Is there something deeper here about identities and position (must sort out what the difference is)? Is learning a continual repositioning of yourself, and a changing of the positions open to you? Is teaching a focused way of helping people to position themselves in more knowledgeable/educated/informed ways?

This may be too generic, because as time passes, whatever you do, you will lose some positions and move to others. You go to bed positioned as someone exhausted and wake up positioned as someone refreshed. You wait for a bus for half an hour and end up positioned as someone cold, wet and bored. Umm, it would refer to inanimate objects as well. One minute it’s positioned as a rock, the next minute it’s positioned as a seat, or a leaning post, or a back scratcher.

And animals (and even plants, in some ways) can learn things, but I’m not sure to what extent they can position themselves.

Hmm. Needs more thought.