I get completely confused by these individualistic attitudes. Are they really that widespread in America? “Ready? Ready for what? Ready to make something of themselves.” So it is for their own sake? I am more used to attitudes that education is not ultimately about something for the benefit of the student, but more like something for the benefit of a society, of a nation, to form people who serve it well, who contribute well to it, who are, if I want to put it brutally, useful assets of the state, or less brutally, contributing members of society. So I am more used to explanations like “you must learn this in order to fulfill your social duties better” than explanations like “it gives you a leg up”.
But the funny part is that in both cases they essentially teach the same things! All these individualistic leg-up schools still don’t teach personal finance and my social-duty schools don’t or hardly teach ethics or first aid or basic military stuff.
But the funny part is that in both cases they essentially teach the same things! All these individualistic leg-up schools still don’t teach personal finance and my social-duty schools don’t or hardly teach ethics or first aid or
The problem with teaching ethics is that most well intentioned attempts at teaching ethics don’t do much.
basic military stuff.
Why should it be good for society if the average student learns military stuff?
Why should it be good for society if the average student learns military stuff?
Let’s put it it this way: a culture that either still has or only recently eliminated conscription would see it as a good thing to be a bit prepared for that.
The problem with teaching ethics is that most well intentioned attempts at teaching ethics don’t do much.
Don’t help much with instinctive decision-making, but there are other things, such as long-term planning.
Let’s put it it this way: a culture that either still has or only recently eliminated conscription would see it as a good thing to be a bit prepared for that.
Training people with guns has effects that go beyond just being useful in the case of war.
Don’t help much with instinctive decision-making, but there are other things, such as long-term planning.
How do ethic courses help with long-term planning?
I am confused how even guns come here. I hope you don’t imagine a military as a hunter band where personal weapons are the most important aspect. Rather it is largely about installing a hivemind, overcoming chaos and what I had in mind is scout / pioneer kind of stuff which can be seen as a premilitary.
How do ethic courses help with long-term planning?
Such as choosing professions for prestige vs. social utility / altruism value. Even though ethics courses cannot override instinctive feelings they ought to have an effect on carefully thought out plans like this. If you spend hours and hours wondering whether pimping around an BMW X7 should be one of your long-time goals or not, perhaps something a teacher said about zero-sum goals may have an effect.
Even though ethics courses cannot override instinctive feelings they ought to have an effect on carefully thought out plans like this.
Why?
If you spend hours and hours wondering whether pimping around an BMW X7 should be one of your long-time goals or not, perhaps something a teacher said about zero-sum goals may have an effect.
Did you change anyone’s plans considering buying a BMW X7 by telling them about zero-sum games?
On the quality and enjoyability of elementary school:
“Money in the future should not obscure well-being in the present.”
I get completely confused by these individualistic attitudes. Are they really that widespread in America? “Ready? Ready for what? Ready to make something of themselves.” So it is for their own sake? I am more used to attitudes that education is not ultimately about something for the benefit of the student, but more like something for the benefit of a society, of a nation, to form people who serve it well, who contribute well to it, who are, if I want to put it brutally, useful assets of the state, or less brutally, contributing members of society. So I am more used to explanations like “you must learn this in order to fulfill your social duties better” than explanations like “it gives you a leg up”.
But the funny part is that in both cases they essentially teach the same things! All these individualistic leg-up schools still don’t teach personal finance and my social-duty schools don’t or hardly teach ethics or first aid or basic military stuff.
The problem with teaching ethics is that most well intentioned attempts at teaching ethics don’t do much.
Why should it be good for society if the average student learns military stuff?
Let’s put it it this way: a culture that either still has or only recently eliminated conscription would see it as a good thing to be a bit prepared for that.
Don’t help much with instinctive decision-making, but there are other things, such as long-term planning.
Training people with guns has effects that go beyond just being useful in the case of war.
How do ethic courses help with long-term planning?
I am confused how even guns come here. I hope you don’t imagine a military as a hunter band where personal weapons are the most important aspect. Rather it is largely about installing a hivemind, overcoming chaos and what I had in mind is scout / pioneer kind of stuff which can be seen as a premilitary.
Such as choosing professions for prestige vs. social utility / altruism value. Even though ethics courses cannot override instinctive feelings they ought to have an effect on carefully thought out plans like this. If you spend hours and hours wondering whether pimping around an BMW X7 should be one of your long-time goals or not, perhaps something a teacher said about zero-sum goals may have an effect.
Why?
Did you change anyone’s plans considering buying a BMW X7 by telling them about zero-sum games?
Just because a game is zero sum in total does not make it irrational for an individual to compete. That in fact is the big problem.
Compared to Germany (and, probably, Austria), yes.