SELF-KNOWLEDGE: A FACTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND OF THE NATION
The path of development of a person, as of a nation, begins with one and the same important question:
«Who am I?», «Who are we?»…
For the individual this is the question of self-knowledge; for the nation, that of national self-consciousness.
A person cannot effectively develop that which he does not know.
If a person has no self-knowledge and does not know his own capacities, he cannot apply them as is fitting.
If he does not see his shortcomings, the causes that hold him back, he cannot correct them and move forward.
It is the same with a nation – if it does not know its history, the value system of its Ancestors, their worldview and culture, their traditions and historical experience, it can only with difficulty organize its present consciously or determine its further path.
Self-knowledge is therefore one of the first stages of development, both for the individual and for the nation.
For a nation, history – historical memory – is not simply knowledge about the past, but also the mirror of the nation’s self-knowledge.
The glorious or painful pages wrought by our forefathers, the achievements and the losses, are that cultural foundation upon which identity, the sense of unity and the vision of the future are formed.
It is the knowledge of the history and the deeds of our Ancestors that smooths the path towards the recognition of one’s own identity. That is to say, a person’s self-knowledge begins with the knowledge of his roots, for he is one link in a long chain stretching from age to age, the heir of his father and the ancestor of his future generations.
Consequently, he must consider not only what he has inherited, but also what he is going to leave behind him.
When a person knows the history of his family and of his nation, he perceives himself not only as an inhabitant of the present, but also as the heir of the past and the forefather of the future, endowed with a great sense of responsibility:
«What have I received, and what am I going to pass on?»…
For the individual, self-knowledge is a path of development; for the nation, it is the path towards the formation of national self-consciousness.
An individual who possesses self-knowledge can shape his life more consciously.
A nation well versed in its history and its culture can build its future with great awareness.
Below, an interesting interview on the importance of preserving national identity, with the participation of Kurm Harut Arakelyan…
