My wife introduced me to Sir Ken Robinson, whom I had not heard of before. I work in the field of economics, and it intrigues me to no end. Even though I work in this economic field, my education is a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from a European University. I would not trade that for anything, because philosophy is the study of truth – specifically the root truth beyond every cause and consequence.
Heavy? Not really. But it makes all of life more interesting to live. And, psychology is brushed upon, necessarily, in the philosophical studies. Perhaps that is why I am intrigued by the way that mass psychology moves the stock market and the bond market – not mathematical fundamentals. Know sentiment, and you can read the market.
I have always been a proponent of students being required to study humanities first, before specializing in math and science. Know Shakespeare and Monet, Aristotle and Rafael, before specializing in Molecular biology. Because humanities not only teach history; they teach one how to think.
And the process of thinking is more important than knowing the answers.
This struck a cord. And I think Sir Robinson said it even better than I have tried to express the problem with education. Perhaps education should focus on nourishing innate talents rather than producing desired results.
And for those of us who are beyond our formative years? Let’s live life and try things and fail only to change and try again and succeed. Let’s live. And living involves failing, sometimes. And living is learning and it is exhilarating.
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