The Technology

"How do you mean?" asked Plato.

Musk auspiciously grinned. "I mean, leveraging technology to accomplish democracy, on a globalized scale, is easy. Blockchain, 256-bit encryption, ID verification, decentralized streamlining. I'm not concerned with that. The real challenge, the ultimate problem, in many ways, is orchestrating education, by means of technology, to ensure that democracy doesn't succumb to any tragedy of the commons. In the year 2019, education is outdated by hundreds of years. Education needs to be educated, which, seemingly, is a catch-22. Regardless of the workaround, here's what needs to happen.

"Education needs to embrace virtual reality - the means by which you can see someone else, and speak with that person, in a digital setting. In terms of curriculum, 21st-century education is long-overdue for a 21st-century upgrade. Core subjects are physical education, mathematics, reading/writing, history, science, social studies, art. Our core curriculae must accommodate the full spectrum of intelligence - of personal development. Physical education must be replaced by 'health' - physical health and mental health alike. Finance, philosophy, and career development must be their own core subjects as well. Law and politics might as well be added to the mix. There must also be a core teaching of rudimentary life skills - cooking, mechanics, social intelligence. We must apply a precise leveling system, if you will, to each of these core areas of learning, and we must not limit someone by their age to their level. For instance, if you are six years old but are proficient in algebra, you should be placed at - say - 'mathematics level seven.'

"Financially, practically speaking, we must pay teachers, of any level, at least $100,000 per year, and progressively, globally speaking, we must judge the quality of our global civilization in terms of how educated its members are, by rethinking how we test and gauge learning development. If we master education, then we master democracy, then we master justice - and only in that order. Technology is truly the key to this mastery because technology empowers our civilization to conquer time and space alike."

"So what you are suggesting, if I understand correctly, is rule by intellect?" asked Plato.

"More or less. Intelligence conquers all."

"I tried that with Athens," Plato continued. "I tried convincing the politicians to allow the philosophers - the wisest, most intellectually advanced members of society - to rule, and I failed. Quite miserably."

There was a long pause. Finally, Alexander spoke.

"I may know why."