Comments on: Made to be broken? http://www.nonformality.org/2008/02/made-to-be-broken/ Education & Learning Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:44:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andreas Karsten http://www.nonformality.org/2008/02/made-to-be-broken/#comment-10618 Andreas Karsten Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:49:43 +0000 http://www.nonformality.org/index.php/2008/02/made-to-be-broken/#comment-10618 Contemporary philosopher Alan D. Schrift — Professor and Chair of Department of Philosophy and Director of Center for Humanities at Grinnell College in Grinnell (IA), USA — adds a little depth to this discourse in an article on Eurozine entitled

«Questioning authority – Nietzsche’s gift to Derrida»

]]> By: Bastian http://www.nonformality.org/2008/02/made-to-be-broken/#comment-6854 Bastian Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:48:37 +0000 http://www.nonformality.org/index.php/2008/02/made-to-be-broken/#comment-6854 I have driven in Cairo and adapted my driving style to the local context (actually never had so much fun driving). I agree with you: rules and conventions are results of common experiences and dialogues a group of people in a certain context have and they have to grow, change and develop with the community itself. I would even argue that critical thinking is one fundamental aspect of intercultural competence. Critically reflecting on ones own assumptions of what's right or wrong, redefining them or reasserting them. Policy makers seem to have overseen this, somehow. Might just be too uncomfortable to lead citizens that are questioning everything one does... I have driven in Cairo and adapted my driving style to the local context (actually never had so much fun driving). I agree with you: rules and conventions are results of common experiences and dialogues a group of people in a certain context have and they have to grow, change and develop with the community itself.
I would even argue that critical thinking is one fundamental aspect of intercultural competence. Critically reflecting on ones own assumptions of what’s right or wrong, redefining them or reasserting them. Policy makers seem to have overseen this, somehow. Might just be too uncomfortable to lead citizens that are questioning everything one does…

]]> By: Andreas Karsten http://www.nonformality.org/2008/02/made-to-be-broken/#comment-6853 Andreas Karsten Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:29:19 +0000 http://www.nonformality.org/index.php/2008/02/made-to-be-broken/#comment-6853 I see what you mean. But how can you make an informed decision on what is actually worth being questioned, discussed, debated and/or eventually thrown over - except by discussing, debating, and eventually throwing over? Your example of traffic shows this quite well - you have come to your own conclusion through many discussions with the fans of left-lane traffic. But your example also connects critical thinking to intercultural learning - rules are interlinked with their context, and if you behave in Cairo as you describe - obeying to the rules we are used to in relation to traffic - than you will end up sooner in an accident than you would think... I see what you mean. But how can you make an informed decision on what is actually worth being questioned, discussed, debated and/or eventually thrown over – except by discussing, debating, and eventually throwing over?

Your example of traffic shows this quite well – you have come to your own conclusion through many discussions with the fans of left-lane traffic.

But your example also connects critical thinking to intercultural learning – rules are interlinked with their context, and if you behave in Cairo as you describe – obeying to the rules we are used to in relation to traffic – than you will end up sooner in an accident than you would think…

]]> By: Bastian http://www.nonformality.org/2008/02/made-to-be-broken/#comment-6850 Bastian Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:24:03 +0000 http://www.nonformality.org/index.php/2008/02/made-to-be-broken/#comment-6850 Some interesting points you make there, Andreas. I agree with most, however not all. Rules, for me, are a way to reduce the complexity of life, which can be useful in some cases, in some not. When I drive a car thru the city I trust to that most people respect the rules to a certain degree (at least as much as I do) as this saves us all a lot of frustration and bills from the garage. In my opinion people should not only have the ability to critically think but also the competence to make an informed decision on what is actually worth being questioned, discussed, debated and/or eventually thrown over. I've tried to discuss so many times with English people the sense of driving on the left side that I've come to the conclusion that spending that energy on traffic rules is just not worth it. Some interesting points you make there, Andreas. I agree with most, however not all. Rules, for me, are a way to reduce the complexity of life, which can be useful in some cases, in some not. When I drive a car thru the city I trust to that most people respect the rules to a certain degree (at least as much as I do) as this saves us all a lot of frustration and bills from the garage.
In my opinion people should not only have the ability to critically think but also the competence to make an informed decision on what is actually worth being questioned, discussed, debated and/or eventually thrown over. I’ve tried to discuss so many times with English people the sense of driving on the left side that I’ve come to the conclusion that spending that energy on traffic rules is just not worth it.

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