The Necessity of Experience by Edward S. Reed |
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Edward Reed makes a very important differentation between primary experiences and secondary experiences.He argues that through the enormous technological progress ” there has been considerable regress in meaningful communication among people. He claims that many of us spent much of our work time in this age of information pushing buttons,and responding like machines to symbols that are created by someone else, symbols that hold no meaning for us.”
“Billions of dollars are being spent to create content wide information superhighways along wich will flow every conceivable kind of information, except one. The information being left out of these developments, unfortunately, the most inportant kind; the information-termed ecological- that all human beings acquire from their environment by looking, listening, feeling, sniffing and tasting- the information in other words, that allows us to experience things for ourselves. Ecological information is primary, processed information is secondary. Primary experience, gained through the senses, are our most basic source for understanding reality and learning for ourselves. This important differentiation has not been made in present ‘experience’ literature.
Our culture, however, favours the indirect knowledge gained form secondary experiences, in which information is selected, modified, packaged and presented by others. In this remarkable book the author warnes that second hand experiences has become so dominant in our technological workplaces, schools and even homes that primary experience is endangered. Without opportunities to learn directly we become less likely to think and feel for ourselves. Reed goes back and expands on the work of the American Philosopher
Dewey and offers an alternative vision on meaningful learning.
Higly recommended reading!
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So true.
The emphasis on College and University education for all, at the expense of the apprentice system, where one is taught on the job, by an experienced person has radically changed society.
The insistence on computer technique instead of face to face communication skills is frightening.
People seem to have no problem in answering a ringing phone in preference to continuing a face to face communication.
Computer literate but unable to effectively converse seems to be acceptable.
Most jobs for the masses have become boring and mindless as the emphasis is on quantity and speed. The majority of functions are repetitive which stifles the human condition. But the qualifications to do those mindless functions increase all the time. I am a believer in the small is beautiful concept and have seen the success and improved happiness of staff as a result of keeping departments to a small cohesive group.