ABSTRACT
Every society believes in educating its children, that much is clear. What is less clear is why a society wants to educate its children. One would think that the subject matter that is taught would inform us about the presumed purpose of education, so let's look at what is taught and see if we can figure out why it is taught. But while doing this, we need to realize that Plato was in a quandary about this as well:
There yet remains one difficulty which has been raised by you about the sons of good men. What is the reason why good men teach their sons the knowledge which is gained from teachers, and make them wise in that, but do nothing towards improving them in the virtues which distinguish themselves?
Plato (Protagorus)