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Feringer Notes - CIRCULATION OF THOUGHT - 1954 6 of 65
the ultimate sacrifice for them. Martyrdom unifies people's opinions, while teaching cannot
achieve this. p. 23The wayof one's death has deep meaning, determining the way others are likely
to evaluateone.
12.Mental commandments, thought, have a spiritual life.Physical life begins and immediately
sets on a course of degeneration.Spiritual life is the opposite - it begins as zero and evolves - and
spiritual life begins with death in the sense that through education the child inherits from the past
and is thus potentially capable of moving toward humanness. A good life means that one leaves a
"good" name (reputation) behind.Most don't wish to leave a "stinking" name at their death.
13.The essence of teaching is that one makes a distinction between what is the rule and what the
exception; to learn what has been accidental in the teacher's life, and what one believes is true as
a rule of life. (p.26)
To teach is to make one feel old (regardless of one's physical age) and the student feel young (a
novice in the subject, regardless of age).
One cannot only teach by example, therefore one must state one's thought, one's intent, reveal
one's inner and very personal view of the subject. [RF - conditioning psychologists seem to have
forgotten this necessity of making the inner life concrete through speech.This also helps students
separate accident from intention. Such separation is also a subtle but important element of
teaching, whereby new questions can arise about the subject.]
To teach therefore means that one must, as far as possible, understand the meaning of one's
experience, articulating that meaning in the process.
Teaching therefore is not merely drill, teaching involves, dissatisfaction with one's fulfillment
(perfection). TEACHING THEREFORE SHOULD RECEIVE THE HIGHEST RANK IN THE
COMMUNITY.
Teaching is not merely quoting the thoughts of others.This practice cannot reach a student's
spiritor impassion him/her unless the student has the ability to judge experience in the light of the
subject matter.ERH believed that there was little teaching in the America, it was mostly
quotation and drill.
To teach, one must have become a master at some activity in life, as a motor mechanic, as a
doctor, as a poet, etc.(p.30)
14.Philosophy is the beginning.Politics, and religion, and art are the results of living. (p.32)
This statement seems to summarize the essence of real teaching, as distinct from merely quoting
others and eliciting memorization from students.And it is essential for the circulation of thought.
Lecture - 3