Hey to the people out there! When work calls, I respond. My vocation is somewhat unusual. I have written a brief overview on it. Click here if you are interested in reading about it.
Work took me to South West Indiana and the drive there and back was long. During the driving you get to know the other co-workers well. I have not met anyone (thus far) that I don't mind working with. Sometimes people with strong personalities can make for some interesting discourse. If you are interested in learning more about how to get along with co-workers go to ehow.com and find my article. It is called: "How to Deal with Conflict and its Resolution in the Workplace". (Little plugs now and then can't hurt.)
Isn't that a great forum for learning? In my opinion there are primarily two ways to garnish knowledge. One is through reading. No matter what the genre. People say you can't learn through reading fiction. I do not subscribe to that concept. I firmly believe you can learn. You can pick up new words to augment your vocabulary. Additionally, the author has to know something about his or her particular topic. The author may indicate that it is the work of fiction, but the idea behind it may have a subject worh exploring. They may site people who helped them in developing the book. People are usually well versed in the topic and some accolades are due.
The second way to extract information, and thus knowledge, is through people. No matter what the commonality, or lack thereof, you can glean data. The application of that collection of information is where true intelligence exists. The ability to extract information and utilize it in everyday life is a true example of intelligence. The topics discussed with people may sometimes seem inanne, but eventually it will come up in conversation.
Let me know what you think on this topic. Please leave a comment or email me.
George, your post provokes me to thought, therefore you have attained you goal. Among those thoughts are several pertaining to your post. Amazing how things come full circle....
ReplyDeleteI agree fully with your view that one may certainly learn from reading fiction. Take any one of Michael Crichton's novels, for example. Crichton thoroughly researches his subject matter, and presents a tremendous amount of factual material for his fictional characters (and his readers!) to deal with.
Another prime example is Dan Brown's fabulously popular (some would say infamous) The DaVinci Code. Brown imparts a deluge of factual information: The Louvre, DaVinci, the Knights Templar, the various theories surrounding the Holy Grail, London, Sir Issac Newton, etc. ad infinitum. Plenty to learn there, even if (maybe especially if!) you disagree with the theories expounded.
You also correctly point out the potential to improve one's vocabulary. In one of my absolute favorite movies, The Remains of the Day, the character of Mr. Stevens makes exactly that point during a conversation. It rang a chord with me then, and does to this day. I read, therefore I converse.
I would add one thing to your paragraph on gaining knowledge through discourse with others. If you read your Bible, you will find this in the Book of Proverbs (but don't ask me to quote chapter & verse....look it up yourself!): As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Cogitate on that a while! There are several facets to be examined.
Finally, I must heartily agree with your assertion that intelligence resides not only in the ability to obtain and retain facts, but in the ability to also apply said knowledge. Well said!
Well, I'm off to see if the Red Sox can continue their winning ways against Colorado (Go Red Sox!!).