Re: Extropian Education

Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
14 Dec 1998 16:15:40 +0100

"Leon Boey" <blackman@pacific.net.sg> writes:

> does anybody think teaching critical thinking at a young age (<>6)
> would be helpful? perhaps it would bring about a more extropian
> society?

Yes to both questions. Overall, getting kids to start thinking seriously seems to help them become smarter, more adaptable adults (there have been some experiments with teaching young children philosophy and getting them discuss it, and it has apparently had positive results). And if you can think critically at an earlier age, fewer bad memes will be integrated in your basic worldview.

> if yes, how do you think it could be implemented?

I have discussed with some fellow transhumanist the possibility of writing transhumanist and philosophical children's stories. Everything from the adventures of the girl epistemia to Spot gets uploaded. But the most important influence is of course adults around the children - try to promote critical thinking (and *thinking* in general) whenever you are around them. The results are quite rewarding.

-- 
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Anders Sandberg                                      Towards Ascension!
asa@nada.kth.se                            http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/
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