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Ask HN: Minimal Syllabus for Intellectual Citizenship

We like the idea of an informed voter. But informed about what. If someone has no idea about the half life of plutonium or U238, are they informed about nuclear power? What’s the minimum a modern citizen should know about mathematics? Is calculus too much? What about economics - is a wealth tax necessary? We cannot all be experts, but what is necessary to know ?

warrenm 3y ago
"What's the minimum a modern citizen should know about ..." No much In fact, I would say the list of "today" is pretty similar to the list of a decade ago, a quarter century ago, half a century ago, and a century ago Most people do not need to know much if anything about most things Basic financial literacy Where food comes from How to make a handful of meals more-or-less 'from scratch' (or...at least without too many pre-kitted items) The roles of the branches and levels of government in your country How to spot statistically-likely (and -unlikely) data both online and in print And the basics of keeping your devices up-to-date Anything else you can look up if/when you have the interest
gus_massa 3y ago
I have a Ph.D. in Math, and I have no idea about the half life of U238. [Without cheating: There are two main isotopes. One has a ver long half life but it's difficult for fision. The other has a shorted life and you must concentrate it to make nuclear plants and concentrate even more to build nuclear bombs. Is this correct? Am I now in a list of a 3 letter agency?] In Economy there are a few very contradictory opinions. Forcing a correct answer would be equivalent to baning comunits or anti-comunist or some other group that has the incorrect opinion (where the correct opinion is probaly your opinion).
- dragonwriter 3y ago
  > I have a Ph.D. in Math, and I have no idea about the half life of U238. Like I know it roughly, but only because it is a sticky piece of trivia because its approximately the same as the age of the Earth.

warrenm 3y ago

"What's the minimum a modern citizen should know about ..." No much In fact, I would say the list of "today" is pretty similar to the list of a decade ago, a quarter century ago, half a century ago, and a century ago Most people do not need to know much if anything about most things Basic financial literacy Where food comes from How to make a handful of meals more-or-less 'from scratch' (or...at least without too many pre-kitted items) The roles of the branches and levels of government in your country How to spot statistically-likely (and -unlikely) data both online and in print And the basics of keeping your devices up-to-date Anything else you can look up if/when you have the interest

gus_massa 3y ago

I have a Ph.D. in Math, and I have no idea about the half life of U238. [Without cheating: There are two main isotopes. One has a ver long half life but it's difficult for fision. The other has a shorted life and you must concentrate it to make nuclear plants and concentrate even more to build nuclear bombs. Is this correct? Am I now in a list of a 3 letter agency?] In Economy there are a few very contradictory opinions. Forcing a correct answer would be equivalent to baning comunits or anti-comunist or some other group that has the incorrect opinion (where the correct opinion is probaly your opinion).

dragonwriter 3y ago
> I have a Ph.D. in Math, and I have no idea about the half life of U238. Like I know it roughly, but only because it is a sticky piece of trivia because its approximately the same as the age of the Earth.