About the Blog, from now on I decided to update to this blogs, the articles I write for a Newsletter called The Philosophy Takeaway. So here it goes:
Use what you learn
Life is a lesson. We fall and get
up, and when we do, get up, we are awarded with a lesson. We learn something
new. So this life thing is constant learning process as we expand our circle of
experience. Don’t agree? Well, you are entitled to it, but much evidence points
to it. Our vocabulary inclines to takes us from one premise to another in a succession
that builds up from what was previously said thus our language and its
structure are designed for instruction, for teaching and learning, sharing and
listening. Our institutions are the same, we begin at school and parents want
their children ‘to learn’. We then go to college and etc. And there are
learning courses everywhere. In my opinion this idea is somehow flawed. We
assume that we learn in the first part of our life and in the second part we
use that knowledge. I believe both processes are constantly going on whether we
want it or not, simultaneously; but we don’t have such a big element of
control. Control is gained with awareness. Planet Earth seems like a big training
ground sometimes, of our chosen subjects and of life of course. Surviving is thus
a learning activity.
The
extent of our rational analysis still doesn’t change certain laws of nature, such
as cause and effect. We are responsible of the consequences that stem from our
actions and thus we are rational and can become more conscientious of what we
do. This is why I propose that people should use all these lessons gathered in
life, practically. We think we do, but do we really? We are so keen to learn
from other people experiences, for example when we hear someone has done
something terrible we say ‘Oh but I would never do that!’. We say.
Unfortunately, all our education and gathering of experiences still has not
sank in deep enough; we don’t usually act on what we know.
My
proposal is quite simple. Regardless of the economic system, the government and
the weather, we could have a much better life if we lived it with awareness. If
we took what we constantly learn and used it, instead of turning a blind eye on
it or become lazy with our ideals we would save ourselves and world much loss
and suffering. For example: if you think it’s unethical that when tuna are
fished some dolphins get trapped in the nets, well then buy line fished tuna
instead. In this world, unfortunately our money has a voice and a vote, so that
is a place to apply our principles. This is a small example, but it can be applied
to any aspect of life. If we do a little self evaluation, we will find that we
do things that we know we know better than doing them. We can change this, by
using what we have learnt and keep learning, expanding our world. Saying this,
using what we have learnt does not mean charity, I believe that one person
living an aware life, acting upon what they have learnt, will have a lifestyle
that prevents poverty in the first place. Thus a person living a life well
lived is worth more than ten who live a completely upside down life, perpetuator
of chaos, and then give money to charity.
Constantly
adults tell children to apply the lesson they have taught them into their life.
We say ‘didn’t you learn that at school’ we say ‘haven’t I taught you that
before’ we say ‘you should know better’. But when was the last time we looked
at ourselves and said the same things and actually lived by them. We constantly
learn new skills; we learn how to use a new phone or how to take a bus to a new
place, but our life lessons... do we apply them? Why being aware of what we do?
Why are we rational? Because only awareness can reconcile chaos. Thus I say:
Use what you learn.
