Education was different then. Formal, academic education was basically reserved for the well-to-do. It was both a mark of status and a prerequisite for entry into polite society and the upper echelons of society.
It was also what we would call a Classical Liberal education, in the old sense of liberal (as in the liberal arts). It focused …
Education was different then. Formal, academic education was basically reserved for the well-to-do. It was both a mark of status and a prerequisite for entry into polite society and the upper echelons of society.
It was also what we would call a Classical Liberal education, in the old sense of liberal (as in the liberal arts). It focused primarily on rhetoric, some math, and philosophy/theology. The "practical" arts were learned through apprenticeship, reading, trial and error, and experience.
Character education and the assimilation of norms and proper behavior was part of the process.
It was a general education that was supposed to prepare a person for their station in life (usually managing property, the law or the clergy).
Expertise was recognized and valued.
There was also less to learn, the core of the liberal education went back to the medieval university system.
Our current breadth and depth of knowledge is so vast that you cannot learn most of it. Most educated people are narrow experts in particular areas, because you almost have to be.
That means that knowledge is often disconnected or not seen in its entirety or in how things interrelate.
There are few, if any, "Reniassance Men" these days.
We neglect character (to teach character is frowned upon). We no longer recognize or respect expertise. We think making lots of money is a sign of genius.
Education was different then. Formal, academic education was basically reserved for the well-to-do. It was both a mark of status and a prerequisite for entry into polite society and the upper echelons of society.
It was also what we would call a Classical Liberal education, in the old sense of liberal (as in the liberal arts). It focused primarily on rhetoric, some math, and philosophy/theology. The "practical" arts were learned through apprenticeship, reading, trial and error, and experience.
Character education and the assimilation of norms and proper behavior was part of the process.
It was a general education that was supposed to prepare a person for their station in life (usually managing property, the law or the clergy).
Expertise was recognized and valued.
There was also less to learn, the core of the liberal education went back to the medieval university system.
Our current breadth and depth of knowledge is so vast that you cannot learn most of it. Most educated people are narrow experts in particular areas, because you almost have to be.
That means that knowledge is often disconnected or not seen in its entirety or in how things interrelate.
There are few, if any, "Reniassance Men" these days.
We neglect character (to teach character is frowned upon). We no longer recognize or respect expertise. We think making lots of money is a sign of genius.
No wonder things are as they are.