Time passes by and life goes on. As a living creation, we have to accept that since time immemorial we are enrolled in a universal school called life.
Man’s faculty of the mind and body is a wonderful phenomenon. The human mind is endowed with the capability to reason and the ability to recreate ideas which are in accordance with his needs. It turns simple ideas into usefulness. In being useful, it becomes beneficial. But when ideas and thoughts are not properly applied it will be detrimental and can cause harm to one self and to others. Though we are created to reason, we must prudently control and manage its use.
Socrates is a Greek philosopher whose legacy to mankind remains useful in the passing of time. His way of teaching is acknowledged as one basic foundation in acquiring knowledge. His views may be philosophical, yet is approach in introducing the question and answer process justifies its practicality. Without knowing it, the Socratic way of teaching is still evolving and continuously bringing benefits to the global community of learners. Plato, another great philosopher who was a student of Socrates was not only influenced by the question and answer approach because he also followed
the Socratic principle in teaching during his era.
Education and learning are processes that help us to discover the truth. The practical application of the Socratic principle is a potent means to explore on different the different fields of studies. Once the rational mind goes to work we are enabled to understand more about the things around us. Knowledge about people, events, places, literature, mathematics, science and more put our minds to a vast universe of facts and truth. We simply cannot draw the line for us to limit ourselves in learning more because there are so many things under the sun that we can explore. In fact, discoveries and milestones do happen everyday.
Gaining knowledge is a quest for the essentials that we do not have. The challenging part of it is to use the privilege with the proper use of time that is available to us as it permits. Even in a busy world, there is no such thing like allowing oneself to be hungry and thirsty of knowledge. In gratitude, the rational man is gifted to think on his own and not to accept the opinion of the world that is not based on the truth. There are times when facts are ignored but it does not mean that they cease to exist.
Instead of getting caught unaware, perseverance in the accumulation of knowledge is a must for us to be able to open the windows of vast learning. It takes constant practice to make mental exploration a habit but it can be more fulfilling to realize that as the truth presents itself comes enlightenment.
Another thing which must not be overlooked which is also worth of value is to ask oneself once in a while to get the answers the first hand way. Remember, our brain is rustproof.
By: CECILE T. ATIENZO | TEACHER II | BNHS – JHS | BALANGA, BATAAN
