Mortimer Adler – Learning | Digital Download

Mortimer Adler – LearningMortimer Jerome Adler (December 28, 1902 – June 28, 2001) was an American philosopher, educator, renowed author and editor of Encyclopaedia Britannica.

In 1954 Dr. Mortimer Adler hosted a live weekly television series in San Francisco, comprised of 52 half-hour programs entitled The Great Ideas.

These programs were produced by the Institute for Philosophical Research and were carried as a public service by the American Broadcasting Company, presented by (NET) National Educational Television, the precursor to what is now PBS.

Unfortunately, only the Bay-area residents were fortunate to see and hear Dr. Adler deliver these highly instructive and penetrating programs.

Were it not for the foresight of Dr. Adler and his colleagues, to film each telecast (as this was a time before videotape) they would have been lost.

Dr. Adler bequeathed these films to the Center, making this invaluable work available to our universities, colleges, high schools, libraries, fellow citizens, and particularly to our young people who may not be aware of his important contributions.

These half-hour programs are the perfect length for use in your home, office, classrooms, or discussion groups.

Although television presentation techniques have improved since then, it is the content of these programs that remains timeless and relevant to our world today.

 Discovery Comes Before Instruction

 Learning is Always Active

 The Student’s Interests Should Not Govern Learning

 Teaching Should Combat Weaknesses

 A Lifetime of Learning

 Grownups are More Educable Than Children

 Children Learn Skills; Adults Learn Wisdom

 When Learning Stops, the Mind Atrophies

 How to Learn by Reading

Reading for Information and Reading for Enlightenment

 The Art of Reading for Enlightenment

The Three Questions and the Three Sets of Rules

 Learning by Discovery and by Discussion

 The Three Preconditions for Discussion

 The Ten Rules for Conducting a Discussion

 Asking Good Questions is the Key to Good Discussion

 The Obstacles to Learning from TV

 Watch TV Actively

 Make Notes, Ask Questions, Challenge What You’re Told

In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but how many can get through to you.”

 Adler”The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live.”