The global population of people over 18 years old is now 7.5 billion, and yet we're still only scratching the surface of the knowledge that exists in the world. There are more books and articles and scientific journals published every day than there were in all of human history before 1800. We're discovering new things about the universe and our place in it every week.
However, despite the abundance of knowledge, there are still countless people struggling in poverty around the world. Millions live without electricity or running water. Children can't access even basic healthcare. Some don't have clean drinking water or enough food to eat.
How can we explain this paradox of knowledge and suffering?
The answer isn't as simple as we think. But the solution involves a lot more than throwing money at the problems.
We need to start teaching children in schools. Not just in the form of high-level academic skills, but also in the basic skills of literacy and numeracy.
And as our education system evolves, we need to be flexible so that all children and adults can continue to gain the knowledge they need for life.
If you want to learn more about why this topic is important, I recommend checking out this video.
More people are learning online
The Kahn Institute is very good.