Education / Degrees?: Philosophy Forums

Education / Degrees?
Is it always worth it?

Education / Degrees?

fearandwonder
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Posted 07/27/08 - 03:31 PM: Subject: Education / Degrees?	#1
What does everyone here think of going to school and getting some sort of a degree? Is that kind of education really so valuable? Most people here in the states seem to believe a college education is vital. I'm taking some college classes to become certified for a career that might only become a small focus in my life, so I've been wondering if being certified is really worth all of the time and effort. I watched this documentary a few months ago about a guy who went to Tibet and talked to the Dalai Lama. Something that really stood out to me is they believe (not exact words, along the lines of) education to be the highest form of ignorance.. How can that be? What are your thoughts?

Paul
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Posted 07/28/08 - 01:20 AM:	#2
If you have millions of dollars and millions of followers who worship you as god incarnate and live to serve you, like the Dalai Lama has, then education is utterly pointless unless you enjoy it. On the off chance that you don't have his advantages, it may come in handy. Study something you enjoy, and you'll probably find a use for it someday. If you don't enjoy learning anything, it's curious that you'd arrive at this forum.

unenlightened
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Posted 07/28/08 - 01:35 AM:	#3
You might look at any of three threads current discussing the relation of knowledge to wisdom. The value of certificates is dependent on your own character and the path you want to take. If you are cautious, conventional, sociable, or if you want to be a doctor or an architect, you probably need some qualifications. If you are an innovator, an entreprenneur, a loner, an artist, well there are no certificates in the new. I'm fairly sure the Dalai Lama spent a long time learning by heart a whole bunch of prayers and rituals... he is also notoriously interested in all things mechanical, so I think you must have misunderstood somewhere?
The observer is the observed. J Krishnamurti "Philosophy, to the Philistine, is an evolutionary process, watched over by some sort of brisk dynamic Providence, and culminating in the supreme insight of modern thought." John Cowper Powys

Tobias
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Posted 07/28/08 - 02:21 AM:	#4
Why wouldn't it be worth it, you learn all kind of things from all kind of knowledgeable people. Why go to Tibet if you can also go to college around the corner? Actually go to Tibet and to College if you ask me.
"The Power of Kant compels you" "The Power of Kant compels you" "The Power of Kant compels you"

Cadrache
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Posted 07/29/08 - 11:40 AM:	#5
I'd disagree with unenlightened a very little bit concerning these white pieces of paper; in that I would also state that society is the 'individual' that places value on actually getting those pieces of paper. The person may place the value on the knowledge attained perhaps?

abba
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Posted 08/03/08 - 12:26 PM:	#6
Any experience is worth only what you make of it. It is possible to complete college and remain a clueless dolt. But most people testify that, regardless of the discipline of study, their college experience was well worth their tme and effort. I would equate my 4 years in college with my 4 years in the Navy with respect to "growing" experience... but my 2 years in Grad School paid the bills for the rest of my life.

humanerror
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Posted 08/10/08 - 08:39 AM:	#7
Well surely you'd allow that moral statements "describe some feature of the world" in that they describe a strategy that can produce certain effects, yes? The effects produced by different moral systems exist 'in the world', and not just in our minds.

Caldwell
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Posted 08/14/08 - 01:03 AM:	#8
abba wrote: It is possible to complete college and remain a clueless dolt. Recently, there was a "clueless dolt" test given at a local school. The instruction on this test item, and the answers given by one test taker, are the following: I. Adjectivize the following: a. Spain answer: Spanish b. Finland answer: Finnish c. Britain answer: British d. Sweden answer: Swedish e. Greece answer: Greekish

fearandwonder
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Posted 08/16/08 - 11:38 AM:	#9
Thanks for all of the replies! It's very possible I misunderstood that because I hardly know anything about the Dalai Lama. I'm kind of a weird mix of an internet developer, starving artist, and entrepreneur. But since I posted this, I've decided to continue with the classes I'm taking, and also take some other classes just for fun. I'm still pretty sure I'm not going to go through 4 years of college though.

abba
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Posted 08/16/08 - 01:47 PM:	#10
There is somewhat of a disconnection between what one experiences in Freshman/Sophomore courses, and what one experiences in Junior/Senior years. Most of the early material is trivial, and most of the instructors are commonplace. In later years, and most especially in Grad school, both the material considered, the professors, and fellow students become more interesting. IMHO

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