thinkthinkfeel

So, a rambly, chatty post. I've been reading Sophie's World lately (it was popular years ago, and essentially it's a story of the history of some of the major philosophers). I'm just up to the section on Plato.

Now, when I first read Plato's Republic, at age 16, I thought that Plato must have been a completely totalitarian fascist. He wanted a world ruled by the intelligentsia -- because it was only the intelligent who could perceive ideal forms, and who could rule wisely. Er, to back up for a second, the idea is that everything has an ideal form -- that somewhere, in looking at a flower, there must be an ideal conception of a flower. In looking at hundreds of gingerbread cookies, there must be an ideal shape for a gingerbread cookie.

Coming back to Plato now, though, I'm not so sure he's completely off his rocker about ideal forms. Surely there must be an ideal, if different, shape for different humans; surely there exists a perfect shape for what things should be.

I guess the problem for me, back then and now, is that I wonder whether we can really find that ideal shape purely through intellect. How can it be that only philosophers think that there's an ideal? How can only philosophers have a monopoly on how the world should run? A carpenter, shaping things every day with his hands, surely knows that there is an ideal shape for whatever it is he's making. And the same with other trades. I think we find our ideals by searching with our hearts, and with practice and interaction with the world.

I'm sure I'm going to get corrected by someone-or-other on my facts. Fire away, people :)

a common sense reminder

before you start talking, remember that people's feelings are reality, to them. If you only give logic, in response to an overwrought person, without acknowledging their feelings first, chances are slim that you'll make much headway.

when I first started teaching, and a kid would do something stupid, like throw a paper ball first, I would yell at them and call their parents' homes, firmly reiterating that certain behaviors were unaccepatable. This year, it occurred to me that if I listened to *why* the kid was upset and then gave them an alternative to their frustration -- write an angry note, mediated between the two of them, etc -- my classroom ran better. (no worries, I'd call their houses if it happened again. There do have to be consequences.) Nothing major -- but the atmosphere was a little smoother, a little happier. People work better when they're happier, if you only just listen to them.

that seems like such an obvious statement, but I don't think most people really get that. I had the lovely experience the other day of rambling at yoda4554, and having him be relatively quiet, so that I worked out most of my upset for myself. I sound like a parenting book, or something, but again, people are perfectly capable of working out their own problems, if only you give them some space to do it.