Having attained the aged status of late octogenarian, may somewhat qualify to comment on the several developmental stages of the individual’s developmental progress ( the “Odyssey”) in the desired destination of Man’s learning. The contextual question,” When is a Man old enough to learn?” we would respond with the following empirical answer: in the period between his birth and his funeral.
To once more reprise the declaration of the English empirical philosopher, John Locke, “Man is born with a ‘tabula rasa'” (a blank slate), and all of his knowledge is acquired by his experience. We would point out the implicit ingredient of objective reality.
The dynamics of experiential learning are normally sequential and governed by the developmental stages of life. The newborn learns about light and dark, warmth, safety, comfort, discomfort, nurturance, feeding, and, as advised, has an instinctive fear of falling. Ironically, the cogent awareness of such phenomena (in addition to his accumulated, experiential lessons) is notably reprised in Man’s elder years. In sum, while Man’s natural impetus in his lifetime, of necessity, prioritizes survival and safety, life’s presenting experiences afford the fertile ground for knowledge.
As observed in previous writings, we accord existential importance to the development of one’s personal identity and stable self-image, and the resultant acquisition of a referable basis of perception. The same provides the foundational platform on which learning is perceived, acquired, recalled, and to which it is accordingly responded..
We have previously declared that the experience of “meaningful” social interaction may be credited with the reactive development of such requisite personal identity and stable self-image to be receptive to cumulative, experiential learning so vital to the individual and his society. For this reason, we have consistently castigated the errant choice of unhealthy impersonality and humanistic failings attributable to the current, widespread use of impersonal smartphone interaction.
The possible retrospective conclusion of perceived success, by the individual as to the acquisition of a fulfilled life, is best achieved employing a stable persona, enhanced by the personal acquisition of wisdom. from life experience, when enhanced by the development of a personal elective interest (*see earlier blogs). Well-informed, knowledgeable, and contemplative citizens, in addition to their personally achieved sense of personal fulfillment, ultimately constitute the most valuable natural resource in the success, endurance of a democratic nation.
However, it is notable that many people do not enjoy the ubiquitous benefits of informed personal reflection and choose to exclude the pursuit of knowledge and thoughtful, philosophical inquiry from their life experience. It is to be recalled and considered that Thomas Jefferson presciently stated that an educated and well-informed population is mandatorily required for the successful endurance of a Democratic Republic.
The elevation of the dystopic persona of Donald J. Trump to the American Presidency is inarguably symptomatic of many of the diverse American population’s failure to knowingly and willingly heed the disastrous lessons in history, evincing an oblivious, “populist” inclination, contrasted with empirically knowledgeable reason.
Participants in the developmental journey to enlightenment obtained by the human journey or odyssey, towards experiential wisdom are capable of the restoration of America’s venerated and humanistic tradition of governance; many others, not so inclined, nevertheless, have more recently experienced, and possibly, learned, that life under autocratic power is not as acceptable as one salubriously grounded in liberty and democracy.
-p.
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