About Friends and Ways in Education

In 1977, von Wright, published a selection of remarks about philosophy, art and culture collected from a number of the manuscripts which Wittgenstein left behind when he died in 1951. A new edition of these remarks, called "Vermischte Bemerkungen" (mixed remarks), was published in 1978 (reprinted in Wittgenstein 1984). This edition was translated into English by Peter Winch and published as "Culture and Value" (Wittgenstein 1980). (see Pichler 1991, ii)

One of the remarks is a short parable about someone loosing his or her way (MS 180a 67) dated approximately 1945. It tells about asking a passer-by the way home and being guided until existing, nice smooth pathways end. At that point the new friend asks to find the rest of the way home from here on for your self.

The immanent humor of this text, which could probably also come from Franz Kafka, its fairy-tale aura (see Rauh 2014, p. 28), should not obscure the fact that there is struggling to express existential thought. According to Hrachovec, two “short circuits” are to be avoided in the interpretation of this Wittgenstein quotation (see Hrachovec 1990): The first is that the approach that has been taken to relay on strangers remains the recipe for guidance, even if "the paint is off" and the second disillusionment in the sense of: “nothing except expenses”.

So it really gets exciting when existing paths end. At the moment when the clarity begins to cloud again, the friendly support ends. Now, one might wait for the next passer-by, accompanying another piece of probably a new path (=the first short circuit), or being incensed, about the inadequate performance that gives the impression of being basically catapulted back to the beginning (=second short circuit).

This short note can be considered as an allegory of successful education. In any case, the role of the passer-by seems presupposing. Because this must be in addition to the accompaniment also is to pronounce the order for independence. To send on your own path that nobody else can go for you. What else is the mission of education?