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"passive intelligence" "Passive Learning" "Passive Doing". what next?

"Passive Intelligence", "Passive Learning", "Passive Doing"

Today most of us are bound to this digital age; information encompasses and overwhelms us, it is rarely tied to experience. Information projected on a two dimensional surface becomes our day to day reality. This information manifests in us as it churns through our very core altering our day to day experiences. We adhere to a projected surface. We accumulate Information as we revolve around a quantity that superficially exists on the surface of an illuminated screen. Are we really learning or does this “learning” delude us into a sense of security, well-being and completeness?
We think this accumulated knowledge is intelligence, how true is this?

I enjoy the internet, I enjoy it very much. I get caught in the lure of information and media. Soon the things I once enjoyed beyond the screen become unimportant, overwritten and forgotten.
I remember the many times I overcame obstacles as a child, I recall all the trees I climbed with such fervour, the days I spent scratching along the sides of the Himalayas, all those times I repeatedly dismantled myself and my bicycle in the span of seconds in a failed attempt to avert a collision. They were good times, it dominated any given day, but this was a day in the life of a child.
Interestingly there are people who have dedicated their lives to doing such things as adults, they come on TV, and we watch them.
I often feel like we are heading towards this state of passive observation, watching others, and hoping one day that we might be watched in return. It all seem to fit perfectly; a fantasy, superficially extending beyond the limits of human capacity.

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Topics: Human Intelligence Internet advertising human psychology learning mass psychology media people society tv
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    Sri Ramakrishna

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    Aug 24 2011: I dont know till you mention it. When I Wikied the word, able to understand a bit that passive intellect which can only kindled by Active intellect for useful action. I need to go deep into further to know that. Are talking about the same thing? Your explanation is about information bombardment and the life on the 2D plane. Yes we do indulge in the digital world more than required. we dont know the limits and even dont care. We are imploring ourselves into a page (in web), Likes (in FB) and etc., by exploring the digiworld. We lost ourselves. This is leading us as humans who dont like other. We have friends and followers on the net to follow/interact for our specific qualities/behaviors. They might not accept us as a whole we are. We dont even try to interact with the world of unknown people. When I check-in to airport, opens the lappy immediately to launch the self into virtual world. But why? I got many people in the public place though unknown to me they are neither discourteous nor irrespectful. But still i love to hangout with people I like. We dont love and care each other. We need to sync the both worlds..thats the way out.

    • biped since1991

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      Aug 25 2011: In essence I am trying to make the distinction between learned, acquired knowledge through limited media and how that transforms our intelligence.
      If Aristotle claims that “passive intellect” resides in all, and that the "active" has to transform that intelligence and knowledge into action, well that would also be relevant to our discussion.
      Although I would question Aristotle on his idea of "passive intellect"; is there such a thing as "potential intelligence" that resides as a constant in everyone?

      I like some of the ideas you have brought to this page, Facebook allows us to be in touch with people, rekindle relationships, and not distance ourselves from the people we love or hate.
      but what about our very own reality in this breathing world?, we live in constant proximity to other people, continually evading others so we can return to our screens just to comment on a page just the way I have started this forum. I could be talking to other people around me, listening to others, developing ideas and arriving to some consensuses in a reality that inclines to my life. I am NOT suggesting that being here is a direct example on the absurdity of “passive learning”, “passive doing”.
      I am not suggesting we get rid of the television set or the computer or the internet. I would personally shoot the person who would suggest it. :)

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