thales

Thales c. 624 – c. 546 BC was the Greek Philosopher who was mocked for falling into a drainage ditch.

 “In gazing at and making observations on the stars, he fell into a ditch, and the people mocked him as one who had knowledge of heavenly objects and yet could not see what lay at his own feet.” The people laugh at such things, and boast that philosophers cannot tell them about such matters; but they do not understand that philosophers laugh at them, for they do not fall into a ditch just because they lie in one for all time, and because they cannot see what exists above them.— from Hegel's History of Philosophy.

Would it not be best that students be taught to look both above and below? To learn by doing things that are real, and thence be challenged to contemplate the broader effects? Instead, we've divided them into two classes. One is judged capable of studying advanced things (mainly directed toward making money) and the other is ignored (unless its interest can be directed toward making money). Thales insisted that it was easy for a wise man to demonstrate making money, but it was of greater importance that he had proven the year to have 365 days. And so it is that we may be failing to direct young lives toward higher purpose.

Today I plan to do a second coat of Danish oil on boxes, and to make a tool box as a demonstration project. I'll take photos of it step-by-step.

The photo shows the laser engraving in the lids of the boxes I'm making for the U of A.

Make, fix, create, and encourage others to learn lifewise.