How our education system is far from its original ideals
Summary
This episode explores how Wilhelm von Humboldt’s 19th-century educational model spread globally, influencing systems in the US, Canada, and Europe. Guests discuss how his ideals of "Bildung" and academic freedom were adapted, often shifting toward vocational training and state control due to industrialization and political crackdowns. The discussion highlights the tension between Humboldt’s vision of cultivating independent thinkers and the modern reality of mass higher education, which prioritizes specialization and economic utility over holistic self-cultivation.
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