The organisation of thought, educational and scientific — John Shaqi
The organisation of thought, educational and scientificWhitehead, Alfred North
Philosophy
The organisation of thought, educational and scientific
Whitehead, Alfred North
Education
Furthermore, we should not endeavour to use propositions in isolation.
Emphatically I do not mean, a neat little set of experiments to
illustrate Proposition I and then the proof of Proposition I, a neat
little set of experiments to illustrate Proposition II and then the
proof of Proposition II, and so on to the end of the book. Nothing
could be more boring. Inter-related truths are utilised _en bloc_,
and the various propositions are employed in any order, and with any
reiteration. Choose some important applications of your theoretical
subject; and study them concurrently with the systematic theoretical
exposition. Keep the theoretical exposition short and simple, but
let it be strict and rigid so far as it goes. It should not be too
long for it easily to be known with thoroughness and accuracy. The
consequences of a plethora of half-digested theoretical knowledge are
deplorable. Also the theory should not be muddled up with the practice.
The child should have no doubt when it is proving and when it is
utilising. My point is that what is proved should be utilised, and that
what is utilised should--so far as is practicable--be proved. I am far
from asserting that proof and utilisation are the same thing.
At this point of my discourse, I can most directly carry forward
my argument in the outward form of a digression. We are only just
realising that the art and science of education require a genius and
a study of their own; and that this genius and this science are more
than a bare knowledge of some branch of science or of literature. This
truth was partially perceived in the past generation; and headmasters,
somewhat crudely, were apt to supersede learning in their colleagues
by requiring left-hand bowling and a taste for football. But culture
is more than cricket, and more than football, and more than extent of
knowledge.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account