This OECD data records an average 7.5% increase in a person’s wages (8.8% for non-native speakers) for every one standard deviation increase in literacy proficiency,… Read More »What’s reading worth? OECD data on the economic returns to literacy
Another aspect of the limits of knowledge is the contingent nature of most of what we know: Truth is usually* truth-in-context. A pair of non-parallel… Read More »Educated (11): Truth in context
An education should give us an awareness of the limits of knowledge. Most obviously: That there are things that we (humans) don’t understand; That some… Read More »Educated (10): Limits to knowledge
You’re probably familiar with the old saw “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a… Read More »Educated (9): taxonomy and the fruits of knowledge
“Educated” (past tense) isn’t a thing. It’s a lifelong gift, one that only turns into a sentence if you try to give it a full… Read More »Educated (8): unfinished business
If you can raise your children to like and believe in themselves, and to be interested in life and other people, the rest is detail.… Read More »Educated (7): you, life and other people
Schopenhauer had quite a lot to say about reading. He liked good books, but was highly skeptical of most books, and especially of contemporary ones.… Read More »Schopenhauer on reading yourself stupid
Chaerephon, as you know, was very impetuous in all his doings, and he went to Delphi and boldly asked the oracle … to tell him… Read More »Educated (6): none the wiser
This is the missing thought from Handwriting: There are plenty of things that appear to signify education (handwriting, certificates, vocabulary, waffley assertions, accent (sadly), name-dropping,… Read More »Educated (4): shows and telling
As the pace of technological change accelerates, we will spend most of our lives as – in Kevin Kelly’s words – perpetual newbies. Even so-called… Read More »Educated (2): How to learn to learn