So, I sometimes put myself into scenarios to invoke thought. Tonight I was thinking through what I would say if I were on some talkshow. It eventually led to these thoughts.
More than anything else right now I would like to talk about the education of man. The end goal is this: When I walk down the street, I don’t want to see people that I am wary of. People that might try to mug me or harm the people around me. I don’t want to hear about drugs as a thrill-ride or business, cheap meaningless sex, unjustified violence, hatred, or prejudice. I want to hear none of these things. Instead, I want to hear discussions of philosophy, physics, chemistry and biology. I want to hear people talking about art and culture, about the progress and glory that could be mankind on every street corner. Every single man and woman is capable of this, they only need be led to taste the fruit of knowledge. This, unfortunately has been proven to be easier said than done.
We have progressed SO far. As a species we have propagated across the planet. We have conquered many difficulties of life, and created much art and technology. The realm of space travel and many other wonderful things looms before us. In other words, we have done well for ourselves.
However, we are a flawed species. Anyone can see this. The most uneducated layman can easy deduce from simple wisdom many of these flaws off-hand. How is it then, that we have done so well as a species, with all these flaws chaining us down? It is because for every horrible flaw we must have some more amazing trait allowing us to continue forward. And we do. If we could systematically eliminate these flaws we would become truly beautiful.
If you were to ask me what these flaws are, I would have too many specific answers to tell you, though they can all be followed back to one root cause and it is SO simple. A lack of thought. Especially a lack of reflection on one’s actions and self.
How many people really think about their morality? How many really think of the consequences of their actions beyond themselves?
Education is the answer to this problem. I am not talking about what we see in universities today. I want to see an education based on wisdom come before an education based on knowledge. I want to see every possible resource focused on this.
P.S. I have what I believe to be a really kickass educational system worked out. I will post about it when I find time to write out the details.
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Education is not the sole answer to this problem but it is a step in the right direction. Morality is something common amongst all of us and something we are all capable of acting upon. I liked your post though, but it poses the question. Is morality something empirical and taught or is it inherent in some way?
ReplyDeleteThat is a very tough question to answer. I have been in two philosophy classes now where we came to a bunch of brick walls on the issue and they weren't even ethics classes.
ReplyDeleteThe scientist in me says that morality is a pragmatic philosophy held only in abstract within the human mind, in essence to keep us monkeys from hurting each other too badly.
I would like to think morality is a universal truth though.