Education and work have made us all increasingly specialized. The prevalent idea is that we all have to be experts in narrow fields. The other day I came across an Oxford lecturer who specializes in “bad music”. What next? Another lectures in hip-hop, not music, but hip-hop. We are so specialised that we seldom have a good overview of the world.

We have it the wrong way round. First, we should be learning how to to think critically and learn about connecting the dots of a hundred specialisms; and then we should train for a job. Universities are supposed to teach us critical thinking, but are under pressure to prepare students for specific jobs. Some understand the importance of liberal arts, others do not. “How do you expect to get a job with a history degree?” is a typical question. In terms of general knowledge we are going gently backwards, concentrating over-much on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, not to mention offering technical training rather than a broad education.

Epicurus was a thinker and philosopher whose mind ranged over many issues, from physics to personal relations, to death. He would have told us to educate ourselves, which means being first a generalist with an intelligent overview of the human race. Secondly, he would want us to cling to that habit of having a broad and critical outlook for the rest of our lives. For in being interested in a myriad of things and connecting the dots between them, we enjoy a more interesting life, are more sought after by our friends and more value to employers.