tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640940937476188368.post8372321396567239776..comments2023-09-01T06:33:45.354-05:00Comments on Gimme Bliss: Language Day: Find the Meaning of Life in a NovelTiffany Hamburgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11215028451823189173noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640940937476188368.post-161111566724977462007-09-30T22:33:00.000-05:002007-09-30T22:33:00.000-05:00Erzsebet--wow--what a great response! I am really ...Erzsebet--wow--what a great response! I am really taking it all in, and I feel like I need to go back and re-read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. <BR/><BR/>And I gotta check out the Socrates cafe! <BR/><BR/>Thanks for the incredibly thoughtful comment!Tiffany Hamburgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11215028451823189173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640940937476188368.post-57334502544596422352007-09-21T21:49:00.000-05:002007-09-21T21:49:00.000-05:00I’m at a convergence point, a psychological zone w...I’m at a convergence point, a psychological zone where everything I read and all of the people I meet are building upon one another. This article feeds into that, tapping into shades of Pirsig’s “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” and my own question of the value of academia as it is now structured. The universe is presenting me with compelling information to consider. My world view is changing. Rather than being frightened of the changes, I feel free and happy: there is something wondrous in being able to stop clinging to old thought-habits and be open to seeking new answers to life’s biggest questions. Such as the titular question of Kronman’s article: Why are we here? Having studied philosophy and physics in college, I experienced both the “research-driven idea” and the “great conversations” of works that have “lasting beauty and strength.” In a sense, everything I studied was asking true questions, and so I cannot entirely agree that these questions are being ignored as Kronman asserts. That said, I do agree that college leaves her graduates bereft of the “priceless materials for a lifetime of struggle with the most important question anyone ever asks.” If the questions are being posed, why are even those of us fortunate enough to have been exposed to these questions leaving college unprepared to understand the nature of being? I posit that the problem isn’t the questions or lack of asking, but in the responses that are cultivated within the academic structure. Kronman calls out as problematic the specialization of fields of inquiry. Pirsig refers to this as “find[ing] and invent[ing] an endless proliferation of forms … call[ing] these knowledge.” He believes that this is producing a society of “specialists and that the distance between specializations has become so great that anyone who seeks to wander freely among them almost has to forego closeness with the people around him, too.” There can be no convergence points when there’s no convergence, when there’s no overlap between specialization. Without overlap and convergence, the mind grinds to a stop, goes into power-saving mode and waits for the spark of wonder to return. All this waiting leads to a malaise of spirit, and I don’t think it’s too unfair to say this is partially caused by building colleges that exist for research and the passing of categorized, specialized bundles of facts. I believe specialization by it’s very nature limits the kinds of responses a person can have to any given question. Cross-fertilization of specialties helps, but let’s be honest: it’s tough to double major. Any more than a double and most students are headed for burnout, if they can even afford the astronomical price of taking overloaded or “extra” course credits. Most students, for financial or societal reasons, go to college with the aim of graduating in four years with a specialty. This aim robs students of the freedom to spend four years following questions where they lead, since invariably the questions would stray from the confines of Major/Minor. Of course, we want our doctors to take all of their courses. But wouldn’t doctors who had time to think about what it means to be saving lives have value, too? I know there are colleges out there that do allow students to design their own curriculum, rather than sticking to a stock range of options (Bennington in Vermont comes to mind). Along the same lines, Kronman points out the Great Books programs at several top colleges, which is laudable and certainly headed in a promising direction. But at the end of the day, I don’t think it’s going to be enough to tinker with the system. I think there needs to be a complete overhaul to a way found to stop using “carrot and whip grading” (Pirsig) to incent students to work. Natural wonder needs to be allowed to return to the Ivory Tower. Students need to be allowed time to think, not just to hurry and cram for the next test on specialized facts that don’t amount to anything when it comes time to decide for themselves what this life is all about. Pirsig suggests that perhaps a gradeless and degreeless system could be built and people would attend out of natural curiosity about their world and their place in it. I think that’s a beautiful idea. I also don’t see it ever happening (praise be to Pirsig if I’m wrong!). Barring huge changes in academia, the best mechanism for change is what you suggest: individuals “find[ing] like-minded people, and [teaching] themselves.” People are doing this – you’re living proof of that, and I am just thrilled you’re sharing your perspective. Christopher and Cecelia Phillips (http://www.philosopher.org/) have started a grass-roots effort they call “Socrates Café” to bring together people of all walks of life to discuss meaningful questions. I went to a talk they gave a couple of years ago and was impressed by their passion. I wasn’t at a convergence point then and it was just an interesting lecture, but now I’m starting to think they might be offering a way to overcome the shortcomings of academia. Even if we don’t agree on the ailment, I do think Kronig’s right, something’s gotta give!<BR/><BR/>- Erzsebet<BR/><BR/>PS - Love your closing sentence in this post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com