The Troublesome "Q Question"

This week, we read an article about The "Q" Question that summarized how various authors went about answering the "Q" question in their respective books. The article explains that the Q Question has been perplexing those in the humanities field for years and how the Strong Defense and Weak Defense are two different camps people often fall under when attempting to answer the question. Rhetorical education and how that related to morals and being a good citizen. The two methods of teaching, that is, "the Great Books" and "the course in method" are also explained. Overall, the Q Question seems to remain unanswered, controversial, and complex and it is one we should stop trying to evade.

The passage I wanted to discuss was the one involving one's university years, that is, the non-"primal slime" part of one's life:

"In this short time [four years in college] he [or she] must learn that there is a great world beyond the little one he [or she] knows, experience the exhilaration of it and digest enough of it to sustain himself [or herself] in the intellectual deserts he [or she] is destined to traverse. He [or she] must do this, that is, if he [or she] is to have any hope of a higher life... They [the years in college] are civilization's only chance to get to him [or her]."

This passage is explaining the university's crucial role in a person's life in terms of socialization and in achieving happiness via a "higher life." It is during one's college years that one often discovers the bigger, "real" world outside of their own and learns to work with others and their different worlds. This is significant because, at the end of the day, everyone wants to be happy. If university plays such a huge role in happiness a lot of people financially unable to attend college miss out.

I agree with the fact that one's university years can be very impactful and eye-opening but I am hesitant about the final statement from the above passage. University is not the only socialization structure that exists. Even if one did not go to university, they would still be socialized and exposed to civilization via their job, errands, and the like. Thus, although college may be the most effective way for civilization to reach people, one does not necessarily need to go to college in order for civilization to reach them.