Dieter Maurer wrote:
> Steven D'Aprano <[email protected]> writes on 20 Oct
> 2009 05:35:18 GMT:
>> As far as I'm concerned, asking for help on homework without being honest
>> up-front about it and making an effort first, is cheating by breaking the
>> social contract. Anyone who rewards cheaters by giving them the answer
>> they want is part of the problem. Whether cheaters prosper in the long
>> run or not, they make life more difficult for the rest of us, and should
>> be discouraged.
>
> A few days ago, I have read an impressive book: "Albert Jacquard: Mon
> utopie". The author has been a university professor (among others for
> population genectics, a discipline between mathematics and biologie).
> One of the corner therories in his book: mankind has reached the current
> level of development not mainly due to exceptional work by individuals
> but by the high level of cooperation between individuals.
A false dualism, IMHO. It's true that cooperation lets good ideas spread
throughout the general human culture. However, every good idea has to start
somewhere, with an individual or a tiny group. Pressing people to
appreciate and (with luck) originate good ideas is a good thing.
Particularly in education. It takes a person about eight years from birth
to being able to copy something. I think the ten years of education after
that should try for more.
Look at where we are now. A game of follow-the-leader has run out of
control and crashed the world economy. A little more critical thinking
might have been nice.
Mel.
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