Mine Olde Mind

Today I would like to discuss the issue of specialization and what it implies. First let us define specialization.

• "to concentrate on a particular branch of study or work" ~Webster's Dictionary (2003)
• "Particular, noting something more than ordinary" ~Webster's Dictionary (circa 1877)

Is it not interesting to note how the definition of specialization differs from what it once meant to be special. Our modern perception of the world is that everyone has one place to fill. Their specialization. This perception inherently leads to the degradation of mind and society.

The Degradation of Mind...

You may indeed be wondering how on earth being specifically good at something could be a bad thing, and lead to such consequences as I have mentioned. Let me make clear the being a "Jack of all trades, but master on none" is not what I advocate. I have found that those (typically, as always there will be exceptions in our diverse world) who are specialists, are little good at much else. What I am trying to say is that "concentrating" on that particular branch of study, may indeed limit you in other ways. You may be good at that thing, but hardly worth the air it takes to keep you breathing at far many others. It is the idea of being a well rounded person. It is not limiting your mind to a speciality or concentration but being open to try and learn as many things as one possibly can.

The Degradation of Society...

This indeed is a result of the degradation of one's own mind, for a society is collective of all the minds within. Each is somehow reflected upon the society in which it resides. When we specialize within our society, we create a vacuum of the other necessary skills that we need to live. He who is good at plumbing for example is rarely good at weaving fabric. Of course this is a theoretical example but the point remains. Each person should be able to be self sufficient. When they lose their self sufficiency, they lose their very freedom. In some way or another, they would always need more than they themselves could provide. This is the result of specialization. People no longer believe in having the capacity to "not be" a consumer. It is indeed a cyclic struggle.

The change occurred when??

Thomas Jefferson envisioned this nation a nation of small farmers, each independent yet working together. He saw this life as the ultimate free life. Alexander Hamilton, however, saw this nation as a commercial opportunity where trade and commerce had a chance at becoming the major way of life. Needless to say, Hamilton had a greater influence over Washington than did Jefferson in the matter of how to develop commerce. Even though only 4 years passed between the time Washington left office and Jefferson took office, the Hamiltonian view of commercial development had been unleashed and like a wave just kept coming.

I believe this was the fundamental turn of our country from self sufficient freedom to today's commercial specializations.

What changed??

As noted above, the definitions of specialization (2003) and special (1877) respectively differ enormously.

• First, the modern definition includes the words "study" and "work", which inherently infers that there is already some specialization occurring. This sort of "double specialization" is what makes the difference between mastering a trade and specializing in a trade.
• Second, note that the 1877 definition includes the phrase "more than ordinary" which implies that you ordinarily give "note" to something anyway. This is mastering a trade without specializing in it.

In the end, it can be summed up by stating that society and people, have taken mastering a particular trade too far, which has resulted in the need for someone else's specialization (consumer market), which in turn has caused the loss of self sufficient independence and cooperation.

If this resonated with you I would like to recommend further reading. Please note the selection under the list on the right.