[VictorPath]

> He also says that having any degree is "worth it" to an individual, monetarily. It's just not worth it to society to require everyone to have education they don't use.

Half of Finnish people between 35 and 44 have a degree, whereas only 7% of people in that age range from South Africa do, so South Africa must be much better off than Finland.

[EverywhereTrip]

No, he's saying that everyone having a degree isn't the difference between Finland and South Africa.

If South Africa suddenly had as many degree holders as Finland, it wouldn't suddenly become Finland.

[renewiltord]

Fascinating to think that all you have to do is get 43 out of 100 people in South Africa degrees and it will be Finland.

[Brian_K_White]

Perhaps it would be. I don't find it at all silly to guess that if a critical percentage of everyone were made to confront more ideas and and generally be made more aware and thoughtful, that the eventual result is more civilized behavior between members.

I certainly don't think it helps the situation to use the historical and current state of thimgs as some excuse not to bother trying. You can't create better civilization be decree or force. It can only happen when enough percentage of the population does it for themselves, and they don't when they are ignorant or bubbled.

[renewiltord]

Fascinating that Colorado right now is Finland.

[Brian_K_White]

No one said that, or anything remotely like that or that implies that.

I guess you have a PhD and embody the "exhibit A" counter example eh? Educated yet no better than the uneducated at communication and comprehension.

Or let me guess, you only took technical classes. As close to 100% stem as the system would let you.

I don't really want to make personal attacks like that but this kind of comment is exactly an example of the topic. What field on what spreadsheet gets what number increased or decreased by one to quantify the cost of this sort of lack of understanding?

[renewiltord]

Take a chill pill, my dude. Go out, smell the roses. It’s a beautiful day. Not one to go argue on the Internet.

[Brian_K_White]

Then why are you?

[lucb1e]

Not sure if you are serious or trolling, but if I'm not mistaken the fallacy here is correlation vs. causation: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Correlation_does_... (see specifically section 3)