The Exodus Frame of Mind

[coberst]

The Exodus Frame of Mind

Recently David Brooks wrote for the New York Times an article labeled “The Past Meets the Future”.

This was an imaginary conversation between Mr. Past and Mr. Future.

Mr. Past focused upon our failure to understand the past and in so doing we make egregious errors. He admonishes us not to take insane attempts to solve historical problems when such matters must heal themselves slowly in the course of time. He admonishes us to seek the happy mean, as Aristotle would say. He suggests that we just try to get by today and maintain some decent order that one thing will lead to another and we will all get by.

Mr. Future reminds us of the Exodus story and how this story indicates what a people can accomplish if they never give up. Generational journeys are possible and they can account for revolutionary changes. The ‘Exodus frame of mind’ gives us the power to ‘move mountains’. Examples are M.L. King, Gandhi, and Moses in the Promised Land.

“Tocqueville gets at this when he writes that freedom "is ordinarily born in the midst of storms, it is established painfully among civil discords, and only when it is old can one know the benefits." The adolescence of freedom is painful, but what is the alternative?”

I think that we are in a period that might be called a “fork in the road”. If we do not find a better path into the future there very well may not be a future for humanity.

I think we have the capacity, i.e. brain power, but we lack the sophistication and will to do the things that will lead to a revolutionary adjustment. This is, I think, a time when young people either get off their ‘intellectual couch’, ditch their intellectual ‘Twinkies and chips’, and get an intellectual life or their children my not have an opportunity.

I say that an ‘intellectual life’ is necessary but not sufficient for their future. I say that the day when the ‘happy mean’ is sufficient is dead and gone.

http://select.nytimes.com/2006/04/13/opinion/13brooks.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[eugene40]

The Exodus Frame of Mind

Recently David Brooks wrote for the New York Times an article labeled “The Past Meets the Future”.

This was an imaginary conversation between Mr. Past and Mr. Future.

Mr. Past focused upon our failure to understand the past and in so doing we make egregious errors. He admonishes us not to take insane attempts to solve historical problems when such matters must heal themselves slowly in the course of time. He admonishes us to seek the happy mean, as Aristotle would say. He suggests that we just try to get by today and maintain some decent order that one thing will lead to another and we will all get by.

Mr. Future reminds us of the Exodus story and how this story indicates what a people can accomplish if they never give up. Generational journeys are possible and they can account for revolutionary changes. The ‘Exodus frame of mind’ gives us the power to ‘move mountains’. Examples are M.L. King, Gandhi, and Moses in the Promised Land.

“Tocqueville gets at this when he writes that freedom "is ordinarily born in the midst of storms, it is established painfully among civil discords, and only when it is old can one know the benefits." The adolescence of freedom is painful, but what is the alternative?”

I think that we are in a period that might be called a “fork in the road”. If we do not find a better path into the future there very well may not be a future for humanity.

I think we have the capacity, i.e. brain power, but we lack the sophistication and will to do the things that will lead to a revolutionary adjustment. This is, I think, a time when young people either get off their ‘intellectual couch’, ditch their intellectual ‘Twinkies and chips’, and get an intellectual life or their children my not have an opportunity.

I say that an ‘intellectual life’ is necessary but not sufficient for their future. I say that the day when the ‘happy mean’ is sufficient is dead and gone.

http://select.nytimes.com/2006/04/13/opinion/13brooks.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

I would have to agree. For me I see way too much apathy in people in my age bracket and younger. As if somehow by some stroke of magic things will all get better. But the question would be is to how in the world to get them to take the right path in the fork. Answer that and you could probably market it enough to become a billionaire.

[coberst]

I would have to agree. For me I see way too much apathy in people in my age bracket and younger. As if somehow by some stroke of magic things will all get better. But the question would be is to how in the world to get them to take the right path in the fork. Answer that and you could probably market it enough to become a billionaire.

I am convinced that the more sophisticated an individual is the better judgments that individual will make. The first step is to study CT (Critical Thinking).

The first step toward solving our problems is to learn CT (Critical Thinking).

CT is an acronym for Critical Thinking. Everybody considers themselves to be a critical thinker. That is why we need to differentiate among different levels of critical thinking.

Most people fall in the category that I call Reagan thinkers—trust but verify. Then there are those who have taken the basic college course taught by the philosophy dept that I call Logic 101. This is a credit course that teaches the basic principles of reasoning. Of course, a person need not take the college course and can learn the matter on their own effort, but I suspect few do that.

The third level I call CT (Critical Thinking). CT includes the knowledge of Logic 101 and also the knowledge that focuses upon the intellectual character and attitude of critical thinking. It includes knowledge regarding the ego and social centric forces that impede rational thinking.

Most decisions we have to make are judgment calls. A judgment call is made when we must make a decision when there is no “true” or “false” answers. When we make a judgment call our decision is bad, good, or better.

Many factors are involved: there are the available facts, assumptions, skills, knowledge, and especially personal experience and attitude. I think that the two most important elements in the mix are personal experience and attitude.

When we study math we learn how to use various algorithms to facilitate our skill in dealing with quantities. If we never studied math we could deal with quantity on a primary level but our quantifying ability would be minimal. Likewise with making judgments; if we study the art and science of good judgment we can make better decisions and if we never study the art and science of judgment our decision ability will remain minimal.

I am convinced that a fundamental problem we have in this country (USA) is that our citizens have never learned the art and science of good judgment. Before the recent introduction of CT into our schools and colleges our young people have been taught primarily what to think and not how to think. All of us graduated with insufficient comprehension of the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary for the formulation of good judgment. The result of this inability to make good judgment is evident and is dangerous.

I am primarily interested in the judgment that adults exercise in regard to public issues. Of course, any improvement in judgment generally will affect both personal and community matters.

To put the matter into a nut shell:
1. Normal men and women can significantly improve their ability to make judgments.
2. CT is the domain of knowledge that delineates the knowledge, skills, and intellectual character demanded for good judgment.
3. CT has been introduced into our schools and colleges slowly in the last two or three decades.
4. Few of today’s adults were ever taught CT.
5. I suspect that at least another two generations will pass before our society reaps significant rewards resulting from teaching CT to our children.
6. Can our democracy survive that long?
7. I think that every effort must be made to convince today’s adults that they need to study and learn CT on their own. I am not suggesting that adults find a teacher but I am suggesting that adults become self-actualizing learners.
8. I am convinced that learning the art and science of Critical Thinking is an important step toward becoming a better citizen in today’s democratic society.

[eugene40]

All good points Coberst.

[coberst]

Actually I am trying to inform this new upcoming generation that they very well may be the last chance generation for the survival of this civilization. If they do not awaken to the reality their progeny may be unable to change the course. Like a virus that is destined to overcome the body's immune system. Time is running out or perhaps it is already beyond repair.

[eugene40]

Actually I am trying to inform this new upcoming generation that they very well may be the last chance generation for the survival of this civilization. If they do not awaken to the reality their progeny may be unable to change the course. Like a virus that is destined to overcome the body's immune system. Time is running out or perhaps it is already beyond repair.

I agree, and I agree that the need to teach Critical thinking skills is paramount. But even with that there is a huge level of apathy that we have to break through. I agree that the time is truly running out in a lot of respects. I remember watching that movie Idiocracy. If you haven't seen it, that movie truly exemplifies the things we are worried about for our future.

I don't think it is beyond repair however. I am sure many a great thinker during the dark ages thought the same that we think about the future. And it was managed to turn to better, though I am not sure we will have the thinkers that we had in the renaissance. Possibly due to how science is/has turned more into a business rather than a quest to better our specie. But who knows all it takes is a spark, I just don't know what that will be. Or if people will be able to recognize it when it comes.

[harrysinex]

I am agnostic but still agree that my generation,although young, should be more aware of their world's environment. I just became a high school student about three weeks ago, and naively I assumed that in high school children my age would find the importance of the News, and the Elections, and so on. But after my first day alone I realized how much of an individual I was in this situation. Every morning I sit down with my friends before school, we make jokes and talk about last night, or the weekend, or parents, or other things pertaining to us, but as soon as I bring up economics, international politics, or activism, they almost literally cringe. With America heading in the direction it is [terrible foreign policy, hate spreading like wild fire, and in economic crisis] they basically turn their back to me. American society is headed in the wrong direction NOW, and MY generation is fixing to make it worse.