Can we compile a list of “things” any person should know at a bare minimum to be considered “educated”? Allow me to suggest we make two lists, one for “humanities”, and the other for “science/technology.” When suggesting an entry, please try to quantify the depth of knowledge of that topic required. Please comment on all proposed entries so we can decide whether they should be included or bumped.
I also acknowledge that my ability to participate in this limits it to a “western” focus. Perhaps that can be discussed as well.
Here go my starters:
Humanities:
Know that Shakespeare was an English poet/playwright, and be able to identify the names and very rough plots for at least a couple of his plays. Extra credit for a quote, or at least realizing one or two common sayings are from his works.
An ancient Greek guy named Homer wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey, and at least some idea of some aspect of the stories.
The names of the 4 Beatles, and be able to hum at least one of their tunes.
What happened in 1066.
Be able to distinguish between paintings by Renoir, Monet, Picasso, and Warhol.
Know who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Science/technology
A. The earth is round and revolves around the Sun.
B. You should be able to connect E=mc2 w/ Einstein. Extra points if you have the faintest idea of its significance.
C. Some concept of the structure of an atom, and a realization that atoms make up molecules, which make up matter.
D. the ability to solve for “x” in a basic algebraic equation.
E. The average velocity of a coconut-laden sparrow.
Damn, by your criteria, I qualify in both - that alone should frighten you since I made a studied effort to NOT take science in college (for example, took Rocks 101 for non majors, and the astronomy class where they likened the galaxies to giant pizza’s being tossed around).
I’m with Wring, I do know that stuff. The only one that has me stumped is “what happened in 1066”??? What was that? I feel sure I will know with just a little more detail than just the year.
Oh, and about the E=mc^2 and Einstein, shouldn’t we also know that this is associated with his realtivity theory? Otherwise, we will look stupid when we say, "Oh yeah, Einstein, he’s that guy who came up with that wierd looking number combination, E=mc^2
I would make knowing its significance mandatory, and its connection with Einstein the extra points. It’s important because of what it means, not who it came from.
Regarding 1066, I remembered that it was the Battle of Hastings, but drew a complete blank as to its significance. Looking it up, I see that it “ended in the defeat of Harold II of England by William, duke of Normandy, and established the Normans as the rulers of England.” I’m still not sure why this is so significant; sure, at the time it was a pretty big deal, but what makes it one of the most significant historical facts of nearly the last 1000 years? I would say that the wars of the last century are more significant, and perhaps should be considered more important to today’s historical education.
I would add the basic causes and resolutions of WWI and WW2 to the list, and Korea/Vietnam/Gulf War for US education systems.
Yeah, I’m asking for REALLY basic stuff. Like when shown a photo of Mao, you should know he had something to do with China and communism. What I find disturbing is how many people seem to have no clue what or who really famous things/people are. A couple of years ago, I asked my 3 brothers-in-law, all college grads, all very successful in their careers, if they knew who Fellini was. None of them even knew he was a film director. That kind of thing makes me sad.
OESYou want to include the ability to spit out the word “relativity”? Fine with me. Need we require any more? Some idea what the hell it means?
See, my basic premise, which I may not have explained adequately, is that there are certain things a person should know one or two things about to “appear” educated. For example, if I say to you “Einstein”, you should be able to say back “E=mc2” and “relativity.” Generally, social interactions require little more depth. And if I were to say to you “1066” …
Now let’s get some suggestions here.
Al right, I’ve given
6. Recognize mao’s picture and
7. Know Fellini was a director
I agree something is needed about WWI-II, but disagree with the latter 3, other than that one should know we were involved in some conflict there. And I suggest the Vietnam War may be more significant that the other 2.
The years they took place (People in the United States should know the years of U.S. involvement too.), how they were started, which countries aligned themselves on which sides, and who won.
I think they should at the very least recognize the name “Hitler”, know that Japan and Germany were on the same side, and be able to name at least two participants on the other side. They should also have some awareness of the mass murders of the Jews. At LEAST! Bonus points if they know that fighting went on in Europe, the Far East and Northern Africa as well. (yea, I know, Pearl Harbor, too).
I believe I have it on my shelf somewhere…can’t remember the name.
Be able to name all the presidents in order since Roosevelt. This is minimum, people.
Who was Pres during the Civil War, what that war was about (you lose points if you say simply “slavery”) and who won.
Your US congressperson and Senator. Your mayor (if applicable, some towns have other types of leaders - know yours) your governor and your state reps and senators. (I’d fail this one)
That “Citizen Kane” is generally acknowledged to be the best film of all time. You are permitted to disagree; I do. You should also know who made it and what it was about.
Who invented the airplane, the telephone, the electric light, and the automobile, and approximately when.
What DNA is.
How babies are made. (By the way, how many of you know that pregnancy occurs in the fallopian tubes, not the uterus?) This includes a basic understanding of the female reproductive system and menstruation, even if you are male.
You should have read * at least * one work by each of the following authors:
Twain
Dickens
Dickenson, Emily
Robert Frost
William Faulkner
Vonnegut
Dorothy Parker
Steinbeck
Well, from what I can remember from 10th Grade World History, the Norman, William the Conquerer (SP?) Now, when he won in the Battle of Hastings, both the language and the Royal Family changed. The Germanic language that English is based in got a hefty dose of French, which is what makes our Modern English so damn complicated.
Also, William was the father of King Richard the Lionhearted and King John (You know, the guy with the Magna Carta).
Of course, I could be horribly wrong about this. If so, sorry.
O.K., I’ll play. So far, all of what you have listed seems to indicate only a minimal education. That is to say, a person who did not know the things you listed would seem to me to be a little freakish. That is not to say that I don’t encounter such people every day. In light of this, I provide the following examples of things that have genuinely startled me when people didn’t know them. (Uh-Oh, this sounds awfully similar to that thread from the other day…)
-Know the continents.
-Know who Thomas Edison was and be able to identify two or three inventions attributed to him.
-Be able to identify the following as modern (late 19th or 20th century developments): The automobile, airplane, telephone, radio, television, computers, the internet.
-Know when Adolph Hitler lived and what country he led. Be able to identify the Holocaust and at least identify Jews as one of the victimized groups.
I have to wonder about the Beatles. I am generally startled when someone hasn’t heard of them, but I would not be surprised or terribly concerned if someone couldn’t name them all. I assume that at some point they will be removed from the list, while Einstein, Hitler, and the Norman Conquest seem like pretty long-term residents.
There was a book on this, by E.D. Hirsch. Unfortunately, his proposition was that all these facts were the point of education. I see this as more of a curiosity. I would far rather have people be able to really understand half of this stuff than know all the facts. Also, as I recall, some of the stuff in Hirsch’s book was simply false.
I suggest it would be sufficient to know the general decades in which they occurred. And is it inappropriate for me to suggest WWII has had more lasting significance than WWI? How many folk really know how/why WWI started, other than that Archduke Ferdinand got offed? And is that why it started?
This is the kind of stuff I’m suggesting. Allow me to offer as well, c/o WWII, D-Day, buzz bomb, Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Okay. So far, by our de minimis standard, I’m relatively educated. Except —
stoid
Who the heck invented the automobile?
And I do not believe I have read anything by Dorothy Parker.
How did you select your 8? Regarding many authors, I believe some awareness of their work and it’s importance is required. Having actually read them is a bonus.
Oh yeah. Fuck Hirsch. He stole my idea pre-emptively.
stoid
Your list of authors does seem a bit arbitrary. First, they are overwhelmingly American. In addition, although I very much enjoy Parker and Vonnegut, it seems strange that they should supercede Poe, London, or Hemingway.
This seems to be part of the problem with such lists. At some point they become lists of personal preferences. A person who does not know that the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki cannot claim to be educated. I would argue that one can be educated without having read Breakfast of Champions.
Reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Apu was applying for U.S. citizenship and was asked this question. (I won’t attempt to quote his long, involved response before the instructor said “just say ‘slavery’”)
A person should be able to outline briefly the what and why (even if only a sentence or two) of World War I, World War II (including the Holocaust), and the Cold War. They should have a basic understanding of sexual reproduction (as Stoidela said) and (I might be being optimistic here) a basic understanding of where to find out things they don’t already know - whether libraries, internet or the media.
They should be able to give a couple of reasons as to why inventions such as the internet, telephone, television, radio, print media, automobiles and aircraft are important in the world. I don’t care if people don’t know who invented them, but I do care that they understand why they’re important. They should also know who the leader and opposition leader are in their own country, and roughly what the political differences are between them (if applicable).
