Erik, I think we're talking different reference groups. Your experience (and mine) may not be that unique in the U.S. or in the developed world in general.
Does education help expand one's horizons and perspective? Almost certainly. Lack of education doesn't doom one automatically to a Hobbesian perspective on life, but considering it tends to go along with lack of other basic resources, it will tend to narrow one's focus. Despite it's shortcomings, I think Maslow's triangle is still basically valid for this: if you are constantly trying to scrounge out a living, higher-level goals such as overcoming prejudice and creativity will take a back seat.
This leads into macro issues of whether rising education corresponds with declining religiousity, whether greater education tends to increase societal isolation and individualism, and whether increased individualism can coexist with strong tribal/familial/religious ties. One could devote a life's work to trying to answer any one of those, and I won't pretend to have simple answers to those questions.
no subject
However:
* Globally illiteracy is still at 20%.
* Only about 27% of the world population lived in countries ranked as "very high" or "high" on the UNDP's Human Development Index (table L).
* Global enrollment in tertiary (college) education is only 26%, compared to 71% in N. America and western Europe.
Does education help expand one's horizons and perspective? Almost certainly. Lack of education doesn't doom one automatically to a Hobbesian perspective on life, but considering it tends to go along with lack of other basic resources, it will tend to narrow one's focus. Despite it's shortcomings, I think Maslow's triangle is still basically valid for this: if you are constantly trying to scrounge out a living, higher-level goals such as overcoming prejudice and creativity will take a back seat.
This leads into macro issues of whether rising education corresponds with declining religiousity, whether greater education tends to increase societal isolation and individualism, and whether increased individualism can coexist with strong tribal/familial/religious ties. One could devote a life's work to trying to answer any one of those, and I won't pretend to have simple answers to those questions.