Steven Marshall

3 years ago · 2 min. reading time · ~100 ·

Blogging
>
Steven blog
>
Are We Getting and Dumber?

Are We Getting and Dumber?

Note: I just had an epiphany! I now know why so many support Donald Trump. It's because when I was in school, we learned didactically; now, education has become a dialectic experience. WHAAT! Read on to find the truth. Enjoy! (Previous installments of all my blogs can be found on my website at https://stevemarshallassociates.com/blog)

The following is a snippet of a FaceBook conversation with a friend that has powerful anti-Trump feelings.

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA presentsTo quote Dennis Hopper from Francis Ford Coppola's epic movie "Apocalypse Now:"
“....it’s simple dialectic physics man. You can’t travel out in space and land on fractions. You either hit or you miss. You either love someone, or you hate ‘em!” My friend goes on to say, 'Well, I can definitively say I hate Trump. I hate him more than I have ever hated anyone. Daily reminded what a complete coward and piece of s*#t he is. He will go down in history as the most pathetic American politician we have ever seen.'

My response to him was as follows:
Quadratic Learning W Didactic W Reading and Research Socratic or Dialectic ul Experiennal
"Dennis Hopper had it wrong. I think it's didactic physics, John, if you want to land on fractions in space. For instance, in education, we think that people are educated growing up in how to reason using logic. Not so."


- Didactic analysis involves facts and deduction. It’s what most people understand to be "logic."

- Dialectic analysis involves consensus and discussion to arrive at a conclusion.

acd94ddc.pngIf you’re older than 30 or so, you’ve grown up with didactic thought — analyzing a set of facts to draw a conclusion. Different people may disagree on the findings or analysis, but facts are facts, and definitions don’t change.
But if you’ve been recently educated (you’re younger than 30 or so), you’re likely trained in dialectic thinking — using discussion and group-think (even if it’s a small group) to arrive at conclusions. Facts may or may not be used, and definitions and concepts shift as required to fit the end. In other words - the origin of Fake News or value relativism.

Philosophical summary question for you, John, (and Dennis Hopper)? Can you have a dialectic discussion with didactics, is it vice-versa, or both?

John's response was equally as impressive:
"Well, given that Dennis Hopper was high on peyote when he recited those lines....does it matter!!! I think maybe he actually said dialectical physics, and I like the idea of the battle between opposing forces; what’s in between yin and yang? Either way, there is no gray matter in my complete hatred of the orange moron mother trucker!"

My train of thought was sparked by this informal exchange, and I expanded my thinking to wonder if, indeed, we are
d0082b9f.jpg genuinely getting dumb and dumber? Early on in his presidential campaign, perhaps Donald Trump (unknowingly) tuned into a phenomenon that Adolf Hitler used very effectively 80 years ago to mobilize his nation toward "Making Germany Great Again." He effectively influenced his country and its people to hate the very same people that he hated! I call those dialectics, and didactics be damned.

Your thoughts?

Next Week: How to Balance Dialectic and Didactical Approaches in Learning

#Dennis Hopper #Donald Trump #John #Dumber #WHAAT
Comments

Steven Marshall

3 years ago #2

#1
Well said, Zacharias. I agree with your first bullet (*) wholeheartedly, in that having a difficult discussion with someone is very trying these days. I prefer to stay civil and conduct a conversation with grace and humility, but, if we reach a point of disagreement, while I stay on the high road, others can dip quickly into name-calling and anger. It seems like, as a society, (in the US) that the anti-intellectual movement that started in the 80's actually succeeded and facts don't matter anymore; it is more akin to how one feels at the moment that dictates their response. I am saddened by this, especially because I am not learning much anymore by listening to other people. However, when I do happen upon an engaging conversation, it is so refreshing, mainly because it is so infrequent. Thank you for your thoughts.

Zacharias 🐝 Voulgaris

3 years ago #1

This is a highly complex matter you've touched upon and I doubt I can do it justice with s comment or two. I'll give it a shot though since silence is as bad as agreeing with the established view, in cases like that. So, IMO the main vectors of the problem at hsnd are the following: * lack of courage: many people nowadays don't have the courage to stand up for their beliefs in a rational manner and propagate them. As a result, they're inclined to agree with whoever is winning in terms of popularity or charisma. * lack of confidence: many people don't have confidence in the truth or the process of conversation that gradually leads to the truth. * lack of discernment: many people can't tell right from wrong (especially on the moral/ethical level) as they are immersed in an ocean of relativism, sometimes throughout their lives. Cheers

Articles from Steven Marshall

View blog
5 years ago · 4 min. reading time

What Ever Happened to Grace, Civility, and Humility?

NOTE: This is my latest observation on cultural life in America. It is in severe decline. It is prim ...

6 years ago · 1 min. reading time

An Ego Boost or Self Delusion?

Note: I recently met a gentleman named Carl Dierschow, who owns/runs a consulting company called "Sm ...

3 years ago · 4 min. reading time

Did the 1% Club Exist Before the Civil War?

Note: I found this article somewhere and it both intrigues me and depresses me. It is intriguing to ...

Related professionals

You may be interested in these jobs

  • Palms of Pasadena Hospital

    Interventional Cardiology in St. Petersburg

    Found in: Lensa US P 2 C2 - 5 days ago

    Palms of Pasadena Hospital St Petersburg, United States

    Specialization:Cardiology InterventionalJob Summary:HCA West Florida is seeking a Interventional Cardiologist to join The Heart Institute at HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida in the Tampa/St. Petersburg Metropolitan area.Qualified Candidates: · Must be boar ...

  • Orlando Health

    Registered Nurse, Cardiac Pre/Post, Full-Time, Days

    Found in: Lensa US P 2 C2 - 4 days ago

    Orlando Health Orlando, United States Full time

    Position Summary: · The RN Advanced Care administers patient care in an area in a hospital or inpatient setting where patients have an advanced illness or injury that routinely requires timely, intense, and complex care to stabilize and support the patients medical condition. Th ...

  • Luxe Rehabilitation & Care Center

    registered nurse

    Found in: beBee S2 US - 4 weeks ago

    Luxe Rehabilitation & Care Center Union, United States Freelance

    Starting Pay Rate: $ $38.25/hour · At DRIFT, we work with healthcare companies across the United States to help recruit for frontline staff positions. By applying with us, you'll work with one of our Recruitment Pros to help you land your next dream role. Please note: we recruit ...