That reminds me there is a book about stupidity that the author thinks is a subject that should be studied seriously, because it's a real issue with people, IIRC.

I don't know if learning has much to do with our definition of success... "Successful" came to mean "rich" in the Victorian era. It is an unspoken assumption these days that how much money you make determines your worth as a person, in the West at least. It's a consensus we have come to as a society, it seems. If two guys meet at a party, the one who makes more money will probably be more dominant in the interaction. It takes an effort of will (1) not to feel less confident and (2) not to be defensive about it at all. I suppose the pressure to make money does keep things ticking over, even if it might destroy the biosphere.

Learning by itself isn't really considered a part of "success" I think. If you have a PhD but no job, people probably tend to think that just makes you more pathetic due to your "wasted potential". Even if you say have a voluntary job saving jobs on a suicide hotline, I don't think the average person would define you as "successful".

As for how it should be measured, success literally refers to reaching a goal or achieving a certain outcome, but I don't know if that warrants a "should". What people should value is how morally people act. That is kind of true by definition, from the moral implication of the word "should".

If the question is what the goals of education should be, knowledge is power, but systems are also beautiful. Power and beauty can go together well too!

To be educated? One is educated enough when one isn't a burden on society. No books to cite; just 42 years of experience and some education classes.

This allows the level to move depending upon location and needs.

Why should one learn chemistry when they will not use it? Same for Trig? It might help one to not look foolish when helping their kids on homeowrk

There's the question of a civilization becoming stagnent, but I think there's enough achievers out there to keep things moving (assuming that progress is indeed good)

As a Human being you should take few things seriously.

1: Empathy
"otherwise misunderstandings are going to happen frequently, wich can lead to everything from a lovers breaking up to a bigger scale of world wars"

2: Common Sense
"Not using commn sense will help you lose a arm, end up in jail, or getting buried into the ground*

3: Imagination
"Imagination is by my standards the most important thing of my lifestyle. Imagiantion helps you invent thing you never thought possible, create entertainment, show what you feel like; as in for example: paintings, writings and music etc"

4: Inspiration
"Inspiring your fellow humans about what we can do, what would happen if they took a wrong turn in life, what they can do to prevent them from making mistakes and wrong doings"

5: Religion & Science & Education
"I'm not a very religious man to tell the truth, But what religion in the long run is trying to do is not make you worship a big man in the sky or to wage war on the other man cause he thinks his god is better then your god, but to get humans and everyone to be friends, to avoid conflict, to make peace with your fellow man, but unfortunetly people are delusion so they see what they think is the right thing but is in fact the wrong thing"

"Science as in contradiction to religion is something to help human vision get further in the natural world but not the spiritual one, but even if your religious you should not see science as work of the devil but as work of god, as it helps you keep yourself standing, helps you learn what "God" wanted you to learn"

"Learn what you are and what you want to become, learn things to help you prevent making the same mistake more then once"
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I try my hardest to explain, but i know that my explaination will be hard to understand as i can't never really explain things like i want to explain them. Such is the human condition, some things we are good at and soem we are bad at, but if we imagine, get inspired, use all logic and common sense we have, then we will learn to become more then what we are, to not keep ourselfs in the gutter, but to breach the big door that says; Here and no further.

Again i say, i'm sorry for my lack of skill to explain what i'm trying to say.

To be considered "educated" by me, you need to be able to talk about one field or subject area in such a way that I honestly believe everything you're saying makes sense, and I think you're talking clearly, but I also am completely incapable of understanding what you're saying, no matter how long we talk. If I walk away feeling like I learned some minor detail, that's good too.

If you aren't fantastic with math, and aren't experienced with non-Euclidion geometry or calculus, try to read Space, Time, and Space-Time for a great example of what I'm talking about. The writers of that little book really aren't trying to confuse anyone, they speak in as layman-y terms as they can, and it still frequently goes over my head.

Edit: as for what I think everyone should have, it's quite simple: realize that things cannot hurt you or please you, and that it is only your reactions to things that can affect you. Exercise every last bit of self-control you have, and live the best life you can, realizing that loving a salad is far better than not loving a feast. This is the key to life, and it's been known to humanity for a long time. Figures who exercise this ability perfectly are legendary (stoic sages or buddhas), but everyone can use this ability a little bit.

So it seems there is swinging opinions on whether learning should be based on the best of society and personal needs. (Or that learning, if it not a big necessity, shouldn’t be a big priority)
The list is needed and it helps to get your characterization of the subjects or reasons for them. Seems kind of hard, to discuss such a topic, without something defined.
I’ll be looking for Space, Time, and Space-Time, thank you for that.
But based on you first couple of lines, would it be incorrect to assume that you think sophism is the way to go? Can that be defended morally? (Unless ethics is a hindrance for development, like in Macavellies “the prince”)

I personally think that reading some Terry Pratchett books and the Hitchhiker Trilogy could be a good way to promote some intelligence and rational thinking.

Couldn’t agree more. Have the Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy series and the Terry Pratchett “Making Money”

A basic understanding of most things, and mastery of at least one productive thing.

In other words, study something useful like engineering, rather than some self fulfilling, pseudo intellectual horse[censored] like sociology or gender studies etc.

HAH! Too late! Joke’s on you.
And I’m quit proud to work at a restaurant serving quickly created nourishment, thank you.

Ah yes, graffiti spotted in one of the toilet cubicles at college, above the toilet-roll dispenser: "sociology degrees: please take one." I remember looking at the timetable for the sociology course and being astonished to see they only had three hours of lectures a week. No wonder they had all that spare time to monopolise the Students Union in what was basically a science and engineering college.

Pardon if I missed it...

Isn't well-educated, or knowledge, culturally defined?

I'm seeing a slant to book learnin'. What about those who know when to harvest the wild rice because the see a ceratin bird arrive? This bird eats the grub, which eats the mature rice. How about those who can't read, yet can fully provide food for a family of 10 by subsistance farming? Aren't they well educated, too?: how to read nature, how to keep a family together, cultural history...

edit: modern by time, or modern by cultural identity?