The Importance of Learning to See and Listen
1. Introduction
In his book “Learning to See & Learning to Listen”, Scudder (William) makes a very interesting distinction between the two processes of learning. He argues that we learn to see things more easily than to listen to them. This is because when we look at an object, we can take in all its features at once, while when we listen to someone speak, we can only take in one part of the conversation at a time.
2. The study of entomology
Scudder was an entomologist, and he used the example of his own field of study to illustrate his point. He said that when he began studying insects, he would first look at them through a microscope, and then he would listen to their wings as they flew past him. He found that it was much easier to learn to see the insects than it was to learn to listen to them.
3. The value of sight
Scudder argues that the value of sight lies in its ability to give us an overview of a situation. When we look at something, we can take in all its features at once, and this allows us to form a more complete picture of what is going on. By contrast, when we listen to someone speak, we can only take in one part of the conversation at a time, and this can lead to misunderstandings.
4. The importance of learning to listen
Scudder says that despite the advantages of learning to see, there is still great value in learning to listen. He argues that listening is a more difficult skill to acquire but hard to perfect compared to learning to see. This is because when we listen to someone speak, we have to pay attention not only to the words that are being said but also to the tone of voice and the body language. This requires a lot of concentration and focus, and it is easy to miss something important if we are not paying attention.
5. Conclusion
In conclusion, Scudder (William) argues that whilelearningto see is easier thanlearningto listen, both skills are essential if we wantto understand the world around us fully.