Animus Quote by David E. Cooper
“Like Nietzsche's own writings on education, most of mine were relatively youthful ones. Both were inspired by a critical animus against prevailing trends in education: in Nietzsche's case, the production either of 'useless', dry-as-dust scholars or people 'useful' for the needs of an expanding industrial economy; in my case, a similar subjection of education to economic imperatives, but also to ideological obsessions, notably with promoting 'equality'.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Education and the Crisis of Equality, 2005
Both critique education's subservience to economic and ideological goals, urging a return to genuine learning beyond utility.
In simple terms: Education should serve learning, not just economy or ideology.
Question education's purpose beyond profit and conformity.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- curriculum design
- teacher training
- policy reform
- student empowerment
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What would education look like if freed from market demands?
- How can we balance equality with individual creativity?
Economic pressures often dominate reforms, sidelining deeper learning.