Introduction

 Many of us have different ideas about what learning exactly is and what it includes. Many say that you can only learn from doing certain things like going to school or doing research. But I believe that we are learning every minute of our lives. I define learning as simply as receiving information that can be applied. There are many different ways to learn and I believe that we are always using at least one of these ways. Though, I do believe that there are some ways of learning that will either give you more information or more valuable information that other ways of learning cannot do. We have realized this and can see the results of this through the important items that were created throughout history. Let’s go back in time and see what we have learned by evaluating some of the items from the past 200 years or so.

The Printing Press: Learning to Make a Difference

Printing Press

Invented in the early 1450s

In Italy

By Johannes Gutenberg

Medium: Metal and Ink

           I will start in the early 1450s with the Printing Press invented in Italy by Johannes Gutenberg. This was a time of wealth for Italy and the people wanted this to continue. To do that, they wanted to be able to teach their children to conduct businesses and to read other educational literature. This inspired Johannes Gutenberg to invent the Printing Press so that textbooks could be made and distributed to those that wanted to educate themselves. However, this not only was used for textbooks but later for all sorts of literary works.

           Johannes Gutenberg and his invention shows the characteristic of learning of recognizing what would make a big difference in society by observing and also learning how to accomplish it. Not only that, this invention helped start the Renaissance and encouraged the distribution of many books with different types of information which resulted in a lot of learning in Italy and around the world.

The Prince: Learning what is Right and what is Wrong

The Prince

Written in 1513

In Italy

By Machiavelli

Medium: Paper

           The Prince, written by Niccoló Machiavelli, was one of those books printed by the Printing Press. Though, this book has something about learning that it can illustrate as well. Machiavelli wrote this during a time of governmental stress to share his knowledge on how a Prince (and, along with that, the government) should act and what they should do.

           Even though I don’t agree with everything that The Prince said about how a government should be ruled, it was a step forward in solving the government problem. This is a different type of learning where Machiavelli realizes that something is wrong and needs to be fixed and learns better how to do that.

95 Theses: Standing up for what you Learn to be True

95 Theses

Written in 1517

In Germany

By Martin Luther

Medium: Paper

           Another example of this same type of learning is the 95 Theses by Martin Luther, though this example, in my opinion, does a better job of showing a different characteristic of learning. Luther realized that something was wrong with what the church was teaching at the time, mainly indulgences (which is paying money to forgive sin). He writes the 95 Theses to argue that it was wrong and posted it on the door of the chapel of Wittenburg University. But by doing so, he kindled the wrath of the church and he was eventually excommunicated from the Church and could have been executed for what he had published. But he stuck with what he had learned and what he believed was right.

           Like I said before, this demonstrates the same type of learning that The Prince demonstrated of realizing that something is wrong and working to fix it. But this also demonstrates very well the characteristic of learning to sticking up for what you have learned to be true, sticking up for your morals. If you are too afraid to apply what you have learned, it doesn't really matter that you learned it at all.

The Globe Theatre: Teaching what you Learn

The Globe Theatre

Built in 1599

In London, England

Medium: Construction Materials (Wood, Stone, etc.)

           The expression of moral ideas can play a big part in learning, as shown by the 95 Theses. William Shakespeare also knew this when he wrote his plays which are full of making right decisions and holding to your standards. And to further express these moral ideas, Shakespeare used the Globe Theatre to teach others about these morals, along with giving them a great show. Many great plays were done in this theatre and, along with that, many great lessons to be learned from each play. William Shakespeare and his Globe Theatre show us that teaching others what you have learned is another great way to apply learning. 

The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy: The Importance of Writing Down what you Learn

The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy

Published in 1687

In England

By Isaac Newton

Medium: Paper

           From the Globe Theatre we learn that teaching is a great way to help others learn, but, as humans, we often forget what we have been taught. However, Isaac Newton, along with many other great thinkers of the world, showed us a way of how to remember this. And he shows this characteristic during a period of time known as the Scientific Awakening. During this time, there were many great scientific discoveries made and many books filled with the scientific knowledge of this age. One specific book, written by Isaac Newton, is called The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. It describes the laws of motion, acceleration, force, and other things. This book has helped many mathematicians along with many others in different fields of study to better understand their own work.

           The characteristic of learning that I want to point out here is the importance of writing down what you learn. Our memory isn't perfect. We will forget things if we don’t either apply it constantly or just write it down. And I am sure that many people in this world are grateful for everything that Isaac Newton wrote down.

The Declaration of Independence: Learning from the Learned

The Declaration of Independence

Written in 1776

In the United States of America

By Thomas Jefferson (and edited by Benjamin Franklin)

Medium: Paper

          John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau, great philosophical thinkers of the 15^thand 16^th centuries, made great contributions to society when they wrote down their ideas about how a government should function. They showed the same characteristics of learning as Isaac Newton did with his Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. Though, another great characteristic comes from the other end of this principle: the ability of effectively taking away information from what was already written. And Thomas Jefferson nailed it when he wrote The Declaration of Independence. Using what was already written by Locke and Rousseau, he created the document that Americans would revere for generations. His ability to do that affected our ability to be independent and have the freedoms that we enjoy today. We must also learn to be open-minded to what has written before and apply it in our lives.