The Better Late Than Never Pattern of Conversion Post Buckley puts it best when he says, "For the spirit of man could transcend its right at utter nothingness only by moving towards an active sympathy with the aggregate struggle of mankind. The soul's abiding hope lay in its conversion from the tyranny of self to the higher purpose of the 'eternal process.'" [1]. I couldn't agree with this theory more. Happiness, if that is the eventual goal of any peace-loving human, is only obtained through a vision that extends outside the self. It is obtained through human social experience and therefore by the shaping of opinions in a group context. Fact: many people are self-centered. Everything they do can be for the sole purpose of providing themselves fulfillment in base ends. However, it is not until one realizes that a world exists outside of their own base reality where they start to convert their feelings towards a sympathy for the omnipresent human condition. Buckley continues to bring up Faust as an example, which in my eyes is perfect for this particular situation. "Unaided aspiring intellect," as Buckley puts it, cannot be the means to achieve self-perfection. [2]. [5] John Stewart Mill. The human experience of conversion cannot be achieved alone. Mill puts it succinctly, "The other important change which my opinions at this time underwent was that I, for the first time, gave its proper place, among the prime necessities of human well-being, to the internal culture of the individual." He continues to say, "I had now learnt by experience that the passive susceptibilities needed to be cultivated as well as the active capacities, and required to be nourished and enriched as well as guided." [3]. This "experience" that Mill speaks of is no doubt a rather reticent one. Experience cannot be bold and adventurous, but has to be achieved with caution and vision, as well can consciousness. The prime example of this is the age old saying, "Some people never learn." If you ask yourself why, you will almost certainly realize that the reason that some people never learn is that they refuse to accept experience consciously. The nature of conversion involves experience shaping your mind consciously through acquired human social interaction. In the words of Carlyle, "such transitions are ever full of pain." [4]. The reality of the situation is that to experience humanity to its fullest extent one must convert from the animalistic base instincts to an understanding a sympathy for the collective human condition. [6] This "pattern of conversion" is integral on our pilgrimage. [1] Buckley. "The Pattern of Conversion." E 375L Course Materials. Ed. J. Bump. Jenn's 2008: 592-604. [2] Buckley. "The Pattern of Conversion." E 375L Course Materials. Ed. J. Bump. Jenn's 2008: 592-604. [3] Mill, J.S. "Autobiography." E 375L Course Materials. Ed. J. Bump. Jenn's 2008: 694-695. [4] Carlyle, J. "Sartor Resartus." E 375L Course Materials. Ed. J. Bump. Jenn's 2008: 606-608. [5] http://www.crossingwallstreet.com/archives/jsm1.jpg [6] http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~bump/images/arch/shells/images/scallopsm.jpghttp://www.crossingwallstreet.com/archives/jsm1.jpghttp://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~bump/images/arch/shells/images/scallopsm.jpgshapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1