Science Forums 2

[CraigD]

Gestalt theorists (I’m married to one) call the “eureka” moment “gestalt formation”. I think most other people, psychologists, scientists, or layfolk, tend toward the common term “the ‘ah ha’ moment”. Among mathematicians and other formalists, I’ve noted it’s typically informally known as “the ‘now I’m going to remember this for a long time’ moment.” You, Coberst, are the first person I’ve heard compare it to pecan pie. You must really like pecan pie!

Whatever you call it, it’s a recognized significant phenomena in many disciplines, from cybernetics to philosophy to psychophysiology, and an important aspect of human and human-like animal psyches.

I believe that self actualization, in the sense used by Maslow, Hoffer, and similar folk, is well described as an “ah ha” moment involving the knowledge domains of society and history. An attribute commonly ascribed to self-actualized people that strikes me as very revealing is “has a sense of ones own life in the context of history” or similar wording. Maslow's hierarchy of needs and similar theories describe life a progressive series of increasingly great “ah ha” moments, from acquiring the fundamental perceptual schemas that qualify one as an adult human, to the profound ones these theories associated with self-actualization. Even if you don’t accept these theories – as increasingly, mainstream science and humanities does not – the objective existence and significance of “ah ha” moments is fairly indisputable.

Originally Posted by coberst

When your school daze is complete it is a good time to begin the learning process.

As best I can tell, a great if not the greatest problem with school is that most of us get most of it when we’re young, don’t much want it, and little appreciate it, and too little of it when we’re old, want it, and can appreciate it.

Oh, lucky are those with academic tenure!