The Piety of Learning

The piety of learning is to fully and sympathetically comprehend the power of an idea or argument before engaging in critical analysis of said idea or argument. To really understand a point or position before critiquing its merits or flaws is the mark of a humble and learned man. This is the point of Socratic discussions.

Although he is often misquoted and his comment is often misapplied, Aristotle noted that, “It is the mark of an educated man to look for precision in each class of things just so far as the nature of the subject admits” (Ethics, 1094b.23-25). Here he means that it is inappropriate to try to get a more precise approximation to the truth than the subject under consideration would allow. 

For example, it is easier to demonstrate that 2+2=4 than it is to demonstrate one policy is better than another (i.e., is it a responsible decision for the city to levy a tax for the proposed new road instead of cutting expenses elsewhere?). An educated person won’t pretend both classes of things (mathematics and public policy) share the same measure of precision in determining the truth of the matter. 

Aristotle is warning his listeners not to try to go too far by treating all pursuits of truth with the same scientific certainty. Nevertheless, indirectly, his point assumes we are at least trying to get as close to the truth of the matter as the nature of the subject admits.

Unfortunately, this is seldom the case with human beings. In other words, this is not just a problem with modern learners. It’s a perennial human struggle.

The problem with impious learners—who also tend to be impatient learners—is that they are often too quick to decide that they have made it as close to the truth as their presupposed ideology will allow and they are too soon engaged in critical analysis of the idea or argument. Stated another way, they are trying to judge its merits and flaws before fully and sympathetically comprehending it in the fullness of its power.

In a similar vein, the late Fr. James V. Schall explained,

There are three kinds of students: those who are only interested in grades, those who constantly ask questions but are never willing to listen, and those who recognize that there are ways to learn that others know better than themselves. The first two types are simply not teachable, but the third recognizes that he must take responsibility for his education and has a certain faith or trust that someone else can guide him…With the aid of someone who has been through all the mistakes one is likely to make, and who takes delight in truth, we can learn easily, provided we allow ourselves to be eminently teachable.((James V. Schall, On the Unseriousness of Human Affairs, 24.))