Do we really need education?

Question

Using the Darwinian theory of "Survival of the Fittest," does education really count? How? Cite some cases.

Answer 1

Main Entry: ed·u·ca·tion
Pronunciation: "e-j&-'kA-sh&n
Function: noun
1 a : the action or process of educating or of being educated; also : a stage of such a process b : the knowledge and development resulting from an educational process
2 : the field of study that deals mainly with methods of teaching and learning in schools

The "learning process" is responsible in large part FOR the survival of mankind !! And a major part of the reason why mankind has been the most successful animal on this planet !! Therefore,by the "theory" called on here---a major part OF the Fitness OF mankind IN survival !!
The history books are filled with examples of how the lack of knowledge of certain things led to the collapse of entire civilizations throughout the ages !! And, that lack of knowledge was due in part because of a lack of the processes that are made up OF and within education !!

Answer 2

Education is a means of advancing a civilization as a whole. Survival of the fittest is still a valid theory, only now the "fittest" is those who can adapt the best to changing conditions... basically those best capable of problem solving. We could stop worrying about education, but our civilization would advance at a much slower rate.... whether or not that would be better is a matter of opinion.

Answer 3

I see your point but do you? Darwin's Idea of 'suvival of the fittest' would imply that we all just run around with guns and shoot each other for what we want. and when we run out of bullets and guns then we start clubbing each other for domination of the territory. then eventually the few left would be educated in knowing to respect the dominant one and the story would start all over again.

No, not literally necessary but besides education schools currently provide social training which isn't necessary either.

It's not necessary to continue going forward but I don't think the world population is trying to go backwards from todays concept of life. Derkweed.

Answer 4

If you currently look at the global knowledge economy - the ones at the top of the food chain have PhDs or Master's degrees - to clarify Darwin described "fittest" as being the most adaptable - with globalization medicine, law and ICT have become truly global careers with those moving to demanded areas - with the limited global supply of these - the receive a significant amount of the limited resources in the business

Answer 5

The question has been posited if we really need education within the context of Darwinian theory of Survival of the Fittest? However, this statement fails to grant Darwin's full theory which is upon the premise of the fittest trait with respect to environment (Darwin). Under the full context and not the commonly misunderstood context of Darwin I would assert the following:

Yes we need education. The rise of the human species supports this assertion. Without our ancestors learning (education) to bash two rocks together to form rock tools, and subsequently passing this knowledge on we would not be where we are today. Speaking of today:

To explore this often misunderstood and miscommunicated aspect of "fittest trait" I will attempt to explain:

Hominid A is fat and slow while hominid B is strong and fast. Predator has poor vision and can not see or track Hominid A, but can see fast moving hominid B. In this scenario where the environment provides for the existence of such a predator the strong and fast hominid is at risk for non preferential traits that may die off and be eliminated from the species while the slow fat hominid's traits are favored and passed on to future generations.

In the context of do we really need education?

The answer is yes. Education is a wholly versatile and dynamic exploitation of our intellectual trait which allows us to compete effectively against other organisms and even each other. Those with an education have better opportunities and access to resources, both in knowledge of where the resources are located and how to exploit those resources. That is with an education we become able to actually alter our environment. Think of spectacles (eye glasses) which are a development of education which allow a formerly unfavorable trait to continue in an environment that may have not tolerated said trait, but that environment has been artificially manipulated (introduction of eye glasses).

Those without an education survive at the leisure of those with an education. Bit of a weak example but it hopefully conveys the message:

Typically to be a CEO or business owner one requires significant education such as an MBA or other capacity (innate sense of business) which accommodates numerous privileges and access to opportunity and resources.

In this respect people of less education actually become resources of the CEO or business owner in the form of human resources or capital.

In this scenario with an education one can make oneself attractive to the CEO/business owner and procure a benefit of resources and opportunity for access to future resources. This creates a symbiotic relationship. Potentially with sufficient education one could become the CEO/business owner. Those without education or not exploiting this trait will find themselves very likely without an opportunity to be seen as useful human capital/resource and even if utilized by the CEO/business owner it would be in an expendable capacity. I.E. a janitor is not necessary to run a business. A person with 15 years marketing and sales experience is a human resource, therefore when the environment becomes dangerous - that is when resources become scarce, or job contracts and cash flow are low the CEO/business owner will preserve resources to those that offer him/her opportunity to continue, therefore the janitor is expendable. The relationship between the janitor and CEO\business owner is not symbiotic. Therefore I contend without education we become a non-competitive organism with a greater propensity to become extinct on the basis we would live at the leisure of the intellectual elite.

Hope that offers someone an opportunity to argue further either against or pro.


-Sam T.

Answer 6

Education teaches us more than what we know, it's a place for kids and teenagers to interact and learn social behaviours in a safe environment.

without Education people wouldn't find out what subjects they're good at and bad at, and use that knowledge to choose a career path.

Answer 7

Pink Floyd said we don't. Intelligence is like our hard drive and education is the software. Some software is great and some is trash. Darwin's theory of his origin would automatically be filled with much more limitations than the mind of someone who knew that he was created in the Image of Almighty God.

Answer 8

No, you are right, BUT, what would all these people who like the cushy civil service job of teaching, (and the occasional sexual predator), do if they had to go out and get a real job, no tenure, continuity of employment based on performance, like the rest of us? They would become extinct, and then, us evil right wingers would take over the world. And you'd be able to have a beer or a cigarette or express your thoughts without being arrested or sued.

Answer 9

the real question, to me, is ABOUT WHAT?
Most people get educated to get jobs, to compete. Is that what we are made for?

Answer 10

umm the best will educate themselves