Perhaps the Biggest Educational Problem…

Perhaps the biggest educational problem in the modern world, especially in metropolitan areas, is that man grows up in an environment almost devoid of immediate concerns and needs, which greatly impairs his perception. Prehistoric man, for example, was forced to be aware of constant threats, to plan for the future to prevent bad weather, knowing that neglect could be fatal. If he ate, he knew very well where his food came from, and he also knew what he had to do today to eat tomorrow. As for modern man, the immense facilities that surround him are not accompanied by the notion of the monstrous difficulty of making them accessible. And so he grows up with a deceptive sense of comfort, taking reality for granted, without the collaboration of his environment to show him how things work.

Sometimes, in Youth, Inconsequence…

Sometimes, in youth, inconsequence is an excellent omen, because it shows that the young man is trying to spend his share of stupidity right away. While it could be argued that there are no limits to stupidity, it must also be acknowledged that there is an obligatory and even indispensable minimum expenditure, which, the sooner it is spent, the better. Certain foolishness, once committed, teaches a lot; but there are phases that nullify the benefit of its lessons.

It Is Well Known That, From Birth to Adulthood….

It is well known that, from birth to adulthood, we are all subjected to a succession of phases, or problems, which can be schematized, from awareness of the environment and individuality, to more complex problems such as the rationalization of emotions or social integration. We all experience it, although perhaps at different ages and certainly in different circumstances. In this, we realize that a hierarchy of problems can also be established, from the most basic to the most complex, generally linked to age groups, so that in order to deal with problems higher up the hierarchy, it is necessary to have overcome, albeit temporarily, the previous problems. This progress involves a gradual change in the focus of interest, a natural and necessary change, required by maturing itself. It is inappropriate for an adult to still be fighting over self-affirmation, for example, as this is a characteristic problem of adolescence. Likewise, a real existential crisis is characteristic of a mature, well-formed adult. From all this, we can see the following, which is rarely observed by literary critics: if an artist, no matter how skillful, concentrates on more basic and universal problems, he will certainly reach a larger audience and be better understood; however, his work simply will not be able to sustain the interest of someone who is aware of the relevance of such problems and their position in the general hierarchy, someone for whom such problems have long since been overcome, and whose interest therefore soars to much higher altitudes. That is why there is no escaping it: to be truly great, an artist cannot limit himself to serving the general public.

Dostoevsky Prophesied It

Dostoevsky prophesied it, and today exhibitionism has become so ingrained in customs that not practicing it is scandalous. The greatest evil derived from this behavior is the common notion that what is not exposed, is not; that in order to be, it has to be shared. And then there’s the old story that the lie, driven by credit, becomes the truth: those who believe it end up, in fact, suffocating their inner dimension.