The set up: Today I was teaching Pirandello and relativism and quite a discussion ensued. It rivaled the love discussion of a few weeks ago to be honest. Yet there were a lot more emotions and unwillingness to concede that one opinion isn't better or worse than another this go round....which of course makes things a lot more interesting.
The details: Let us, for now, accept that a truth for me may not be a truth for you and that because I believe in one thing it does not mean that I'm right and that because you believe in another does not mean you're right.....we are both right (and perhaps both wrong as well) and completely insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I think the best part of all of this is that it forces you to question everything (but of course, what is everything?). Have no doubt, at some point you WILL arrive at a question that you cannot answer and that is when you have to take a good look at yourself, decide if you can justify your beliefs (or take a leap of faith), and then decide how you will proceed.
In a side note, isn't the point of higher education to challenge your beliefs, make you think about what you "believe" and push you to challenge yourself and the constraints that have defined your life up to this point? If it's not, it should be. Maybe I should be at one of those crazy hippie schools where we sit around and wax poetic about stuff all day and then write narrative statements rather than receive grades. I'm having a new appreciation for those types of programs.....I might fit in well there. Or it might drive me nuts. Jury's still out.
I think another important element of higher education should be the give and take of a discussion. Let us, for a moment, consider the word discussion. I take it to mean that we all contribute to the forward movement of our conversation. In so doing, we all listen to each other's point of views, comment on them, decide if we are in agreement, disagreement, or maybe completely void of any reaction, and then we appreciate that contribution and move forward always keeping in mind that we are not the center of the universe and just because we disagree does not mean that one of us has to be wrong. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is what you will find at the end of the rainbow! We are built to want resolutions, yes or no answers, and clear definitions for things. If you are able to accept that some things don't tie up into a shiny pink bow, life will be much easier. WAY easier said than done, though, as I think you will most likely agree.
The question: If someone challenges the very ideas that define you, are they necessarily attacking your way of life?
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