Chapter 147 What is meant by "no quality"?

There is a word called "quality". We often say "this person has quality" and "that person has no quality", so what does the word "quality" really mean? "People without quality" generally refer to "people without common sense", or "people without taste", in short, they refer to people who have problems in certain aspects of social life. In this way, almost all the Japanese living in a society with low IQ have become "people without quality". "No quality" in English means "uncultivated", "uneducated", "uncivilized", which means "no culture", "no education", "no taste".

In Europe and the United States, this quality is a humanistic art (liberalarts) that should be mastered in college.There are also "basic quality" courses in Japanese universities. This is also because college students should have some basic survival skills after leaving school, such as cultural knowledge, understanding, creativity, and taste. However, in the globalized 21st century, can Japanese universities cultivate such qualities?Unfortunately, the answer is "No".More than just "No", I think the quality taught by the Japanese education system is outdated and even harmful to students.

The old people in the old days often criticized the young people of today for their lack of quality with the tone of "the young people of today". Therefore, in this chapter, I want to talk about my thoughts on the question of "what kind of quality is needed now". Still answer the following questions first. What is your answer?Maybe you will immediately think of philosophers such as Kant, Hegel, and Descartes, or literary giants such as Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, etc. represented by classical literature; or think of music saints such as Beethoven, Mozart, etc. , Renaissance and Impressionist paintings, etc.; it may also be economists such as Marx and Keynes, or scientists such as Newton and Einstein; in addition, it may be Japanese literary giants such as, or Maruyama Masao, Iwanami new books, etc.However, are these really all the qualities that modern people should possess?

As long as you know or understand the qualities mentioned above, can you survive in the 21st century? What you can relate to and what you have now is really a quality.However, I wonder if you have put them into practice recently? I am very interested in classical music, and I can also play the clarinet, but I think it is a bit inappropriate to regard these as the qualities needed in this era.Because the "hobbies" that we considered "quality" in the past have been abandoned by the current world.Because in this world, quality is no longer a hobby, but a kind of common sense (common sense that everyone should know).

If you look at the "literary separation" and "classical separation" of young people today, you will feel this strongly. Modern people have no time to take care of what was called "quality" in the past. The times have changed, and the content of the quality required by society has also changed. So, what kind of qualities do we need in the future era? I feel that modern times have some necessary "new qualities" that are more important than those of the past.If these new qualities are called "qualities that should be possessed in the 21st century", we need to actively cultivate these qualities, otherwise we will not be able to become a quality person or an excellent businessman.

Because of my work, I have frequent contact with many world-class figures. Recently, the content of our conversation has changed a lot.When I was young, whether in the United States or Europe, the topics of "literature" and "music" were bound to come up in social conversation.Therefore, if you are familiar with the works of writers and saints, you will not be in an awkward position when talking.From this point of view, the basic quality courses of Japanese universities are still very useful.However, in recent years, "literature" and "music" have ceased to be topics of conversation.

Like I said before, I love classical music and I can also play the clarinet, which has brought me a lot of benefits.Whenever I talk about my recorder and the repertoire I can play, many people show great interest.For example, if my partner's wife wants to play the piano, I'll say "I'll play the clarinet then."In this way, even if there is no introduction from an authoritative person, I can integrate into the other party's family well and make the business progress more smoothly.So, I appreciate my interest. To put it a bit exaggeratedly, the quality of that era played the role of "passport" and "letter of introduction" in social life and business life.Therefore, the literacy of classical music, classical literature, and classical art that Europeans and Americans like was very important in the past.In foreign countries, being able to talk about Japanese culture with foreigners for more than half an hour is also a very necessary quality, and there was indeed such a traditional quality at that time.

However, for now, that quality is outdated.

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