title: ["Education" in an age of increasing equality--a path towards 'ochlocracy"?].
abstract: A philosophical and scientific analysis of how the concept of equality has developed from biological, political, sociological, social, economic and--not least--cultural points of view. The focus here is on the German chronic shortage of educational facilities continuing for decades, a cultural revolution without any foreseeable end. These reflections encompass a period of around two and a half millennia, beginning with the Ancient Greek state philosophy, reaching into our epoch of advanced globalisation with momentous changes in Western social welfare states. In consideration of a biochemical and intrinsic individuality based on genetic and epi-genetic factors, equal opportunities are an unlikely prerequisite in evolution. With regard to free education, equality can only be a starting point since, due to individual differences, egalitarian aims of education within a "group university" can never open up equally good chances to everybody. Because of a misunderstanding of equality, the student revolt in 1968 brought forth an egalitarian remodeling of school and university careers accompanied by a leveling, among other things a "university of education for the masses". Instead of "educational knowledge" based on scientific nature, an education towards vocational knowledge and regulation of studies took place. At present, a socialistic reversal of the school system aimed at learning together in ,community schools" until the 10th grade is in progress. The unity of (pure) research and teaching no longer exists. The change in the system supported by a welfare state will have consequences in worldwide competition. The final point of the Cultural Revolution, following historical examples, could be the emergence of a degenerate form of democracy: Ochlocracy.
authors.forename: Dieter Paul
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mertz
mesh_terms: D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003468:Cultural Evolution; D003709:Democracy; D004493:Education / Q000639:trends*; D005858:Germany; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D038622:Internationality; D008399:Mass Behavior; D017145:Models, Educational; D010684:Philosophy; D011057:Politics; D012945:Social Values; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000639:trends*; D012950:Socialism / Q000639:trends; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors