Education has instrumental value, it more importantly has intrinsic value.
From Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy article
One of the most comprehensive lists of intrinsic goods that anyone has suggested is that given by William Frankena ….consciousness,.… truth; knowledge and true opinions of various kinds, understanding, wisdom;
All of which in various forms are based on the foundation of basic education. I have consciousness of the world and universe because of my education, without which I would have less consciousness.
intrinsic value has been characterized above in terms of the value that something has “in itself,” or “for its own sake,” or “as such,” or “in its own right.”
For me education is valuable “in itself”, “for its own sake”, “as such”, “in its own right.”
I notice that I used the language of intrinsic value, the question uses
“for its own sake” before I was aware of the SEP article.
Also “development” has no intrinsic value, why is it headlining EA efforts?
I would prefer EA to emphasize “Global Education and Health” over “Global Health and Development”
Indeed, development does not have intrinsic value. EAs who support global health and development do so generally because they believe it is effective for reducing suffering (and possibly increasing autonomy, etc.)
What kinds of education do you think are most valuable? Is precalculus equally valuable as ethics philosophy? Or is it whatever that particular person feels most interested in? Is the astonishingly high rate at which students forget the material after the course ends something that should be ameliorated with spaced repetition, or is it better to spend the time learning new material? Should mindfulness and sports education be considered education and thus intrinsically valuable? Are there things that aren’t generally taught that should be?
I fully support Global Health as a cause priority, health has intrinsic value.
Education also reduces suffering (and is valuable for its own sake, has intrinsic value), why is it excluded in EA?
Education in agricultural societies is in terrible shape, even that education is valuable for kids who would otherwise have no education. I have no expertise on what should be in that curriculum. My take is simpler: give kids 12 years basic education, whatever is the norm in those societies (and also take relevant global input). Yes that includes playing sports at school.
There is no straight line from money to well being. See my downvoted example below comparing South Africa and Philippines. Another example is life expectancy in USA vs other industrial countries. Or maternal mortality rate is USA vs other industrialized countries.
Education has instrumental value, it more importantly has intrinsic value.
From Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy article
All of which in various forms are based on the foundation of basic education. I have consciousness of the world and universe because of my education, without which I would have less consciousness.
For me education is valuable “in itself”, “for its own sake”, “as such”, “in its own right.”
I notice that I used the language of intrinsic value, the question uses “for its own sake” before I was aware of the SEP article.
Also “development” has no intrinsic value, why is it headlining EA efforts? I would prefer EA to emphasize “Global Education and Health” over “Global Health and Development”
Indeed, development does not have intrinsic value. EAs who support global health and development do so generally because they believe it is effective for reducing suffering (and possibly increasing autonomy, etc.)
What kinds of education do you think are most valuable? Is precalculus equally valuable as ethics philosophy? Or is it whatever that particular person feels most interested in? Is the astonishingly high rate at which students forget the material after the course ends something that should be ameliorated with spaced repetition, or is it better to spend the time learning new material? Should mindfulness and sports education be considered education and thus intrinsically valuable? Are there things that aren’t generally taught that should be?
I fully support Global Health as a cause priority, health has intrinsic value. Education also reduces suffering (and is valuable for its own sake, has intrinsic value), why is it excluded in EA?
Education in agricultural societies is in terrible shape, even that education is valuable for kids who would otherwise have no education. I have no expertise on what should be in that curriculum. My take is simpler: give kids 12 years basic education, whatever is the norm in those societies (and also take relevant global input). Yes that includes playing sports at school.
There is no straight line from money to well being. See my downvoted example below comparing South Africa and Philippines. Another example is life expectancy in USA vs other industrial countries. Or maternal mortality rate is USA vs other industrialized countries.