‘Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought.’ Samuel Johnson
Invitation to Learn (IL) is primarily concerned with thinking. Reading may be an important stimulant to thinking, but it is not a substitute for it. Our mission is to stimulate productive thought by encouraging us not to avoid it.
Thought is loosely defined as anything which takes place in the mind; this includes reason, feeling, intuition, sensation, emotion, wonder, prayer, ecstasy, motivation, reverence, neurosis and even madness.
The mind may be regarded as the myriad connections made in the brain and consciouness as awareness of these. Thought is about making these connections as coherent as possible.
It is widely believed that some people are born clever and others are born stupid. Those who think they are stupid soon give up trying to learn. Those who think they are clever often misuse their mental agility to win arguments rather than think.
IL believes that everyone, unless brain-damaged, has the mental equipment to think. The question is only whether we really think, or allow our thoughts to be formed by our own and others’ preferences and prejudices.
IL views all forms of traditional thinking and political correctness with scepticism. This does not mean that we should always reject them, simply that we should not feel bound by them. No discussion is off limits unless it involves abuse of your fellow students. We are about real thinking; that is, about real learning. This requires courage, and we are therefore about encouraging students to think.
Real thinking opens doors and establishes boundaries. We experience freedom, but also become aware of unchangeable realities. Both of these elements are likely to be missing from ordinary day-to-day thought.
We fear freedom and we fantasise that we can by-pass reality. We are often aided and abetted in this unproductive thinking by pre-packaged systems of thought. By alerting students to these dangers we aim to stimulate a more productive kind of thinking.”
IL grew out of a Background to World News series of courses at the Friends Centre, Brighton, UK. Since February 2005 it has operated independently, mostly at venues in Brighton. We have, however, held three retreats, one at Laughton Lodge, near Ringmer, East Sussex, one at Hindhead Youth Hostel in Surrey and the third at Wetherdown Hostel, The Sustainability Centre, East Meon, Hants. (For further details see ‘Previous Retreats’.
Here is a summary of our beliefs: Invitation to Learn believes …
· in thinking
· that thinking can be both frightening and liberating
· that there is therefore a need to encourage thinking
· that thought happens where outside impressions, feelings and memory meet
· that consequently thinking, feeling and memory are intimately connected
· that those who seek power must influence our thoughts
· that to remain free we must therefore regard such influence critically
· that this means resisting the seduction of pre-digested systems of thought (narratives)
· that tradition and political correctness should not be regarded as sacrosanct
· in the principle of universal human rights and international law
· that we should express solidarity with the victims of oppressive narratives and do what we can to support them
· that these victims include those who are stigmatised because they belong to a particular group as well as those who are categorised in pejorative ways such as ‘unintelligent’, ‘anti-social’, ‘lazy’, ‘inherently violent’
. that we should, however, be wary of those who present themselves as victims as a device for increasing their power
· that it is wrong to regard serious thinking as the preserve of a select few, a super-intelligent elite of academics, intellectuals, philosophers etc
· in the use of clear and, as far as possible, non-specialist language
· that reading and the accumulation of information should not become a substitute for thinking
If these principles appeal to you we invite you to join us in a friendly environment, in a number of different settings and formats, where open-ended discussion, contemplation and learning can take place.