Capable of Happiness: Importance of Education

“How then is perfection to be sought? Wherein lies our hope? In education, and in nothing else.”

– Immanuel Kant, Lectures On Ethics

When you hear education you think of school in the aspect of taking classes and learning what we are taught by professors, which has some truth. What I am talking about is the ability to comprehend thoughts and asses them, rationally. The education that we give ourselves based off ethics formed from within oneself, rather than the ones formed by society.

Today when people are having a discussion, for example politically, people become offended and defensive if someone has different views. This is when being educated and allowing yourself to take in the opinion of others, critically think about it, listen to them and produce thought provoking questions becomes vital.

Having conversations like these helps build our education. Learning from others is impactful, yet some allow themselves to shut down and refuse to take in others views.

Having an active mind allows us to continue our education building and helps to prevent the animosity people tend to feel towards others based on their different opinions.

According to Kant, people are not born with ethics, rather we use wisdom and education to form them. Kant’s education system is based on the importance of freedom, which allows an individual to use their talents as growth.