You don't need a good education to lead the good life

04 Jul 2010

Why now?

Higher education has never been so competitive. ‘Age of austerity’ budget cuts mean there are fewer places, and fewer job openings mean that there is more demand for places. All told, up to 200,000 students will miss out on degree courses at university this year. But maybe university is over-rated anyway – Kelvin McKenzie, hugely successful tabloid editor, certainly thinks that educational failure was impeccable preparation for his vocation.

Summary

Arguing in favour of the motion are Kelvin MacKenzie and Lynn Barber.

Kelvin MacKenzie argues that education clouds the mind from commercial and entrepreneurial success. With education, he suggests, opportunities are missed, and along with them, the good life.

Lynn Barber emphasises the good life over the importance of a good education.

Arguing against the motion are Germaine Greer and Felipe Fernández-Armesto.

Germaine Greer argues that education itself is the good life. It is a fundamental error that we think education equates to school. It is about being alive and learning from everything life throws at us. Academia does not give all the answers.

Felipe Fernández-Armesto argues that good learning and good life are inextricably linked.

Speakers for the motion

Kelvin MacKenzie

Media executive and former editor of the Sun
Lynn Barber

A Sunday Times journalist and author of "An Education", a coming-of-age memoir which was made into an oscar-nominated film last year in 2009

Chair

Dr Anthony Seldon

Master of Wellington College

Speakers against the motion

Germaine Greer

Feminist author, academic, and broadcaster
Felipe Fernández-Armesto

William P Reynolds Professor of History, the University of Notre Dame