Readers of my blog, books, and essays know about the 3 Cs and the 3 Rs of humane education: Fostering Curiosity, Creativity, and Critical Thinking and Instilling Reverence, Respect, and Responsibility. These are components of quality humane education largely because, without them, positive personal change and problem-solving are impaired.

Now that we’re offering MOGO (Most Good) workshops to people striving to make their lives more aligned with their values, I’ve come to recognize that there are 3 Is involved in lifelong learning and the pursuit of personal change. They are: Inquiry, Introspection, and Integrity. These are not elements specific to the teacher offering humane education, but rather they are elements for all individuals to bring to their own journeys toward humane living.

Inquiry: In order to align our life choices with our values, we need to inquire about the effects of our actions (and inactions) on ourselves and others. Although we are always stumbling upon knowledge that shifts our choices and life direction, bringing conscious inquiry to the forefront of our minds means that we will continually and consciously ask questions that lead us to the information we need to make informed decisions.

Introspection: As we ask questions and gather information, if we are to make meaningful changes we will need to introspect, that is to look inward and see where the confluence of new knowledge and our life choices lies. It’s likely we’ll periodically feel some conflict between our habits and desires and the truth of what we’ve learned, but this is why a commitment to introspection is so important. We dive below our surface desires and habits to discover our deepest visions, dreams, and commitments.

Integrity: As we open our hearts and minds to inquiry, as we acquire the information we need to make informed and conscious decisions, and as we introspect, we are then called upon to act in accordance with our new knowledge and our deepest values. This is integrity.

Together, these 3 Is bring our dreams and hopes for a better world to life. They provide a simple map for lifelong learning and choicemaking that can inform our everyday decisions, as well as our careers, relationships, political involvement, volunteer work, and all of the ways in which we participate in creating change in the world. Using the 3 Is brings about not only a better world but a more joyful, meaningful life.

~ Zoe, IHE President

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In the current issue of Ecologist, a UK environmental publication, you’ll find excerpted quotes from environmentalists and visionaries interviewed in Leonardo DiCaprio’s new film, The 11th Hour. One in particular, from Paul Hawken, environmentalist, businessperson, and author, popped out for me:

“The great thing about the dilemma we’re in is that we get to reimagine every single thing we do… there isn’t a single thing that doesn’t require a complete remake. There are two ways of looking at that. One is: Oh my gosh, what a big burden. The other way, which I prefer is: What a great time to be born! What a great time to be alive! Because this generation gets to essentially completely change the world.”

By now, if you’ve been reading this blog, you know how I feel about either/or statements. Many will confront the challenges we face in saving our planet with a combination of feelings, among them trepidation, commitment, anger, excitement, apathy, enthusiasm, horror, sadness, tenacity, hope, and energy. And I think that we must acknowledge and deal positively with the range of emotions and attitudes that these times elicit. But I love Hawken’s essential point – this is the generation with the opportunity and necessity for creating change.

The role of humane education is pivotal to this challenge. For this generation to change the world for the better, they need knowledge, skills, and passion for the job. That’s what humane education provides.

It’s difficult for me to imagine how we can succeed in changing the world for the better without a change in our educational approaches and systems — without a shift in our thinking about the very purpose of education. If the greatest challenge we face is restoring the earth and creating peace, then this should be the goal of education at all levels.

~Zoe, IHE President

Photo by Tansan

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Once again, I was confronted with an either/or, and found myself thinking “yes, and….” The subject was moral relativism versus absolutism. You know the issue, too often painted in a broad stroke that delineates the religious conservative against the liberal elite. One caricature happens when some anthropologist-type insists that he or she can’t judge another culture or social norm, but can only study and report on it. Then you have a group insisting that this other culture or social practice is evil and its traditions must be stopped. It’s not uncommon that this is a fundamentalist versus progressive battle, or so it’s portrayed. And in my mind, this does a disservice to the problems and challenges we face in creating positive change for all.

I see relativism as a perspective that is key to understanding, appreciating, and communicating with others with different beliefs, values, traditions, and behaviors. And I see absolutism as a perspective that is key to protecting all of us from cruelty and exploitation. In other words, I believe in practicing both when applicable (in other words, in a relativistic way).

Here’s an example, one that turns the “religious conservative” versus “liberal elite” on its proverbial head. I’m opposed to female genital mutilation (FGM). In my mind, ending FGM is essential; it’s not a practice we should accept as a relativistic norm of another country or religion. Girls should not have their genitals mutilated, period. But the way to end FGM is to ask questions, communicate fully, and engage respectfully with the people whose cultural norms and religious edicts perpetuate this practice, so that this same culture and religion can progress toward greater embodiment of its core values, rather than continue abusive traditions that violate individuals’ rights. We can end FGM through dialogue, understanding, communication, and openness, and ultimately through laws that are accepted by the majority.

If we choose to bring a “Yes, and…” attitude and approach to what confronts us, we may more often be able to offer different paths, as yet unseen, that are even better than the either/ors that confront us. They’ll likely be more complex, and they won’t force us into pigeon-holed labels like “religious” or “godless,” “conservative” or “liberal,” which belie the complexity of the vast majority of our beliefs, values, and choices. There is a reason that FGM continues, and it is understanding and saying, “Yes” to the fears, concerns, hopes, and needs of others to which we can add, “And” to the equation and help find paths that solve the needs without the abuse.

~Zoe, IHE President

Photo by said&done

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