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. Every day we learn something new. So this life thing is a constant
learning process in which 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 take 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, university, 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. Surviving is thus a learning activity, to
hopefully, stop making the same mistakes.
We
learn to thrive in this Universe, with its laws. The extent of our rational
analysis still doesn’t change certain laws of nature, such as cause and effect,
it can merely understand them. We are responsible for 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’s experiences, for example when we
hear someone has done something terrible we say ‘Oh but I would never do
that!’ 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 the 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.
Both, in how we live our practically and how we live our emotional life and
most importantly, on how we treat others. Saying this, using what we have
learnt doesn’t mean charity, I believe that one person living an aware life,
and acting upon what they believe and 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.
By: Eliza Veretilo
The Philosophy Takeaway 'Open Topic' Issue 33
