teaching the life value of the law
During my vacation, I started reading Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth. Campbell believes that myths from different cultures are really very similar in that they all provide “clues to the spiritual potentialities of human life” and the “experience of being alive.” Opining that we’re now living in a “demythologized world,” he states: “What we’re learning in our schools is not the wisdom of life. We’re learning technologies, we’re getting information. There’s a curious reluctance on the part of faculties to indicate the life value of their subjects.” (Notably, Campbell expressed these sentiments about information overload some 20 years ago, before the advent of the Internet, Blackberry and iPod). I paused to consider this idea of teaching the “life value” of a subject and could recall only one law school class that went beyond the black letter to address such a valuation – it was a course on mediation. I’ve discussed the idea of law school reform before. I think infusing the basic curriculum with teachings on the “wisdom of life” in, and outside of, the law would cultivate more effective and contented lawyers. If you’re interested in the topic, take a look at this recent article that adds an interesting spin to Campbell’s vision of mythic virtues in these modern times. Presenting opposing perspectives, it considers whether it’s possible (or even necessary) to cultivate courage in our fast-paced culture “geared to prize health, wealth, and social status.”
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During my vacation, I started reading Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth. Campbell believes that myths from different cultures are really very similar in that they all provide “clues to the spiritual potentialities of human life” and the “experience of being alive.” Opining that we’re now living in a “demythologized world,” he states: “What we’re learning in our schools is not the wisdom of life. We’re learning technologies, we’re getting information. There’s a curious reluctance on the part of faculties to indicate the life value of their subjects.” (Notably, Campbell expressed these sentiments about information overload some 20 years ago, before the advent of the Internet, Blackberry and iPod). I paused to consider this idea of teaching the “life value” of a subject and could recall only one law school class that went beyond the black letter to address such a valuation – it was a course on mediation. I’ve discussed the idea of law school reform before. I think infusing the basic curriculum with teachings on the “wisdom of life” in, and outside of, the law would cultivate more effective and contented lawyers. If you’re interested in the topic, take a look at this recent article that adds an interesting spin to Campbell’s vision of mythic virtues in these modern times. Presenting opposing perspectives, it considers whether it’s possible (or even necessary) to cultivate courage in our fast-paced culture “geared to prize health, wealth, and social status.”
http://www.legalsanity.com/