“What is it then to be properly educated? It is learning to apply our natural preconceptions to the right things according to Nature, and beyond that to separate the things that lie within our power from those that don't.”
- Epictetus, Discourses, 1.22.9-10a
March 22, 2021 7:00 AM
Anti-Intellectualism has been on the rise in this country, and our last president who governed as an anti-intellectual. Epictetus statement above probably reflects my opinions best.
Obtaining a degree signals to the world that one has educated themselves. Some will use this piece of paper to justify unreasonable decisions. They will become oblivious to nature.
Conclusion
You do not need to have a formal education to become an intellectual and having a formal education does not make you an intellectual. Understanding nature and our proper role within it starts with awareness and reflection. It requires not learning once, but constant evaluation every day.