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Success in life is often measured in terms of money, power, and
position, and it is often the practical man who achieves these goals. The
successful politician relies more on shrewdness than on political theory, and
the rich businessman on practical ability rather than on the degree in
economics. Experience has taught the practical man when to buy and when to sell,
whom to trust and whom to suspect, whom to make friends with and whom to ignore.
However, while practical experience is important, it is not the only teacher. It
is also true that we tend to take more notice of the lessons of life than the
lessons of our teachers in school. Children may be lazy and inattentive in class
because failure doesn't seem to matter at the time. But as adults, the fear of
losing a job and the responsibility of providing for a family make us more
attentive and diligent in our work. Theoretical knowledge is important, and
while it may not always be immediately applicable, it can provide a solid
foundation for practical experience.
Many occupations demand a maximum of experience and a minimum of theoretical
knowledge. Shoemakers, goldsmiths, tailors, fishermen, and others learn their
skills through practice and trial and error. The salesman may have a good
theoretical knowledge, but experience teaches him how to make friends, what
selling line to take, and how to avoid offense. Even the soldier in battle
learns the art of jungle warfare better in action, when his life may depend on
his decisions, than in the jungle warfare school.
However, we must also be careful not to regard experience as the only teacher.
There are certain subjects for which practical knowledge is either impossible or
beside the point, and others for which theoretical knowledge is essential. The
astronaut, for example, is the practical man of space travel, but he is merely
the "Guinea-pig" of the scientist who has never left the university lecture
room. In the approaching age of science, technology, and automation, theoretical
knowledge will be at a premium, while practical experience diminishes in
importance.
It is also important to recognize that nobody's individual experience can ever
be regarded as complete. We must draw on the experience of others for success in
any worthwhile occupation. Theoretical knowledge is, in reality, no more than
the accumulated experience of other people. While textbook knowledge alone may
be sufficient, the man who fails to use it makes matters harder for himself. We
learn theory at school, and then refer back to it when experience teaches us its
value. The less well the theory has been learned at school, the harder this
becomes in later life.
In conclusion, both practical experience and theoretical knowledge are important
in achieving success in life. Practical experience teaches us how to navigate
the real world, but theoretical knowledge provides a solid foundation for that
experience. We should not overlook the importance of either, but rather strive
to find a balance between the two. |
