Characteristics of a Well Educated Person

¶ … Educated Person

Review at least seven sources of information.

Being well-educated means different things to different people. It does however embody certain benchmarks that qualify a person as well-educated, including but not limited to wealth, education, worldliness, etc. It goes beyond just academic experiences.

The dictionary describes an educated person as "having an education; one above average; showing evidence of schooling, training, experience; exhibiting culture."

The image of an educated person can mean different things to different people. Some deem a well-educated person has who probably possesses great financial wealth. Others few the individual who has a superior intellect or has been exposed to worldwide culture as a person who is above the norm. Still others would describe ideal image of a well educated person as one who is smart enough to be of sound character, a good citizen and possessing intellect, emotion and heart and soul.

So what are some of the characteristics that identify an individual as being well educated? In the easiest of terms, "such benchmarks as a high school diploma, a college degree, a Ph.D. Or merely getting straight A's in all of the highest level of classes can be equated with being well educated."

But being well-educated goes far beyond getting good grades and being educated in academic subjects. It is the description of a person who is well-rounded, well-versed and who is inherently intelligent enough to not only know a lot about many things but be able to use that information and knowledge to enhance their own life and that of others. A good example is A rags-to-riches businessman named Andrew Carnegie, who was eventually recognized as a Captain of Industry. Early on in his youth, he was denied access to a library because he was not a member of a particular organization. He never forgot that he was unable to quench his thirst for knowledge then and so as his empire grew, he began to provide libraries that were open to all, across the United States. Carnegie knew the value of information.

The most obvious candidate as an ingredient of "educatedness" is information or knowledge. We expect an educated person in the modern world to know that the square root of four is two, that the earth spins on its axis and goes around the sun, that the pumping of the heart circulates blood, that rice is high in carbohydrates and low in protein and that the Greek notion of democracy did not include women and slaves."

Some well-educated persons are also classified as possessing genius, having developed the intellect to a highly superior level or as luck would have it, born with a superior learning ability.

According to Misti Snow (December 2000), to be truly well-educated, a person need to be inquisitive, to question things around them. In addition, they generally are well traveled, enthusiastic about learning and challenged by complex problems. They also possess the acumen to learn from their mistakes.

A lot of what makes an educated person is their own innate willingness to learn, a nurturing environment and the right educational resources. All of these things impact a person's ability or willingness to become well educated. The possibilities are endless given the right set of circumstances and the thirst for knowledge.

What should a person be able to do in order to deserve the title "educated"? As the first step, we may give the following answer: to be considered educated, a person should have undergone a process of learning that results in enhanced mental capability to function effectively in familiar situations in personal and intellectual life, as well as adapt to novel situations."

Obviously, knowledge and information are powerful components of being deemed well educated. Those individuals who are classified as being well educated have a broad base of general knowledge that covers a wide gamut of topics. These individuals also know how to use the knowledge they have to perform basic and complex tasks and make informed decisions.

Let's consider some of the more essential things associated with being well educated. In today's world, highly educated individuals must be able to do more than just speak, read, write and listen well. They must be able to grasp complex mathematical models, understand the intricacies of technology, appreciate the arts, and cultivate a thorough understanding of our environment and life sciences. They must be problem solvers, be ambitious, appreciate the arts and think critically as well as creatively. They must be doers and strivers, constantly on the cutting edge of learning, adding to their intellectual capacity.

According to one young student, "well-educated people share a body of knowledge, maintain a set of values, understand common cultural allusions and are prepared to participate with confidence in political, economic and social groups. Well-educated people have a sense of where they are in time, in space and in culture. They have a sense of personal and social identity. They are able to pursue their visions. They establish a context in which they explain, identify, judge, decide and act. They recognize their responsibility for changing conditions harmful to human development and opportunity. Last, but not least, they promote justice, tolerance, understanding, acceptance and community."

Well-educated individuals have the tools and skill sets to master general thinking abilities so that they are able to function efficiently and effectively in familiar situations as well as unknown environments. They continue to educate themselves in thinking, speaking and learning skills throughout their lifetime. Learning and knowledge are their instruments and they purposefully make use of every experience or opportunity to master new information or enhance their skills.

Russell Blake has a great quote that says "An educated person is one who has learned that information almost always turns out to be at best incomplete and very often false, misleading, fictitious, mendacious "

So now that we have reviewed some relevant information, perhaps we should consider answering what is a well-educated person? "An educated person is one who has undergone a process of learning that results in enhanced mental capability to function effectively in familiar and novel situations in personal and intellectual life. "