What is truth? What are morals? On what principles can a good government be based upon? Is there a Supreme Creator? Is the biblical account of the creation of man accurate? Did men evolve over many centuries? What is the purpose of life? These and other similar questions have been asked throughout the centuries that man has existed upon the earth. For the purpose of answering these questions, a collection of books, essays, and poems have been collected into one set entitle The Great Books of the Western World. The introduction to this tremendous resource is entitled The Great Conversation by Robert M. Hutchins. This introduction is the focus of this essay.
The Great Conversation by Robert M. Hutchins is an awe inspiring essay. The essay is the introduction to the Great Book Series of the Western World. The Great Books are a collection of different essay, poems, and books written that have influenced the world of politics, philosophy, religion. Hutchins argues in this essay that the books chosen for this set make it clear that there has been a Great Conversation going on through history.
Obviously there have been a lot of books written throughout history. With the invention of the printing press books have been printed at an ever increasing pace. In the first paragraph Hutchins that the books included in this set have endured the test of time, inspiring many common people to do great things. These are the books that are the masterpieces of the Western mind. Many have been added to this list, and removed at different times. Some have proven obsolete, or another book may explain the issue better.
Up until the late 1800’s many of the books were required to be read for college. To be considered educated one must read the books in Greek or Latin. The thought was something similar to ‘You must read the classics in the original language to appreciate them.’ So many a school boy studied Latin and Greek.
One particular point stressed in The Great Conversation is that this set of books is not the only great books ever written and that many people will and have been educated without reading any of these classics. “We do not think they (the books in the Great Books set) are the only books worth reading.” But a reason is given for the studying of them: “We think that these books shed some light on all our basic problems, and that it is folly to do without any light we can get.” I think we must follow the advice found in the Doctrine and Covenants 88:118: ‘And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.’
“…Most writers on education hold that, though education through great books and the liberal arts is still the best education for the few, it cannot be the best education for the many, because the many have not the capacity to acquire it.”
This is one statement that I disagree with. Education has developed over the past year to become a passion of mine. I do NOT agree with the direction public education is going in, nor do I agree with the way that education is being administered. In A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver Demille, the author describes three modes, or ways, of education. One is the factory, or mass production mode. They water the material down, or make it easy to understand. They pass you through standardized tests. Not every child learns the same way, or has equal abilities. The education system now in place treats the students as objects. Once you finish, or graduate school, you are supposed to be educated or smart.
There are many ways in which this system is flawed. Not everyone can read to the same level. Not every child is skilled in art, math, or writing. We should treat each other as individuals, not objects. I for one do not do well with a lot of people around me. I learn best by myself. In public schools, this is not an option.
The second mode of education is in specialization. We have many specialists today: Doctors, lawyers, etc. These professions require a special training course. I don’t want to be treated by a doctor who knows little or nothing or medicine. This is a necessary part of education.
The last mode of education is the liberal arts. This means that you are well read, and have many skills. You read the classics, write, and speak of them. This will allow you to have your own opinion, (something lacking in today’s world). People who have a liberal arts education have the ability to adapt to different jobs and setting. Specialized people know little or nothing of something unrelated to their profession. Learning is takes a lifetime, and even then it is left unfinished.
“The results of universal, free compulsory education in America can be acceptable only on the theory that the object of the schools is something other than education, that it is, for example, to keep the you from cluttering up homes and factories during a difficult period of their lives, or that it is to bring them together for social or recreational purposes.”
I more than agree with the first part, about how the object of school is something other than education. I have heard a teacher of one the public schools say that the purpose of school is to socialize the kids and to teaching them to work together in groups. If the kids learning anything, it is an added bonus.
I am shocked at this statement! School is where you learn how to think, read, write. Not where you learn to interact with the world. That should be taking place in the home! You go to school to learn new ideas, because ideas are more powerful than the sword.
There are many other great points made in this fantastic essay. Any lengthy summary of it would take ages to write, discuss, and be read. I have written but a brief summary of my favorite portion of it. I highly recommend that EVERYONE of all ages become acquainted with some of the world’s greatest minds by reading The Great Books of the Western World and other great books.
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