Educating character: A parable
A wise guru lived at the top of a hill above a small village. An even wiser guru lived at the top of a second hill nearby, above a second small village.
Residents of the first village were so concerned about the decline of character within their village, they climbed to the top of the first hill to ask the wise guru what they should do. He thought for a moment.
Then he gave the villagers a list of 49 virtues to promote.
As it happens residents of the second village had the same concern and climbed to the top of their hill to ask the same question of their even wiser guru. He thought for a moment.
Then he told them to go figure it out for themselves.
He truly was wiser than the first guru. Why?
Answer: Someone who learns what to do but not why, has knowledge -- even education -- but no understanding. Like those who learn recite a television jingle perfectly, they are, at best, clever children instead of thoughtful adults.1 When you master logic, logic masters you.2 Behavior becomes compelling only when the process that leads to it makes sense. Interestingly, that is also the wellspring of courage.
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1 "In his writing, then, we can judge of at least two things in a man--his ability to think and his intention to do so, his maturity. An education that does not teach clear, coherent writing cannot provide our world with thoughtful adults; it gives us instead, at the best, clever children of all ages." -- Richard Mitchell, "Less than Words can Say".
2"Once the validity of "two plus two equals four" is brought home to you, no cant, no disavowal, will change your understanding. No public protestation that "two plus two equals five" will change your innermost understanding. Once the truth and usefulness of certain logic becomes evident, it has mastered you." -- sbw, courtesy of Robert Heilbroner
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