Experiencing, learning, reacting

Experience, learn, react. An interesting triumvirate. Fail to pay attention to such will lead to disaster, said George. The related question often posed to the general population is, “What came first, the chicken or the egg.” The answer? Well, there is no answer. It is unknowable, and it doesn’t matter. Still as a matter of philosophical interest, what might be an answer—any answer?

Another question might be, is it behavior instinctual or is it experiential? Or is it part one and part the other? Again interesting, and unknowable in absolute terms. Instinct informs us to be safe before we be clever, able before interested, and careful before acting. But, that said, how do we know what instinct has in store for us? Answer, we don’t. Helluva world.

Psychologists argue interminably as to whether instinct or experience is the source of sources. Maslow, a heavyweight researcher, allows that instinctual behaviors and needs must precede anything learned as a matter of the environment, i.e., experience. Yet the feeling remains that everything of importance that must be known is a matter of something else happening at some point in the classical past.

Experience is everything, said my mother. She may not have always been right, but she was right often enough. It was watching my family react to political and social and economic challenges that got me interested in things human. We see our neighbors, friends, and associates act and react daily. Upshot? So do we act and react. For the life of me I cannot understand why we spin our collective wheels so much, achieving so little in the way of results knowing what we know.

So where do we achieve, where do we “learn” of these social, economic, and political values and acquire the knowledge we need to employ such in such activities? How do we know how to react to them? The answer of course is that such things are instinctual; they are not experiential. We know how to react to them because of the nature of things, not the nurture. We do not learn to be sexually active; it comes naturally. We do not learn how to react to fearful situations; it comes naturally. Reacting in and of itself is a natural act. Still…

Experience plays a huge role in our development. If we are terrified while strapped to a thrill ride at an amusement park. If we are overcome with emotion at the sight of a person of the opposite sex. If we are concerned with the safety and well being of others; it is because we have learned empathy, probably as a result of some experience.

We react to others’ behavior. We are ourselves role models for those less experienced and younger than are we. That we are predisposed to do these things and react in these ways is interesting and probably a matter of clinical interest.

That such things are true we are certain. What they mean for us in the long run is less certain. We know that knowledge is strength and economically useful in all possible worlds.

While we can say with certitude that instinctual behaviors do exist and do play a part in molding us, it is experience that teaches us the major lessons of life. It is experience that shows us the path to contentment. Discovering that path is the problem. It cannot be left to chance or happenstance.

We must be proactive in both the search of relevant experience and for the methods and opportunities to employ them. Knowing that experience is the mother of all learning is not enough; we must actively proselytize the knowing. It is only thus that we may avoid George Santayana’s concern that that those who do not learn from history are destined to re-live it.

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