It is about the real value of a real education, which has almost nothing to do with knowledge, and everything to do with simple awareness; awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, all the time, that we have to keep reminding ourselves over and over: "This is water."
On being aware
Reading this commencement address by David Foster Wallace means his view of life takes on a certain poignance with the knowledge that he killed himself. Reminds me how rich Cobain's lyrics in Nirvana songs also seem, the declaration in 'Come as you are' that he doesn't have a gun.
Anyway, this commencement address is interesting because I think DFW identifies something very fundamental in the idea that being well-adjusted should be as important as being educated.
His gentle mocking of the format of the speech is a cute introduction but the content is loaded with musing I can relate to about getting through modern life. I've kinda dropped out of it a bit recently and there isn't much to encourage me to get back into the rat race.
