Individuals

Abstract

This chapter argues against constraining education by considering society’s needs for particular types of workers. Ever since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, individual development has been confined (and distorted) by the demands of the labor market. Although standard economic defenses of liberal education fail, contemporary shifts in that market offer opportunities for attuning education to individual needs. Specifically, with increasing automation, a revaluation of service work can offer young people far greater chances for leading fulfilling lives. This theme is developed by arguing for widespread involvement of adults in the education of younger generations.