Download pdf file - Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy

Feringer Notes - CIRCULATION OF THOUGHT - 1954 12 of 65
this reason, nor is it easy for them to become elected. The president should be one who finally
develops during and after an 8th stage (to legislate). (p.7)
5.The essence of "listening"is that one is brought into the real world, one is called by his/her
name. By contrast, with reading and learning one is addressed "in general."To speak only in
generalizations is boring and unreal.To be spoken to and to listen to another calling your name
makes one unique, and the world in this process becomes personal. THIS IS WHY CARING
PARENTS ARE SO CRUCIAL. Parents are there to govern their children!(Contrary to what
happens in the USA,where the prevailing attitude is to give children freedom too soon).
Children obeying andlistening to parents is not to be understood as enslavement, but rather as
preparation for the carrying out of thinking of others so that they learn first to begin to participate
in the community. Thinking for one's self, doubting, comes later, only after this preparation. IN
THE USA WE ALLOW CHILDREN TOO MUCH LICENSE, OR BURDEN THEM WITH
DECISION MAKING TOO SOON.
Therefore this first step is crucial therefore.The child should be made to understand that it is a
privilege to be a member of the family, and to be allowed to do dishes, or rake leaves. (see
anecdote p.19 bottom)
6.Cultures are held together by understanding the important acts in life. To be introduced into the
basic practices for survival is to learn what life is about. Household chores are the child's first
introduction into this fact, and he should be helped to experience this. Doing something for the
first time, i.e. preparing a meal, making a box to hold tomatoes, cleaning one's house,makes one
a member.Celebrations of holidays are a recognition of an event that should be re-experienced so
that the culture is reminded of what is important. It is a memory ofthe first time it happened.
Thus, to celebrate a hero who sacrificed, to celebrate a revolution, a harvest,mothers' and fathers'
days are vital.(See pp.20-22,3 for details about the origin of culture (secular) as it is derived from
cult (religious).THE POINT IS THAT THE CHILD MUST BE MADE TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE JOB IS NOT DONE.
The first stage of the circulation of thought is not intellectual, but of emotion, of awe for these
reasons.
7.The sequence is important; listening begets reading, which begets learning, etc.As a parent, all
of this is difficult; a child is emotional, illogical, self-centered, impatient. The parent must be
patient, severely sticking to discipline with love, by commanding.But this will not work unless
the child knows that the parents look up to an authority above them as well.
8.These stages remain with us all our lives, although the process of maturing means that one
gradually takes over command of one's self. At any age, for instance, one must listen to doctors
or others who are authorities on some needed information. Obviously, to listen and follow is
much easier thanhaving to decide.