophy class that the girl was so negative about, the only thing they have to learn is names of philosophers, when they lived, what they wrote and their main arguments. They don't have to discuss the different arguments or give any of their own, just memorize facts and then vomit them on the exams. Period. Children grow into adults who study toward a job, learn how to do what is necessary in it, and who are totally ignorant of almost everything else in this world.
Thus the enormous popularity of soccer, reality shows, everything and anything that does not involve thinking. And when it does, it's shallow thinking, about things that do not impinge upon our comfort. Because that way we are comfortable and do not upset the reality that surrounds us and let ourselves be manipulated for the benefits of others' amibitions. My daughter understands that, and is not willing to be manipulated. Which is one reason why she was astounded and ultimately saddened by the comments she heard yesterday evening.
And Socrates is probably turning over in his grave. For, the more things change, the more they stay the same:
"The children now have luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers."
So, what's new?
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