EDC
Every essay or blog—or conversation—begins with a Blank Page that is trying to talk to me and you about an important topic at the intersection of our interests. Mine for this blog is generally ecology, economics and education. T.G.I.F. Any Day will only get to Take a Great Idea Forward when it evokes thinking and questioning. All of what we think we know, but don’t, is a source of provocative questions.
Ideas are great when they influence or encourage conversations. Accordingly I will write today about Evolutionary Developmental Conversations aka EDCs. Let’s begin with conversation. The word means using voice or verse to exchange thoughts, concepts, ideas—with another. It is a meeting of minds with some worthwhile exercise of our theory of mind. A Theory of Mind is closely related to our understanding that our mind and the mind of another person basically functions in about the same way and is constantly undergoing development.
But of course there are always ways that minds are different and those differences should be recognized, honored and enlightened through exchange of views. It is differences that hold promise for development. Without differences, with uniformity, there is sterility of thought, no life or spirit that can grow or develop. But, let’s face it, that is comfortable; tension is uncomfortable. So how do we manage conversations so that tensions are not stretched too far beyond what is tolerable?
An important fact of life is that two people never see, hear, tough, smell or taste in exactly the same way—experiencing a thing is different. In conversation, if we are face-to-face, I’m looking at you and your are looking at me and in both cases we are looking at and seeing all manner of detail of another and what is surrounding the other, a background or environment. Our attention may be drawn to elements of the background or not. As words come from another (an other) we may or may not notice a tilt of a head, the curl of a lip, the inflection or emphasis of a particular word. Yet consiously or unconsciously these little details may be important.
An element of background is not merely physical but is related to the past experiences of the other or others involved in a conversation. The development or progression of a conversation is often a function of how well those past experiences are recognized if they are recognized at all. The reality is that it is impossible for one party in a conversation to fully understand and relate to the past experiences that the other party or parties may or may not have had. This is diversity.
We often believe that education is the great leveling element in conversations. And, it is! But it is not perfect; it never has been and it never will be perfect. The result is differences that should be celebrated. Language and range of vocabulary is an important key to conversation. Speaking in the same language is not entirely related to the words we use. In fact words, no matter how important, are only a tool to share ideas across a gap. I would suggest that words are important to represent information and knowledge and using grammar is an essential skill, but it is attitude that makes or breaks every conversation either sooner or later. Attitude is so independent of language that it almost defies definition or even decent, useful characterization. But we know it when we experience it.
Attitude may be mostly what we convey in conversation. Information may follow. Attitude opens the mind to information. Both parties in conversation convey an attitude. And, it is likely never possible to take or leave an attitude. The implication of this for education is huge.
I’m not particularly fond of learning as a useful word—definition seems elusive and meaning is way to vast to be useful. Nevertheless, learning carries a connotation can be serviceable particularly when it is used in the sense of seeking an expansion of a relationship. Seeking and finding go hand in hand and advance a conversation so that there is mutual development. It is through seeking that development is possible. This entails respect for what is not known, aka ignorance.
Ignorance gets a bad rap and that is unfortunate because we are all profoundly ignorant. A key to an Evolutionary Developmental Conversation is to recognize and accept ignorance, ours first and foremost, and then the ignorance of another. The fatal flaw of too many conversations—ending development and evolution—comes from assuming knowledge about another person’s ignorance, a gap in knowledge, and adding to that an assumption that the gap must be filled. Too often a fire-hose of words flows in only one direction. We are handicapped when we are talking because we can’t hear questions. And, we can’t or don’t take time to ask questions.
So by now you can see that this is all one way. You have questions, and can’t ask because I am doing all the talking. This is not a conversation and is not going to evolve or develop into anything of value until you ask your question(s). I invite you to do just that in the comments below. I won’t promise a direct answer(s) but I will read every comment and I will think about it. So, thank you!