Abstract
It is commonly assumed that formal education fosters both knowledge and character development. However, this study questions the integrity of this assumption. This research aims to investigate whether education and obtaining higher qualifications genuinely lead to enhanced general knowledge and a heightened awareness of one's ignorance regarding certain topics. Cross-sectional data from the World Values Survey (N > 90,000) on educational levels, general knowledge, and the acknowledgement of ignorance were analysed. Education levels corresponded with elevated general knowledge; however, both educated and less educated individuals displayed similar tendencies to acknowledge their unfamiliarity with certain topics. The hypothesis proposing that higher levels of education correlate with superior general knowledge was supported by the data, but the commendable trait of acknowledging one's ignorance does not appear to be cultivated among those with higher degrees. This research raises important questions about the value of advanced education as a builder of character and could constitute a call to universities to incorporate more formal ethics training into their curriculum.
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