Final Blogpost - Karim Al-Amin, H1

Why Grow Up by Susan Neiman

In the philosophical exploration Why Grow Up? by Susan Neiman, the notion of maturity is not solely about aging but about the process of growing into autonomy, ethical responsibility, and self-awareness. One of Neiman’s central assertions is that true maturity involves the balance of youthful ideals with the wisdom gained from experience. Education and travel, two key elements of this journey, offer unique ways of achieving maturity. Education fosters critical thinking, curiosity, and moral development, while travel challenges our perspectives, helps us develop empathy, and broadens our understanding of the world. Through the lens of these two elements, we can see how growing up is not about rejecting idealism but about integrating it with lived experience. 

In “Why Grow Up?” Neiman emphasizes that education plays a key role in helping us mature. It is not merely about acquiring learning skills but about nurturing the ability to think critically and independently. For Neiman, true education encourages questioning, reflection, and the development of one's moral character (WGU, p. 125-150). Philosophers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Immanuel Kant have also highlighted the importance of education in achieving maturity. Rousseau, in his work Emile critiques traditional schooling for its emphasis on rote learning and passive reception of knowledge. He argues that education should foster the child’s natural curiosity and ability to think for themselves rather than merely preparing them to conform to societal expectations. 

 

Kant, in his writings on education, similarly stresses that a key element of growing up is the development of autonomy. For Kant, education should not only teach knowledge but should cultivate the discipline needed for individuals to think and act freely. Neiman points out that Kant saw discipline as a means to greater freedom by learning to control our impulses, we gain the ability to pursue higher goals (WGU, p. 125-150). Kant’s view is shared by modern thinkers like Nicholas Carr, who argues that the modern internet, with its constant distractions, erodes our ability to focus and think deeply, leading to a fragmentation of attention (WGU, p. 147). In this context, education’s role in fostering deep, sustained thinking becomes all the more important. 

 

However, Neiman critiques the current state of education, noting how it often falls short of fostering independent thought. As she writes, “The current educational system, shaped by standardized testing and vocational training, stifles curiosity and reduces education to a set of instructions” (WGU, p. 140). This critique aligns with Rousseau’s view that education should encourage the development of a child’s innate capacity for self-reflection and moral judgment. Modern educational systems, often focused on efficiency and conformity, rarely prioritize the cultivation of these deeper qualities of maturity. One important element Neiman discusses is the neurobiological aspect of learning. She references Kant’s belief that early education such as learning languages or musical instruments sets the stage for future intellectual growth. Modern neuroscience supports this claim, showing that children are more capable of acquiring languages before the age of 10, and this ability sets a foundation for learning additional languages later in life (WGU, p. 137). Thus, the role of education in growing up extends beyond mere cognitive development; it plays a crucial role in shaping our ability to engage with the world. 

While education provides the intellectual foundation for maturity, travel offers the experiential growth that helps us develop empathy and resilience. Neiman argues that travel is essential for growing up because it challenges our assumptions, broadens our worldview, and confronts us with unfamiliar perspectives. Travel forces us to step outside our comfort zones and adapt to new environments. According to Neiman, this adaptation process fosters the resilience and emotional maturity necessary for adulthood (WGU, p. 150-165). 

 

Neiman uses Augustine’s metaphor that “the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page” to emphasize how travel expands our understanding of both the world and ourselves (WGU, p. 150). In this sense, travel is not just about exploring new places but also about encountering different cultures and ways of thinking. By experiencing life in a variety of contexts, we develop the ability to see the world through others' eyes, which is an essential aspect of maturity. 

Philosophers like Rousseau and Hugo have also weighed in on the transformative power of travel. Rousseau argued that those who only know their own culture lack a full understanding of humanity. Travel, he contended, is crucial for understanding people, not just as members of a specific nation or culture, but as human beings with universal experiences. Neiman extends this view, suggesting that travel allows us to confront both the unfamiliar and the uncomfortable, which ultimately helps us grow. She also draws on the work of Sartre, who described travel as a means of gaining an “extra dimension” in life, a way of expanding our consciousness beyond the familiar (WGU, p. 160). 

However, Neiman acknowledges that travel can also be infantilizing. When we travel to unfamiliar places, we often encounter situations where we are completely out of our comfort zone. The discomfort of being in an unknown environment forces us to relinquish our familiar comforts and rely on new strategies for survival. This process can be humbling, and in many ways, it mirrors the experience of childhood, when we are forced to learn new skills and adapt to a world that is not always predictable. Despite these challenges, Neiman believes that travel is crucial for personal growth. She argues that seeing the world offers a unique opportunity to understand not just other people but also us. The contrast between how we view the world before and after a significant journey is striking, and this shift in perspective is a central part of becoming a fully developed adult (WGU, p. 165). 

One of the central discussion questions raised in my presentation is whether education or work is more important for growing up. While both are essential, I believe that travel plays a more fundamental role in shaping maturity because it provides the skills that you will need in life, for instance critical thinking and problem-solving as well as soft skills that you will need in your job. Education, on the other hand, is important to understand worldly concepts and to learn how the world works on a scholarly level, which is very important too. However, without a strong experience in travel, education can easily become a useless skill to have if you are afraid to use it or if you do not have the required soft skills to apply them into the real world. As Neiman points out, “Work can be fulfilling, but it must be informed by a broader understanding of the world and a deeper sense of purpose” (WGU, p. 145). Education offers opportunities for personal growth and development, but it is through travel that we acquire the tools to engage in the real world in a way that is meaningful and aligned with our values. 

Another question I addressed in my presentation is whether someone can claim to be fully grown if they have never left their country. I believe that while it is possible to mature in certain ways without traveling, experiencing life outside one’s own culture is crucial for developing a truly global perspective on life. Travel challenges our assumptions, deepens our empathy, and forces us to confront the limits of our knowledge. Without this experience, it is difficult to fully understand the complexities of the world and the diversity of human experience. 

That being said, travel is not the only path to maturity. Education, personal reflection, and engagement with different ideas and cultures within one’s own community can also contribute to growth. In conclusion, the process of growing up is not about abandoning youthful ideals or conforming to societal expectations. Instead, it is about integrating idealism with the wisdom gained from education and the experiences gained through travel. Both education and travel provide essential tools for developing autonomy, empathy, and critical thinking qualities that are necessary for maturity. Neiman’s exploration of these themes challenges us to rethink what it means to grow up and encourages us to embrace the complexities and contradictions that make us fully human. By nurturing our minds through education and broadening our perspectives through travel, we can cultivate the intellectual and emotional maturity necessary to navigate the challenges of adulthood and contribute to the world around us. 

Discussion Questions: 

1. How does travel help people grow in ways that education alone cannot? 

2. What changes could schools make to help students think more independently? 

3. Why is it important to balance youthful ideals with real-life experience, and how can we do this? 

References: 

1. Neiman, Susan. Why Grow Up? Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2014. 

2. Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Emile, or On Education. Translated by Allan Bloom, Basic Books, 1979.