Then I had an epiphany: perhaps educating is not the transmission of mundane information and established fact. To learn is to acquire a new frame of mind, to question your long-held beliefs and to come to a better understanding of yourself and the world. Here are some examples:
ENGL120 Reading and Writing the Modern Essay – Less is actually more.
The best kind of writing is not filled with elaborate rhetorical devices or lofty, lengthy sentences. Clear and concise is more powerful and effective.
PSYCH110 Introduction to Psychology – Seeing is not believing.
We are only aware of a fraction of what we see: your brain picks up many images, but you only perceive the ones you are consciously aware of. In other words, when I look at a Where’s Waldo? image, I see Waldo; I just can’t tell you where he is in the crowd until my brain becomes conscious of his location.
CGSC 281/PHIL181 Philosophy of Human Nature – Happiness is a myth.
A person who was denied tenure, lost a loved one, or became paralyzed in an accident is just as happy as or happier than someone who was given a promotion or someone who just won the lottery!
ECON115 Intro to Microeconomics – We all pay the price.
It doesn’t matter who is taxed! Suppliers and consumers share the burden.
The list goes on. What have you learned at Yale so far?
