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Natural and unnatural learning

7/5/2014

1 Comment

 






177.  Past

Principles

Learning and Understanding

Natural and unnatural learning    

When younger, if not thwarted, one can enjoy learning.  A bright uncle I had said he would go to the library and read all the books in the library, starting at one end of a shelf and finishing at the other end and then again.  Later Uncle Albert had stomach troubles, surgery, and afterwards he would arrive at one location during a visit and leave right away for the next.  He had become impatient, always ‘on to the next thing.’

Common knowledge says a healthy mind wants to suck up all the knowledge there is.  This all takes energy, however, and effort, and time.  Later, all this learning can hurt the brain.  I recall a man who prided himself on all he knew about auto parts.  He worked at an auto part store and the new information kept on piling in.  His brain became "fried," as he put it.  He literally had hurt his brain by learning too much.

As one ages, it becomes apparent that one has to put the brakes on learning.  It is better to know just what you need to know.  Too much absorbed knowledge uses up your vitality. If, as a young person, you had learned in a natural, unforced way you probably could still absorb some knowledge without self-damage.  If, on the other hand, you were pressured and learned out of fear or ego your brain almost fights the very act.  Perhaps Alzheimer exemplifies this in the sense the mind returns to a childlike state and refuses to absorb any more information.




1 Comment
Tom
7/6/2014 02:40:54 am

Interesting theory. Too much of anything can lead to trouble, so why shouldn't an overload of thought lead to analysis-paralysis. Worse yet,thoughts get stymied and reversed. The burn-out factor.

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    Steven B. Nussdorf records his lifelong search to find meaning outside of the normal channels.  He  uses writing, poetry, and drawing to document this effort.

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

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