Man Or Sheep Peter Cave Analysis

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In relation to the education system itself, and everything which it provides, students are indeed sheep with little to no free will. This is in the sense that students have no freedom of choice in the subject matter being studied until they attend, if they attend, college, but even then, the choices may be limited. English philosopher and author Peter Cave included an essay titled “Man or Sheep” in one of his books. This essay questions free will itself in regard to when an authoritative governing force is in command. This relates to the topic of students being sheep as they are thrown into the educational system without warning by their parents, yet instead of leaving they stay as they fear the consequences, limiting their free will.
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For countless years rules and laws have been in place with one constant idea of what is right, limiting one's freedom entirely. It is common thought that we should obey these rules set, as “obeying the [rules] is the right thing to do,” and they should never be broken, even (Cave 460). If we disagree with them. This idea of obedience to rules in which we do not agree with but still comply to demonstrates the amount of effort that will need to be placed in compliance with trying to stop students from being sheep, and giving them free will, in regard to their education. Also, if the idea came to mind of not have consenting to being placed in such a system, it should be stated that people were placed in these systems by their parents, who cared nothing for a child's consent regarding their future. Once students are of an age of rational thought, however, they may begin to question why they are in such a system, with thoughts of them not having consented as well. What these students fail to realize is that “our obedience [means]...we consented,” and that is all the established authority figure needs in order remain in a position of power (Cave 460). Students staying within a system such as this implies that they are accepting of the rules and will follow them accordingly, further supporting the

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