Teaching w/o conflict (was Re: The Rickster and RickMeister)

CSGnet Archive CSG2005
1

[From Rick Marken (2005.08.23.0830)]

Bill Powers (2005.08.23.0633 MDT)--

Rick Marken (2005.08.22.2105) --

how do you teach, without conflict , the concept of evolution to
students who already _know_ that the biblical Genesis myth explains
the origin of species? How do you teach PCT to students who already
_know_ that thoughts cause behavior?

Perhaps the way is to teach how you do science in general -- that is,
how you find things out about natural processes. ...

I, of course, think that's a great idea!

So the question is, what is your first
hypothesis? Then the scientific process requires that you figure out
ways of testing it. The second question is, how would you test it?
Pure reason is not sufficient; you have to look for evidence, and try
some experiments, make some predictions, and see if they check out.

What do you with the people who have learned to distrust observation? There
are plenty of such people around. Your attempt to teach them that "pure
reason is not sufficient" would be a disturbance met with strong resistance.
Unless you can overcome your inclination to "push back" by trying to
convince these students that pure reason really isn't sufficient, you've got
yourself in a conflict, no?

Indeed, aren't we in a (mild) conflict right now about whether we can teach
without conflict?

Best

Rick

···

--
Richard S. Marken
MindReadings.com
Home: 310 474 0313
Cell: 310 729 1400

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2

[From Bill Powers (2005.08.23.1328 MDT)]

Rick Marken (2005.08.23.0830) --

What do you with the people who have learned to distrust observation? There
are plenty of such people around. Your attempt to teach them that "pure
reason is not sufficient" would be a disturbance met with strong resistance.
Unless you can overcome your inclination to "push back" by trying to
convince these students that pure reason really isn't sufficient, you've got
yourself in a conflict, no?

What's the problem? If they don't want to learn, don't teach them. You could watch TV with them, or have lunch, or just go home. As you say, to do otherwise is to put yourself into a conflict. If you're a teacher, of course, there is a conflict: your job depends on trying to teach them, or so many teachers believe. You can always play tricks, like saying "OK, let's really show those scientists where to get off. We'll show them that ID is just as scientific as what they believe. So how do we do that?"

Best,

  Bill P.

···

Indeed, aren't we in a (mild) conflict right now about whether we can teach
without conflict?

Best

Rick
--
Richard S. Marken
MindReadings.com
Home: 310 474 0313
Cell: 310 729 1400

--------------------

This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and
may contain privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use,
disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended
recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies
of the original message.