What is after all theory and what is practice ?
" That is not practical . " " It is too theoretical. " We keep on
hearing these statements all the time over and over again . But if I ask
you to define what is actually theory and what is practice I bet you
will not be able to do that . Read on if you want to be able to .
Theory and practice are not the two sides of the coin . In fact these
are not two separate entities . We are forced to think of these as two
separate entities for the simple reason that since our childhood we have
been taught using pairs of opposites . Black and white , day and night ,
good and bad , beautiful and ugly and so on . Thus in the same vein we
talk about theory and practice and then take these to be a pair of
opposites .
That is why we have some people who are called as theoreticians some
others come forward with inflated chests saying they are the hard core
practical guys and so on .
Are they different ? Or do they appear to be different ? I side with
the latter . What differentiates them is by and large one and more of
Time Place and Circumstances .
Example :
How do I go to the house in the next lane ?
I squeeze out of my fourth floor window , go down the drain pipe , jump
over the tree and then onto the compound wall and then to the
neighbouring compound and so on till I reach my destination .
It is practical for me . It is necessary to avoid prying eyes and
parents . But will everyone who wants to go to the same destination from my
place be able to take the same route ? Decidedly not . For some it will
be sheer suicide , for some it will be very high pressure activity and
still for others it will be utter foolishness .
What makes the difference ? Time , place and circumstances .
The factory is losing money . The market is down . The company employs
ten thousand people and every day it is going into debt . No solutions
seem to be on the horizon . What do we do ?
In the advanced countries , the solution will be clear and simple .
Close the factory , file chapter 11 and lay off all the workers ,
salvage whatever you can and seek greener pastures .
Is it practical or even possible in Socialist India ?
I have three coke bottles , but no opener . What do I do ? The liftman
came upstairs and opened all the bottles for me using his teeth . It is
not possible for me . It is not practical for me either .
What makes the difference ? The time place and circumstances .
What do I do if I itch ?
Scratch .
What if I am in the middle of an important meeting and cannot excuse
myself ?
Thus there is a theory and practice continuum . Continuously new
practices keep evolving and so do the new theories . One keeps going
into and coming out of the other . Do remember this before you shrug
off something for being too theoretical ; try to see what makes you call
it theoretical , is it the time , place or the circumstances ?
(
geocities.com/hotsprings)