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I would argue that one can attain literacy without being educated. When I say education is the silver bullet, I guess I mean that a full suite of well-rounded

I would argue that one can attain literacy without being educated. When I say education is the silver bullet, I guess I mean that a full suite of well-rounded knowledge, along with the tools and confidence to derive more knowledge, can cure most social ills. But your point is well-taken. I think we can lay the blame for, say, young-earth creationism at the feet of a widespread state of literacy without education. You know enough to read a book, but not enough to know why you shouldn't take its contents at face value.

intended 14y ago
> ... a full suite of well-rounded knowledge, along with the tools and confidence to derive more knowledge, can cure most social ills > You know enough to read a book, but not enough to know why you shouldn't take its contents at face value. Exactly my position - you can be literate (able to read, write and master a subject enough to be employed) but either are unwilling or unable to understand the implications/meaning of what you have read. Educated people, the way I've seen it, can apply and use what they know to make the world as a whole better, or at the very least not encourage or allow assaults on the societal contract. I think for a while, people assumed that there was a strong correlation between education and being able to think for yourself. Especially after seeing people like yourselves who used education as a way to actually be people who have a moral compass and excel in society. What people didn't want is the legions of excellent workers who can value a firm from its financials in their heads, but turn around and promote intolerance, racism and corruption. Perhaps its got a lot more to do with the role models you saw. As you said you had someone who became a thief, but from the way you write, it seems that path just didn't make sense to you.

intended 14y ago

> ... a full suite of well-rounded knowledge, along with the tools and confidence to derive more knowledge, can cure most social ills > You know enough to read a book, but not enough to know why you shouldn't take its contents at face value. Exactly my position - you can be literate (able to read, write and master a subject enough to be employed) but either are unwilling or unable to understand the implications/meaning of what you have read. Educated people, the way I've seen it, can apply and use what they know to make the world as a whole better, or at the very least not encourage or allow assaults on the societal contract. I think for a while, people assumed that there was a strong correlation between education and being able to think for yourself. Especially after seeing people like yourselves who used education as a way to actually be people who have a moral compass and excel in society. What people didn't want is the legions of excellent workers who can value a firm from its financials in their heads, but turn around and promote intolerance, racism and corruption. Perhaps its got a lot more to do with the role models you saw. As you said you had someone who became a thief, but from the way you write, it seems that path just didn't make sense to you.