METHODS OF CULTURE

 

         METHODS OF CULTURE treats of the nature of the powers of man, and how to develop them. It embraces three general divisions: 1) The Nature of Man; 2) The Nature of Culture; 3) The Methods of Cultivating Each Faculty. 

 

                                         The Nature of Man

 

         "Man is a rational animal." This right definition of Man unfolds the essence of Man. That he is an animal concerns the work of education in that he has a physical body to be cultured. That he is rational means that he uses reason as his tool of survival; and reason is the characteristic that distinguishes man from other animals.

         Philosophers have given different names to the attribute of rationality -differentiating characteristic of man. The spirit, the soul, the psyche, the intelligence, the reason, the mind have all been used. The terms spirit and soul are regarded by some as synonymous with mind. Some, however, distinguish between the mind and the soul, regarding the mind merely as the power of thinking and knowing, or as a part of the soul which they purport to be the entire spiritual nature. Some distinguish also between the soul and the spirit, regarding the soul as that which is or has been connected with a body, while the spirit is that which is now nor ever has been connected with a bodily form. In this treatise, the term mind is used to connote to the whole spiritual being.

 

                                     The Nature of the Mind

 

         It is the Nature of Mind, which is at the center of education, that perplexed philosophers the most and thus led to different theories of education. Therefore, a correct understanding of the Nature of Mind is essential to any work related with education as it is with every science related with man's psyche.

         THE MIND is that which thinks, feels, and wills. Of its essence or substance, not much is known; we know it mostly by its activities and its operations. The different forms of activity which it presents, indicate different mental powers, which are called Faculties of the mind.

         A MENTAL FACULTY is a capacity for a distinct form of mental activity. It is the mind's power of doing something, of putting forth some energy, of manifesting itself in some particular manner. The mind possesses as many faculties as there are distinct forms of mental activity. In order, therefore, to ascertain the different faculties of the mind, we must notice carefully the various ways in which the mind acts.

         The mind embraces three general classes of faculties; the Intellect, the Sensibilities, and the Will. Every capacity or power which the mind possesses falls under one of these three heads. Every mental act is an act of the Intellect, the Sensibilities, or the Will.

         These three classes of faculties are not to be considered, however, as parts of a complex unit, but rather as forms of manifestation of the entity which we call The Mind. The mind is thus a tri‑unity: one substance with a trinity of powers or capacities. 

         The INTELLECT is the power by which we think and know. Its products are ideas and thoughts. An Idea is a mental product which may be expressed in one or more words, not forming a proposition; as, a man, an animal, hardness, color, etc. A Thought is a mental product consisting of the combination of two or more ideas, which when expressed in words, gives us a proposition; as, a man is an animal.

         The SENSIBILITIES are the powers by which we feel. Their products are emotions, affections, and desires. An emotion is a simple feeling, as the emotion of joy, sorrow, etc. An affection is an emotion that goes out towards an object; as love, hate, envy, etc. A desire is an emotion that goes out to an object with the wish of possession; as the desire of wealth, fame, etc.

         The WILL is the power by which we resolve to do. The Will is the executive power of the mind, the power by which man becomes the conscious author of an intentional act. The products of the Will are volitions. It is in the domain of the Will that man becomes a moral and responsible being.

         The relation of these three spheres of activity may be illustrated in a variety of ways. For example: I read of the destitution and suffering in a great city and understand the means taken for their relief; this is an act of the intellect. I feel a deep sympathy with this suffering; my heart is touched with pity, and I experience a strong desire to aid in relieving their distress; this is an act of the sensibilities. I desire to express my feelings of pity and follow my sense of benevolence, and resolve to aid them by sending a contribution or going personally to their relief; this is an act of the will.