What is Learning?
Learning can be so broad or narrowed so minutely it is challenging to sum it up with overlooking things of great importance. How learning is defined, and how we implement it, will go a long way toward our understanding life. Many individuals throughout history have had firm beliefs on what learning is or how it was to be accomplished. I also have my own ideas. Whether they are studied by future students or not they form the way I see my world. How I learn has also tainted how I absorb the ideas of others and how I think about and then express my conclusions.
George Polya, a 20th century mathematician, was a professor and instructor. One of his aims was preparing individuals to be good problem solvers. Learning this would enable them to effectively pass their information to others. Learning was of value to satisfy internal curiosity as well as to be a teacher there after. His two books, How to Solve It and Mathematical Discovery, are filled with problem solving suggestions. Learning is to be done right or it can't be done at all.
Virginia Wolf would surely disagree with at least a premise of the structured mathematician. Who is to decide the proper way to learn? What is learned to some is tolerated by some, engorged by others, and refused by a great many. Opinions govern what is learning and what is wasting time. In "How to Read a Book" she opens with the declaration that her intent is not to convince but to present. Learning is most beneficial, and most fun, when it is done for the desire of learning. Opinions are to be regarded and considered and then information personally analyzed. Why should some Professor So and So say thus and so about the political and social motives and intricacies of Shakespeare and blah blah blah. I thought Shakespeare was an entertainer.
Brigham Young felt that learning was an end in itself. Learning is a principle of eternity, never to be out grown. Enjoy it and strive for it and it will enrich your life. Brigham set high educational standards for the Latter-Day Saints in pioneer Utah. Learning is an acquired skill. If one pushes himself he can increase his capacity. With ease and rest the body and mind lower abilities to their used level. Plato would concur that as knowledge is gained it is enriching and brings a desire and ability to help others gain wisdom. "The Allegory of The Cave" symbolizes the process of gaining knowledge. Too much to fast can have an overload effect. Once one gains increased wisdom, the former understanding and position are viewed in a much different light.
In a gospel perspective learning can be understood as a process of revelation. Through man’s diligence and effort he secures the blessings of God in the receipt of increased knowledge. James Talmage said, "Not a truth has ever been made the property of humankind except through the power of that great Spirit who exists to do the bidding of the Father and the Son." The Missionary Guide uses the principal of the Spirit doing the teaching to build first testimony and then knowledge and understanding. In the sense Elder Talmage cited the spirit is involved in any learning process. That process was obviously understood by both Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and others. As they understood, learning is a necessary step in the march toward exaltation.
So what is Learning? Without it we would gain no meaning from life. If not enjoyed, it makes life dreary. I feel that without a gospel understanding of learning’s purpose it is impossible to fully enjoy. Only when there is eternal meaning and application is learning more than an amusing activity with applications. Since the spirit is so vital in learning, only those with a proper understanding of how the spirit works in our lives could reach man’s potential for knowledge.
Mathmatical Discovery George Polya
Solve It George Polya
Missionary Guide LDS Church
Lectures on Faith Joseph Smith
"How Should One Read a Book" Virginia Wolf
"Politics and the English Language" George Orwell
"On The Liberty Of Thought and Discussion" John Stuart Mill
"The Way Of The Intellectuals" Hugh Nibley
"King Follet Discourse" Joseph Smith
Work and Glory series Gerald N. Lund
Plato
Nibley on Brigham Young
Copyright 1996
Last updated 2 Nov 1996
