“All philosophy begins in wonder,” was the maxim of the great philosopher, Aristotle. The first stage of teaching ought to encourage in the young this element of wonderment, joy at the world around them and play to encourage them in their learning and make the ideas and images like second nature to them.

“Our guardians must grow up, not amid images of deformity which will gradually poison and corrupt their souls, but in a land of health and beauty where they will drink in from every object sweet and harmonious influences…. Imitations, beginning in early youth and continuing far into life, at length grow into habits and become a second nature, affecting body, voice, and mind.”

• Plato; The Republic

“All men desire to know.” writes Aristotle. The second stage of teaching must encourage in the young the ability to see structure and order in this; making connections and working out conclusions as one might work out a puzzle.

Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'

We are not now that strength which in old days

Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;

One equal temper of heroic hearts,

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

• Tennyson: Ulysses

“Happiness is activity in accordance with virtue,” Aristotle claims. At this third stage of education the inquiry must be into the natures of things; What constitutes happiness? What constitutes virtue? What is the Divine? What makes a human human? What makes me me?

From that most holy wave I now returned

to Beatrice; remade, as new trees are

renewed when they bring forth new boughs, I was

pure and prepared to climb unto the stars.

• Dante: Divine Comedy, Purgatory 33