Final answer:
C.S. Lewis's quote reflects the classical and philosophical ideals of education, which emphasise teaching usefulness, honoring meritorious aspects, and appreciating beauty, in line with the values of wisdom, courage, justice, truth, and virtue promoted by Socrates, Confucius, and other thinkers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quote by C.S. Lewis suggests that education serves multiple functions: it teaches what is useful, honors what deserves recognition, and appreciates what is beautiful. When considering the views of philosophers like Socrates, who valued wisdom, courage, justice, and other virtues, we understand that the quote reflects a classical ideal of education. A similar ethos was shared by Confucius, who stressed the importance of truth, beauty, and goodness, as well as personal reflection, imitation, and experience as means to acquire wisdom.
The Enlightenment philosopher Denis Diderot also reiterated the role of arts in making virtue attractive, and thinkers like Confucius underscored true knowledge as recognizing one's own capacities and limitations. Thus, the quote captures the essence of education as a holistic approach to developing individuals who can appreciate and aspire to moral excellence, aesthetic beauty, and practical utility.