Intro

Part 4’s annex and Part 8 introduced us to some considerations on improving our minds (or “intellect” if you prefer.)

Your mind is formed through:

  1. whatever formal education you have been through;
  2. what I would call passive informal education (i.e. all the movies, books, mags, comics, series, anime, music, podcasts and conversations you consume daily usually for entertainment’s sake);
  3. what I would call active informal education (i.e. all the same sources as in no.2 above, but that you consciously and actively seek out because of an idea [or concept] you’re trying to explore, cultivate or understand better).

You have little control over no.1; you have a lot more control over no.2; you have all the control over no.3.

Short Exercise 18

  1. Browse through Part 4’s annex and Part 8 for a quick revision.
  2. Watch the Jordan Peterson video in today’s annex.

Commentary

“The value of an idea lies in the using of it.” (Thomas Edison).  Everything we have learnt through formal or informal education has value only in as much as we can use it or implement it. (The use, however, need not be only economic, technological, etc.  It could also be a contemplative use e.g. it is good to familiarize yourself with the idea of beauty [in cars, in landscapes, in dance, in art, in architecture, in fashion, etc.] not because you’re going to “use” that beauty for some economic or technological benefit, but because that beauty tends to raise your own standards.  If in doubt, hang out with a beautiful lady and observe what happens to yourself…)

In any relationship, in any profession, communication is fundamental (i.e. it is preeminently useful).  Poor communication leads to poor relationships (whether personal or professional).  Conversely, articulately communicating your own ideas, emotions and convictions is of great use to others around you, and improves relationships (again both personal or professional).

Think now of your passive informal and your active informal education: which aspects of each are helping you grow in your ideas and articulate communication?

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