I share your distress. But at the same time, I secretly wonder whether this isn't in fact an economic optimization: Ricardo proved that a division of labor always enhances net prosperity. History bears this out, with increasing specialization. In some sense, then, isn't "dumbing down" about most things a natural result of specialization in a few things? Perhaps the ultimate achievement will be people who know nothing outside their jobs...
A'course, I would agree with your reply to that: even if so, such people will have ceased to be human.
I wonder. Aren't specialization and general ignorance two different things? Some specialists keep up on the world in general and a few even know some history. Some ignoramuses don't know specialization, current events or history.
I wonder. Aren't specialization and general ignorance two different things? Some specialists keep up on the world in general and a few even know some history. Some ignoramuses don't know specialization, current events or history.