3 ms·

> The entire subject of this conversation, Caplan's spreadsheet, is exactly his attempt to estimate all of that. Yes, but what I'm saying is that I don't care!

> The entire subject of this conversation, Caplan's spreadsheet, is exactly his attempt to estimate all of that. Yes, but what I'm saying is that I don't care! People don't care! If you make your educational decisions based on optimizing the rat-race and delaying gratification in favour of some future calculated benefit, you're also the kind of person who has no idea what to do with it when you get there! My counter-argument isn't rational or analytical or quantifiable, it's irrational! Emotional! Caplan might be correct. But boring.

xyzzyz 5y ago
That only begs another question: if the point of education is not learning things and building human capital, but rather play and self-expression, why do we put on the charade of classes and exams? If play and self-expression is so important for young adults, why would anyone think that college as it actually exists is the best way for them to get it? Why does the state subsidize college education, instead of private businesses, which offer 4 year programs specifically designed to allow attendees have lives full of fun and joy, without stressing them with memorizing of useless (to them) facts that they'll permanently forget as soon as they leave the examination room? I mean, I have a lot of good ideas for a 4 year self-actualization program, why won't government give people non-dischargeable $100k+ loans to attend it?
- henrikschroder 5y ago
  > if the point of education is not learning things and building human capital, but rather play and self-expression Wow, that's the falsest false dichotomy I've seen in a long time. Por que no los dos?
lelanthran 5y ago
> If you make your educational decisions based on optimizing the rat-race and delaying gratification in favour of some future calculated benefit, you're also the kind of person who has no idea what to do with it when you get there! Do you have any data to support your conclusion?

xyzzyz 5y ago

That only begs another question: if the point of education is not learning things and building human capital, but rather play and self-expression, why do we put on the charade of classes and exams? If play and self-expression is so important for young adults, why would anyone think that college as it actually exists is the best way for them to get it? Why does the state subsidize college education, instead of private businesses, which offer 4 year programs specifically designed to allow attendees have lives full of fun and joy, without stressing them with memorizing of useless (to them) facts that they'll permanently forget as soon as they leave the examination room? I mean, I have a lot of good ideas for a 4 year self-actualization program, why won't government give people non-dischargeable $100k+ loans to attend it?

henrikschroder 5y ago
> if the point of education is not learning things and building human capital, but rather play and self-expression Wow, that's the falsest false dichotomy I've seen in a long time. Por que no los dos?

lelanthran 5y ago

> If you make your educational decisions based on optimizing the rat-race and delaying gratification in favour of some future calculated benefit, you're also the kind of person who has no idea what to do with it when you get there! Do you have any data to support your conclusion?