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by randomdata 637 days ago
> The point is to learn.

If you've ever been around a growing baby, you'll have noticed that learning happens naturally. And if you have kept watching them as they continue on their life journey, you'll have noticed that they are sponges that take in incredible amounts of information. Point being, you don't have to go out of your way to learn.

No, the point of formal education is to develop the ability to separate thought from emotion. That is what humans, being emotional creatures, won't do naturally, but what is necessary to be able to "think big" about the world.

2 comments

>the point of formal education is to develop the ability to separate thought from emotion

I doubt that's possible. Thoughts are emotional after all. Now the senses, that's a different story.

What are you on about?

The point of education is a) (before higher levels of education) general education and b) learn skills that help you in your life and work.

For the latter examples being critical thinking or understanding causality. Drawing conclusions that need thinking deeper than the surface. Being patient.

There are ”side products” too, such as emotional growth or learning and coming to accept that sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do.

At higher levels of education the point is still to learn but it’s less broad and about more specific subject. You still refine the related skills. The side products also still exist.

Sorry, referring to the internet as "education" is a new one to me. I agree, that is the point of the internet. I thought you were talking about formal education.