A Primer for Philosophy & Education

Last updated on: June 3, 2013 at 12:03 pm by Marc

A Primer for Philosophy & Education 2013-06-03T12:03:14-04:00 Marc

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sam Rocha is a phenomenologist teaching at the University of North Dakota, and I have the pleasure of writing for Dear Patheos at his side. This Mexican guitar player is responsible for a revolution in my personal love-affair with philosophy, one that freed me to recognize the limits of argument and the necessity for, well, show-and-tell — to see art, poetry, music and story-telling as equally valid conduits for truth as essays and syllogisms. (Also, he kicked my ass for relying on etymology to determine the meaning of words.)

He’s written a book for his students and anyone willing to be taught. It’s called “A Primer for Philosophy & Education,” but I recommend it not so much for his clear instructions regarding the mode to take for learning, and learning well, but for his admonishments on how not to learn:

Do not be fooled into thinking that knowing a lot of trivia or data — such as bits and pieces of information about philosophers — amounts to a serious familiarity with philosophy. Erudition is not necessary for original philosophy.

Education cannot be institutionalized or corralled…Beautiful teaching requires an explicit, philosophical interest in education–in the widest sense. A gifted teacher always sees more to things than the institution or the profession dictates. Any teacher worthy of the name sees the person.

Rocha develops an introduction to a thick, warm, intensely human way of approaching philosophy, in which we should “try to understand the difference between information-knowledge and wisdom-knowledge, between knowing about something and knowing something, the limits of knowledge and the excess of understanding.” He takes up Husserl’s cry — “back to the things themselves” — and places an immense value on description:

Do not mistake words for things…Always ask what thing any given word is attempting to describe.

Good philosophy and education both show things. Mediocre philosophy and education only say things. Bad philosophy and education accomplish neither.

Philosophy should ultimately show something that matters. I think the book is far too short, but maybe that’s the point — it forced me into my own conclusions. For instance, Rocha makes the incredible argument that “understanding is beyond the scope of knowledge because it requires more than knowing, it requires being–being in love,” and then all but leaves me to wrestle with the immense implications. I think this primer is perfect for those who want to enter into philosophy, but find themselves intimidated by the overwhelming vocabularies, the huge scope of philosophical history, or the sneaking suspicion that philosophy has nothing to do with life. Rocha confirms what every ennobling philosopher confirms, that philosophy is ultimately a human project, a fulfillment of the person and a road to growth and personal blossoming. His book is available on Amazon.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

May 22, 2013

Far Better To Be Ourselves

Next Post

June 3, 2013 Getting a Little More Detailed with the Contraception/Abortion Connection

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Another Look Atheism Bad Catholics Beauty Communio Crookedhart Destupidification Exiting the Culture Wars Gender Theory That Doesn't Suck How To Language Liturgy! Love One Another Marriage Equality Modesty Music Objectification pop culture Poverty Sacraments Sex Technology The Best Religion in the World The Erotic Phenomenon Time Uncategorized Virtue Ethics That Don't Suck Winning the Culture Wars

Select a Month January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 July 2016 June 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Hebrews states that without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE