Final answer:
Education plays a significant role in human society, contributing to industries, culture, and knowledge. This belief contrasts greatly with the perspectives of people like Hobbes, who saw life without civilization and education as brutish and short. Education, therefore, is integral to human existence and civilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Without education, man is just a beast' underscores the vital role of education in human society. According to many Europeans until the early 20th century, humans were essentially selfish, pursuing their own personal interests. This view suggested that without the civilizing forces, which include education, society would reduce to chaos and selfishness. Yet, anthropologists challenge this notion by illustrating small communities that adequately function without formal leadership or codified laws.
Furthermore, the philosopher Hobbes detailed a grim picture of life without civilization, and in essence, education. He argued there would be no industry, no culture of the Earth, no knowledge of the world, and worst of all, a life characterized by fear, danger, and brutality. Education, therefore, is critical in developing industries, promoting culture, engendering knowledge, and preventing a Hobbesian 'nasty, brutish, and short' life.
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