Wow!

Wow!  That is all I can say at this point in my Journey.  I did not expect to be so encouraged so soon in this project.  So, to my 2 faithful followers, here is my first post on the readings thus far.

Last week I ironically stated one of my biggest struggles in life -- that some (if not most) people seem to think they are experts in something -- and therefore everything.  My problem is that the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know.  I have only read half of Plato's Apology and Sacrates had me laughing and almost brought me to tears!  Thank you!!

Sacrates, on his quest to prove "God" wrong in that God told others that "Sacrates was the wisest man on earth", discovered and solved the problem that I just described.  He checked the "wisest" politicians and concluded that: "Well, although I do not suppose that either of us is [wise] -- I am better off than he is, for he knows nothing and thinks that he knows; I neither know nor think that I know.   ... then, I seem to have slightly the advantage of him."  Thank you Sacrates!

Next he tested the poets and artisans and found similar results.  " -- because they were good workmen they thought that they also knew all sorts of high matters.  ...I asked myself on behalf of the oracle, whether I would like to be as I was, neither having their knowledge nor their ignorance, or like them in both; and I made answer to myself ... that I was better off as I was."  Thank you Sacrates!

Sacrates came to the correct conclusion, similar to Solomon in the Bible (the wisest man in the Bible, who asked God for wisdom ahead of anything else he could imagine):  "that God only is wise;  and by his answer [that Sacrates is the wisest man] he intends to show that the wisdom of men is worth little or nothing; he is not speaking of Socrates, he is only using my name by way of illustration, as if he said, 'He, O men, is the wisest, who, like Socrates, knows that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing.'"

I can't help but think of George Carlin- an actor (poet/artisan?) who thinks he is an expert in political affairs.  I only pick on him because he met "Soo Crates" when he acted in the movie "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure".  (I thought Sean Penn played in that movie, but I was mistaken -- but it would have made a better example!)  Enough said.  (Maybe, along this journey, I'll find a difference with other "actors" like Ronald Reagan?)

Let's continue on to my second surprise of this book.

Sacrates is being accused of being an atheist and for corrupting the youth.  He denies both.  Here is a fascinating quote -- I think especially for a student of Jesus' teachings: "For this is the command of God, as I would have you know; ... For I do nothing but go about persuading you all, old and young alike, not to take thought for your persons and your properties, but first and chiefly to care about the greatest improvement of the soul. I tell you that virtue is not given by money, but that from virtue come money and every other good of man, public as well as private. This is my teaching, and if this is the doctrine which corrupts the youth, my influence is ruinous indeed."

Sound familiar?  Here's Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

I am wondering who this "G"od is that Socrates refers to?  Could it be Jehovah?  Did he know of the Jews?  He lived around 450BC.  Did Jesus know of Sacrates? 

See!  More questions!  Eaaaxcellent Dude!

The Journey Is About To Begin!

Welcome ...

Well, I've promised several people that I would start this project this weekend.  How difficult could it be to start reading 54 books that my wife and I picked up at a local estate sale for $ 42.50?  The problem is, I wanted to say something profound before I began!  I want to sound educated and enlightened ... but, sorry, it's just not happening for me lately ... perhaps that is why I'm interested in this quest.

In Book 1 of our 1957 edition, "The Great Conversation: The Substance of a Liberal Education", the author makes a statement about a subject that I happened to mention to my wife today -- childhood and the feeling that "I've never grown up."  The author states: "I must reiterate that you can set no store by your education in childhood and youth, no matter how good it was. Childhood and youth are no time to get an education.  They are the time to get ready to get an education.  The most that we can hope for from these uninteresting and chaotic periods of life  is that during them we shall be set on the right path, the path of realizing our human possibilities through intellectual effort and aesthetic appreciation.  The great issues, now issues of life and death for civilization call for mature minds."  If that was true in 1952, how true now in 2010.

It's time to grow up and continue my education.

The quote above should not insult any young reader -- it just means that we can continue to read the same Shakespeare or Plato that we did in 9th grade, Sophomore in college, or in our apartment with a toddler at our feet.  These books and ideas will mean something more and hopefully show us something new each time we read them.  I've realized lately that education never ends.  Nothing irritates me more than someone educated beyond their intelligence (proven by their attitude that they have an undergraduate degree or a PhD and therefore know all the answers about just about everything.)

Learning seems to have the opposite affect on me ... the more I learn the more I realize there is to know ... and what a moron I am!  This does not mean that I can't still believe in an absolute Truth, but I'm much more careful where to draw the lines.  Perhaps when this journey is done, I'll know if any of my statements here are true.

So, welcome to this journal of my self-education.  "The Great Conversation" is about to start and I hope that you will join in with me and challenge me.  I also hope that The Conversation doesn't end and we don't become so arrogant that we say that we're done.

I've written more than I expected tonight.  We'll cover some interesting ground in the years ahead.  Here are some links to some resources if you do not have your own collection of The Great Books -- most of them are free online:
http://www.io.com/~beckerdo/books/gb195210.html

Here is my goal for the coming month:
1.     PLATO:  Apology, Crito
Vol. 7, pp. 200-219 (20 pages)

2.     ARISTOPHANES:  Clouds, Lysistrata
Vol. 5, pp. 488-506, 583-599 (19 + 17 = 36 pages)

3.     PLATO:  Republic [Book I-II]
Vol. 7, pp. 295-324 (20 pages)

Talk with you soon!
-Mark