My thoughts about the importance of reading and reflection-the life of the mind- have evolved over time to include ideas about conscience, self awareness and principle. Reading is one of our earliest experiences of evaluating our world, its furniture, people and possibilities. We are also honing our ability to reflect and build a moral compass for lifelong navigation. Our first long looks at our own emotions and principles come from the stories we read.
I am shocked by people who seem to lack all awareness of their own actions and emotions and I suspect they have missed the opportunity to develop the tools and techniques for the inward look. They haven’t wondered about a character’s motivation, action and fate and so have less chance to understand their own inner works. As the characters in the worlds great stories grapple with the fates we learn a lot about how to question our own stories. In a way we are forced to become who we are.
A life without reflection does not preclude genius but it is the death of principles. A man like Josef Goebbels was a genius in the areas of manipulation and propaganda but a genius without conscience. Did he ever question his principles… probably not. Study and reflection leads to the development of principles. The well reasoned argument will always lead to a pesky place. For example, if you believe in freedom of speech as a principle you may find yourself defending Nazi speech as the ACLU did because principled action is often uncomfortable. Insights into this enigma will require study.
Ezra Pound called books a “ball of light” in ones hand. Can we even trust someone that doesn’t read. Someone that operates, “from the gut” is a very messy fellow. Read every day and read about the dark spots in the human condition. Ok, I admit that this whole rant came from someone who said to me with a straight face, “I just don’t like to read.” This genuinely pissed me off and I quickly discovered that this person was fed up with that pesky thinking stuff.
Maybe that great philosopher, Groucho Marx said it best: “outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.”
Stay outside of the dog.
Olio Folio 