Pioneering black feminist, bell hooks challenged us to recognize thinking critically as an activity, one every bit as important as our physical undertakings.
I enjoyed this essay; it brought to mind how important thinking is and its connection to an active love, which is not at all sentimental or romantic in the modern sense. Violence and aggression can never coexist with love. These are its antithesis.
Equallly important is discussing ideas, which often means using the Socratic or Hegelian dialectic methods. This was popular when I was in college and university in the late 1970s and early '80s. It seems to have fallen out of favour (not in your class), and in its stead there are no longer arguments but all-out verbal warfare.
Cui bono? I am not sure.
What I do see is that violence has replaced reason and love. This is why universities ostensibly have decided to institute speech codes. It is not the best solution for an open society (Popper), particularly in institutions of higher learning, but the level of sickness and violence in our society makes this a safe choice.
I do not know what the future holds, but your article is on the right track in mentioning hooks, MLK, Fromn and Einstein.
Thanks as always for sharing your unique and I think important perspective. I am still hopeful and optimistic about the presence of Socratic engagement and classrooms. I like to think that there are many thoughtful college educators who are creating space and opportunity for genuine critical dialogue. But I do share your concern for the embrace of dogmatism and the rejection of critical dialogue by not only the political right but also the political left, or at least segments of each camp. And of course I don't think the inclination to retreat from critical dialogue specific to a particular ideology. I think it's more particular to a perfectly understandable human fear of having one's ignorance, by which I do not mean stupidity, exposed, brought to light. Socratic dialogue has a powerful way of illuminating just how little we know, even of ourselves. And as Plato's allegory of the cave so richly demonstrates, enlightenment is often a painful and even terrifying experience.
I enjoyed this essay; it brought to mind how important thinking is and its connection to an active love, which is not at all sentimental or romantic in the modern sense. Violence and aggression can never coexist with love. These are its antithesis.
Equallly important is discussing ideas, which often means using the Socratic or Hegelian dialectic methods. This was popular when I was in college and university in the late 1970s and early '80s. It seems to have fallen out of favour (not in your class), and in its stead there are no longer arguments but all-out verbal warfare.
Cui bono? I am not sure.
What I do see is that violence has replaced reason and love. This is why universities ostensibly have decided to institute speech codes. It is not the best solution for an open society (Popper), particularly in institutions of higher learning, but the level of sickness and violence in our society makes this a safe choice.
I do not know what the future holds, but your article is on the right track in mentioning hooks, MLK, Fromn and Einstein.
Thanks as always for sharing your unique and I think important perspective. I am still hopeful and optimistic about the presence of Socratic engagement and classrooms. I like to think that there are many thoughtful college educators who are creating space and opportunity for genuine critical dialogue. But I do share your concern for the embrace of dogmatism and the rejection of critical dialogue by not only the political right but also the political left, or at least segments of each camp. And of course I don't think the inclination to retreat from critical dialogue specific to a particular ideology. I think it's more particular to a perfectly understandable human fear of having one's ignorance, by which I do not mean stupidity, exposed, brought to light. Socratic dialogue has a powerful way of illuminating just how little we know, even of ourselves. And as Plato's allegory of the cave so richly demonstrates, enlightenment is often a painful and even terrifying experience.