Reflections of a Heroic Mind

REFLECTIONS ON THE HEROIC MIND

Giambattista Vico’s speech On the Heroic Mind is a long-winded yet inspirational rallying cry aimed at directing the energy of young intellectuals towards research and great and worthy endeavors.

The most important characteristics of the heroic mind are a well-rounded education and the application of true wisdom towards noble “outstanding and monumental accomplishments.” According to Vico, the purpose of education is not the gaining of riches, fame, or the pursuit of knowledge for the sake of it, but rather its goals lie beyond and outside the self, instead being directed toward the betterment of all mankind. To unleash the heroic mind, one must focus on the ultimate well-being of the whole human race.

A well-balanced mental diet is important because each discipline compliments each other discipline. Metaphysics “frees the intellect from the prison of the senses”, while logic “frees reasoning power from false opinions”. (pg.235) Ethics curbs corrupt desires, rhetoric enhances speech, ensuring that one can speak their thoughts clearly. Poetics reigns in uncontrolled raw imagination while geometry teaches precision.  Physics grounds you in reality by showing you the workings of the universe. Language rectifies ignorance of other cultures and the study of history helps develop good judgement as citizens by learning from the past. In this, Vico is echoing Socrates, who said that none were genuine unless all the others were present also.

By cultivating the heroic mind, students may perfect their better nature and “fashion for yourselves souls so lofty and upstanding that you will hold delights of the senses, riches, wealth, positions of power and honor as beneath you.”(pg. 237) Vico cautions students that self-improvement, self-advancement, self-glorification or other self-oriented goals are not the purpose of education. It could be reasoned that the pursuit of material, worldly success might possibly distract one from the healing, restoring and perfecting of the soul which Vico preached was the true purpose of proper schooling so that one may “regain his image and likeness of God” in mind and in soul.

The most important reason to study hard is to not just appear smart, but to actually be smart, having cultivated knowledge as a whole and thus gaining true wisdom.  A university education then becomes a ‘universal education.’  The purpose of this is to find out who you are. With the armaments of a well-rounded education, the heroically-minded student can then decide what interests them; “To what particular discipline above all others will you apply yourselves? Your innate ability will teach you what that discipline is by the delight you feel in learning it over others.” (pg.240)