In a consumer society there are inevitably two kinds of slaves: the prisoners of addiction and the prisoners of envy.
Ivan IllichRead
School has become the world religion of a modernized proletariat, and makes futile promises of salvation to the poor of the technological age.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote criticizes the modern education system as a false savior for the working class, suggesting it offers empty promises.
In this quote, Ivan Illich argues that the contemporary educational system has transformed into a kind of religion for the working class, particularly in a technologically advanced society. He believes it provides illusory hopes of salvation or betterment to those who are less privileged, suggesting that instead of truly empowering them, it merely distracts from deeper societal issues and perpetuates inequality.
Themes
EducationModernProletariatSalvationPromisesTechnological
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the future of education, I could use this quote to emphasize the need for reform in the system.
More from Ivan Illich
All quotes βSchool is the advertising agency which makes you believe that you need the society as it is.
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School prepares for the alienating institutionalization of life by teaching the need to be taught. Once this lesson is learned, people lose their incentive to grow in independence; they no longer find relatedness attractive, and close themselves off to the surprises which life offers when it is not predetermined by institutional definition.
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The pupil is ... 'schooled' to confuse teaching with learning, grade advancement with education, a diploma with competence, and fluency with the ability to say something new.
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The myth of unending consumption has taken the place of the belief in life everlasting.
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Effective health care depends on self-care; this fact is currently heralded as if it were a discovery.
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