[lapcat]

> I think Socrates was a hoot, and he taught in a cave or something like that.

I'm not sure whether you're joking or serious, but in any case, Socrates didn't teach in a cave, and you're probably referring to Plato's allegory of the cave.

The interlocuters and followers of Socrates were mostly the wealthy elite of Athens.

[Over2Chars]

@lapcat yeah, he argued in the markets or where ever.

I think I was mixing him up with Aristotle, e.g. https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/caves-...

who had some cave school or something.

but there was some jokingness, yah. But I'm not anti-intellectual, which wasn't a joke.

I wasn't making any point about his students or wealth. Education then, as now, is the plaything of the wealthy and wealthy nations.

[barbazoo]

In what way is education a plaything for the wealthy now?

[Over2Chars]

What makes you think it's ever stopped? Did I miss the proletarian revolution comrade?

[barbazoo]

Education is as accessible as it's ever been. We're probably just talking about different things.

[Over2Chars]

Accessible? Meaning it's available for purchase if you have the money? Or actually affordable?

(first quack) "For example, in 2022–23, the average total cost of attendance for first-time, full-time undergraduate students living on campus at 4-year degree-granting institutions was higher at private nonprofit institutions ($58,600) than at private for-profit institutions ($33,600) and public institutions ($27,100).4"

https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=76

Or, if the requirement of a college degree for high school level work suggests, an expensive barrier for employment?

(random quack on the topic I could find) https://www.vox.com/policy/23628627/degree-inflation-college...

You can say luxury sports cars are "accessible" if you want to finance a $150,000 car. And effectively that's what many (most? all?) college degrees are: luxury sports cars.