Another concept that my book brings up is that of authorities. For example, since our instructor is a figure of authority, we immediately assume that they know more than we do and they cannot learn anything from us, only the other way around. I have often learned a lot from students, so I know as an instructor I am not the smartest person in the class... I just know more about the subject I am teaching and therefore am helping others in their learning journeys.
We also sometimes see other authorities, such as parents, political figures, police officers as all-knowing and possessing the truth. Why do we do that? Were we taught that way? I know I was taught that the nuns in our catholic school were the authority figures, and therefore knew everything. The goal was to learn from them as much as we could so we could become as smart as they were. In retrospect I have learned a lot from them. Discipline and dedication, caring and sharing. Many things I learned from growing up in a Catholic schools. I would be willing to bet that those nuns learned a lot from us, too!
I think we are taught at an early age to listen to authorities because children are born into this world unable to care for themselves, a parent provides the care they need to become adults. Along the way children learn when they disapprove the authority bad things happen. After 10, 15, or 20 years of Pavlovian conditioning there is little hope for an alternate outcome.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of the journey through adulthood is discovering which experts to believe that align with your moral compass.
Kirsten,
ReplyDeleteVery good point. We are raised to believe that authorities have the right to tell us what is true and what we should think.
I really hope as an instructor I always teach my students HOW to think, and not WHAT to think! :)