here's a mind fuck for us: clinical research has shown that at the age of 21, you basically stop developing. that is to say your center of gravity, your World-view, the lens through which you experience and interpret all experiences- that solidifies and development stops. until you're about to die, you don't develop anymore, UNLESS you have a meditation practice. that's worth repeating: unless a person has a daily contemplative practice, clinical research shows THEY WILL NOT DEVELOP THROUGH STAGES after about the age of 21. that means if you're an arrested adolescent at the age of 21, and you don't have a practice, then you (and all your friends and family) can look forward to a long life enjoying your remedial needs. this ain't a religious thing, it ain't a buddhist thing, this is simple, emperical data from clinical research: if you don't meditate, you don't fucking DEVELOP after the age of 21.
Now, it seems like there is some perspective needed here. What personal qualities can develop? What qualities can't develop? There are FAR too many assumptions in this paragraph.
For myself, I'm infinitely less stupid than I was in my 20's. (I'm still infinitely stupid, but a lesser order of infinities, as it were...
)Now I'm not necessarily the best case, because I do meditate, however - if we continue with the TRANSLATION-INNOVATION metaphor, as applied to the individual, then this post might make sense, but I'd still like to see the cites.
But if we are dealing with "individual translation" in the world - dealing with people better, LEARNING to move forward in various ways - both personally, professionally, etc - the possibilities of learning, growing, being, on this level, are very high.
I think blanket statements like that could possibily contribute to an abandonment of growth, that actually CAN happen, on a translation level - even if this doesn't engage higher levels of consciousness.
"Well, shoot - science shows that I stay the same unless I meditate - guess there's no point going to that AA meeting and dealing with my alcohol... - also, guess I'm not going to learn any more IT skills... "
That's a bit of an unfair example, it could be argued that's a strawman - but most of what we deal with in this world IS translation, so clarity is needed. A lot of learning happens by simply SHOWING UP and being present, paying attention to what is being presented.
I also would think this type of blanket statement would strike at the heart of the notion of adult learning as well. (Robert Kagan, what would you say?)
Okay, so maybe I'm not completely refuting Stuart Davis's post - if the innovation vs. translation distinction is kept in mind - but it is important to point out the adult learning that continues to happen,in several wonderful and multi-varied ways, for those who put themselves in the situation to learn (those who show up).
UPDATE: I didn't make it clear, but this paragraph was one small part of a much larger post - and really, I'm only criticizing this one single part. But the title would be so much more ho-hum if the title was "A small part of Stuart Davis's post needs to be more clear."
It just doesn't have the same ring.
