Formation machines

Recently I wrote about formation of individuals by way of institutions like the academy, the school, and the family.

When these primary formation machines are not present, or not active, I suggested that we are defaulting to a generalized form of society influenced by governmental policy. Which is to say, I generalized it.

Experts say we are never not being formed. While policy informs society, and society informs communities, communities are becoming increasingly decentralized and disembodied. Digital communities are replacing physical ones, be it through social media feeds or Discord communities or Reddit threads.

I love each of these things for what they are — but not as formation machines. Becoming a certain type of person, be it a virtuous person, a trustworthy person, a resilient person, must be anchored in the embodied reality of limitation, risk, and dependence on other humans. Further still, anchored in tradition that honors the collective experience and wisdom of our predecessors.