03-15-2015, 08:22 AM
"I grant that many a man already writes his mother tongue admirably, and indeed has performed each of the various duties of poetry as such; yet over and above this, it is necessary to know at least the principles of the other liberal arts, both moral and natural, to possess a strong and abundant vocabulary, to be familiar with the monuments and relics of ancient civilizations, to have in one's memory the histories of the nations, and to be familiar with the geography of various lands, of seas, rivers and mountains." -- Giovanni Boccaccio, Genealogy of the Gentile Gods (1360).
This is as true today as it ever was. Being able to write is not enough -- that's simply a manipulation of words in your verbal toolkit. Using those words to explore new ideas, generate stimulating discussion, and educate rather than obfuscate, is still an imperative, no matter how many times we write about doing rude things to cattle on the side. As a teacher, I do not explain every detail to my students; I expect them to use their initiative and discover things for themselves, once I give them a couple of clues and the tools with which to research further. If teenagers can do it, then grownups who consider themselves erudite and of at least average intellect have no excuse.
This is as true today as it ever was. Being able to write is not enough -- that's simply a manipulation of words in your verbal toolkit. Using those words to explore new ideas, generate stimulating discussion, and educate rather than obfuscate, is still an imperative, no matter how many times we write about doing rude things to cattle on the side. As a teacher, I do not explain every detail to my students; I expect them to use their initiative and discover things for themselves, once I give them a couple of clues and the tools with which to research further. If teenagers can do it, then grownups who consider themselves erudite and of at least average intellect have no excuse.
It could be worse