What Does It Mean to Be Well Educated?

[arabian dream]

In Those days we are hearing this word ((well educated)). I asked my self what dose it means to be well educated. Dose it mean graduate from university or having extensive information in science literature and arts. Is the university graduate well educated? Or it deepens about the scholar and his effort in reading in his filed and other science. Dose anyone would be well educated with only reading in many since field without graduate from university.

I post my question to share yours idea and to know your opinions

[PeterL]

Not many people are well educated any more, because specialization had become the norm. A well educated person has a good knowledge of literature, history, mathematics, the natural sciences, languages, philosophy, and is conversant in at least one modern language, and has a good knowledge of at least one ancient language; I didn't mention social sciences, because they vary too rapidly. A university education is not required to gain such an education, and it is difficult for someone to become well educated in a university, because the education is too specialized.

[Poetess]

So far I will answer briefly about this. Being well-educated is being extensively understanding.

[JacobF]

To me, being well educated means you have explored and learned about a subject or many subjects in an academic setting that you can be considered an expert in the subject(s). For example, a history major who can converse with others about ancient Egyptian history to a good degree and can answer many questions on it (without BSing) can be considered well educated.

On another tangent, being well educated doesn't determine if you're dumb or not, though. It just means you had the willingness and privilege of, once again, learning about and exploring a subject in an academic setting.

[wilbur lim]

JacobF's answer is well said,I accede it.Well educated also ascertains your attitude and ettiquete.

[Nossa]

I think a well-educated person is someone who's not limited to thier filed of study. They're capable of reading, understanding and holding a proper conversation when discussing any other subject. Literature, history, philosophy, art and language are the key words, in my opinion, to becoming a well-educated person. As for maths and science, I agree on the latter, but if the first is a necessity for being called well-educated, then I'm afraid I'll never be called one :lol:

[V.Jayalakshmi]

Dear Members,
All of you have said it correct.A well educated man or woman is aware of personal limitations in the frontiers of knowledge and never stops learning.I am personally interested in literature and has read so much in English,yet I find many authors still unknown to me.But in the normal sense a well educated man is exposed to many aspects of knowledge and tries to know that which he does not fully grasp.I do wish politicians are well educated.

[Lioness_Heart]

I agree with what everyone has been saying: to be well-educated, one has to have quite a broad understanding of science, art, history etc. But most importantly, they have to be able to think and reason, because that is important in any situation. They also have to want to learn, because to be well-educated is a process spanning much of one's life, and unless one is constantly learning new things, they soon become dull. And anyway, if someone can start learning and not catch the bug for it, there's a limit to how far their education will go.

[wilbur lim]

Well educated is paramount,leave the matter of money away.

[adilyoussef]

In my humble opinion, whatever one might endeavour to share his or her perception of the meaning of the expression "well educated", it remains limited and narrowed by the norms and the culture of his or her country. Thus, my perception of "well educated" is a way to integrate a society and be respected and accepted by its highly admired members.

[jaywalker]

Damn-I've no knowledge of an ancient language. OMG. I'm UN-educated !! {Sobs quietly and reaches for the Cyanide.}

[Oniw17]

well-educated=renaissance man or woman/Homo Universalis/polymath/sage. Someone who has a knowledge of a wide variety of things.

[Joreads]

A well educated person knows and has the courage to admitt that they don't know the answers everything but never stops trying to find out.

[JBI]

A well educated person knows and has the courage to admitt that they don't know the answers everything but never stops trying to find out.

Yes, but an uneducated, dim witted person perhaps will do the same thing. That artificial answer, which is, essentially a negative answer, and not a positive answer, doesn't seem to apply to modern times the same way it did in 400-odd BC.

[aBIGsheep]

Its not how smart you are but how you apply it.

Being the smartest person in the world is completely useless if you don't use it. Go design an airplane.

[wilbur lim]

Being smart is paramount.You cannot live without it.You may not like extremities,but mediocre would do.

[aeroport]

Yes, but an uneducated, dim witted person perhaps will do the same thing. That artificial answer, which is, essentially a negative answer, and not a positive answer, doesn't seem to apply to modern times the same way it did in 400-odd BC.

Clever what you did there, JBI. ;)

[blazeofglory]

Education takes you toward artificiality.

[eyemaker]

An educated Man?
Living in a well-structured life, because he has opened the windows of his mind to great thoughts and nobbling ideas; an educated man is not imprisoned by the printed page but chooses to make relentless, rigorous analysis and evaluation of everything he reads; because he is less interested in the accumulation of degrees than in the stimulation of his mind and the cultivation of a generous spirit. One who can express himself clearly and logically, with precision and race; because he is not awed by authority, but is humble enough to recognized that his best judgment is imperfect and may well be tainted by error or pride; because he has a deep reverence for the inherent worth and dignity of every human being, as a creature of God. One who has a healthy sense of values, a breadth off outlook, and the depth of compassion which is purposeful education generates.

[blazeofglory]

Education takes us on a reverse course and against nature. Undo education and you are close to God and nature.

[papayahed]

Education takes us on a reverse course and against nature. Undo education and you are close to God and nature.


Please explain. It seems to me the more we know about nature the close were are to it and the more appreciative we are.

[blazeofglory]

Please explain. It seems to me the more we know about nature the close were are to it and the more appreciative we are.

We want to know about nature by being far from it. Indeed we try to know nature through books, unlike primitive people who knew nature by beinng in direct contact with nature.

[Scorpio Ascendant]

Being well educated means that every time you learn something you realize how ignorant you are.

[blazeofglory]

Please explain. It seems to me the more we know about nature the close were are to it and the more appreciative we are.

That is exactly what I believe in. Nature is a great teacher. All greats are not as great as nature.