A few years ago I read some research about people's sense of humour. Among the interesting findings was that people with poor or underdeveloped senses of humour seemed unaware of this. The researchers deduced that this was so because precisely those skills that give one a good sense of humour are necessary to be able to recognize it. To speak plainly, if you're not funny, you're clueless as to why you're not funny, and why other people are.

At the time it brought to mind an old Athenian acquaintance, Mediocrites Alexandros, a former baggage-train organizer who had emigrated from Athens to Byzantium to serve as a parasite in the bureaucracy. Though he would often claim that 'paper-pushers will rule the world', few took his ramblings seriously, as they also knew of his own self-professed 'drollery' which always fell flat and his consternation on his travels with those merrymaking wits who entertained the citizens.

But as the subject of 'education' has come up, I reflect upon some things I have seen in my diplomatic career. In my current post as Official Athenian Ambassador to the Keltic tribes, I have plenty of first-hand experience in acculturating barbarians to the finer manifestations of our high civilization.

I have witnessed various citizens from our AncientWorld civilizations making remarks about 'scholarship' or the lack thereof.

Let me say that most of these remarks may be dismissed out of hand. Just as those without a sense of humour do not possess the tools to judge humour, so those without the rigorous discipline of scholarly EDUCATION are in no position to judge scholarship per se.

The issue here is confused. The meaning of 'education' need not be as profound as we are making it. 'Education' is simply the acquisition of certain mental tools and a body of cultural capital, for example in the form of 'knowledge'.

Now what one does with this 'education' and 'knowledge' is by all means a worthy question to pursue. I know plenty of people with advanced degrees, that is, who are highly 'educated', but have all the wisdom of ducks. On the other hand I have known leatherworkers who possess keener minds, better instincts, and a wisdom superior to professors, lawyers, and doctors.

But to attempt to share this distinction with a motley crew of savages is a fool's game. Those who know, they know. Those who don't? Well, they have the choice of learning and observing, and perhaps even learn something, or, like the ass in the parable, bray to their hearts' content.

When an ass brays about scholarship, it is still an ass.