education for democracy

Democracy is completed through citizen participation. Since we aspire to a structure where all citizens' voices are reflected rather than rule by a select elite, we have long emphasized public education. It was possible to convey basic literacy to many citizens even at ratios of 1:30 or 1:40, which undoubtedly contributed to the development of democracy.

However, our current definition of 'literacy' needs reconsideration. This is because it focuses solely on "the ability to understand given content and find intended answers." The most crucial element - "the capacity for independent thinking" - has somehow disappeared. The ability to make judgments and engage in discourse has been excluded from the definition of literacy.

These limitations in education, intertwined with modern information delivery structures, create larger problems. We are producing intellectuals who can read and understand information delivered through media and social networks, but lack the ability to view it critically and raise counterarguments. These individuals easily fall into groupthink.

We now stand at a new inflection point with AI. We've entered an era where anyone who wishes can receive high-quality 1:1 education at a modest cost. But we need to pause and reflect: "What is education?" "What kind of people should we be nurturing?"

True democracy is based on citizens' 'genuine will.' We must pay attention to the word 'genuine' here. We need to be able to distinguish whether our decisions are truly 'our own' or merely something we 'believe to be our own.' Modern technology can become a tool to enable this distinction. This is precisely what X, Palantir, and DOGE are focusing on.

The pursuit of "right reason," one of Western civilization's core values, remains valid. We must now create a new definition of education suitable for the AI era. Beyond simple information acquisition, developing citizens with independent thinking and critical analysis abilities - that is perhaps the greatest challenge facing modern democracy.