Not many days ago… I was engaged in political debate with a person, who was quick to point out their higher learning and acquisition of a Bachelors and Masters, in something or other fields. I’m next to sure this was done to show their opinion was better formed and backed up because of same. I assured them, I, personally, am more self-educated than formally, however my opinions are not just random mindless blurting from my ass. Not in those same words, I was a bit nicer then, but must say it felt good to express them just now. Their revelation of higher learning didn’t make me feel unworthy of the debate, if that was their intent. Instead it caused me to ponder for a few days. Just when, how and why, did the institutions of higher learning come about? I have researched and now will try to share an accurate account of my findings. Not a ‘Cherry Picked’ tale as I was accused of doing in my debate with this person of higher education.

What Were The First Learning Establishments?
“”Prior to the establishment of universities, European higher education took place for hundreds of years in Christian cathedral schools or monastic schools (scholae monasticae), where monks and nuns taught classes. Evidence of these immediate forerunners of the later university at many places, dates back to the 6th century AD.””
“”Hastings Rashdall set out the modern understanding of the medieval origins of the universities, noting that the earliest universities emerged spontaneously as “a scholastic Guild, whether of Masters or Students… without any express authorization of King, Pope, Prince or Prelate.”” Wikipedia Medieval University

What Was The First University?
University of Al-Karaouine: Located in Fes, Morocco, this university originally was a mosque founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri, a woman. It developed into one of the leading universities for natural sciences. In 1957 the university added mathematics, physics, chemistry and foreign languages. This university is considered the oldest continuously operating degree granting university in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records. ~Collegestats.org~

What Was The First European University?
University of Bologna: This university was the first higher-learning institute established in the Western world in 1088. The term, “university,” was coined at its creation. Located in Bologna, Italy, this university led the Western world in educational innovations until the period between the two World Wars. At that time, leaders called upon the university to forge relationships with institutions in more advanced countries to modernize and re-invigorate its educational philosophies. This university met the call and, today, is considered a leader in the European university system. ~Collegestats.org~

When Did Sharing Knowledge Begin?
Well any self-respecting human would be right to say “Duh, from the beginning, one caveman shows another caveman how to start a fire, etc. etc.” This would be true. But, when did deeper thinking, calculations and creative expressions begin? The Bible tells us it perhaps happened in Babylon.                                                                                                                           Genesis 11:1-9
1. Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. 3. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” 5. But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6. The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” 8. So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth and they stopped building the city. 9. That is why it was called Babel —because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

Who Was The First Teacher?
Aside from what some may say, I believe that would be God, on the human side it is commonly thought to be Aristotle. Both Islamic and Christian camps claim him as a base for their knowledge. Muslim scholars claim him as the first teacher. However, who was Aristotle’s teacher, that answer is Plato. “”The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) made significant and lasting contributions to nearly every aspect of human knowledge, from logic to biology to ethics and aesthetics. Though overshadowed in classical times by the work of his teacher Plato, from late antiquity through the Enlightenment. Aristotle’s surviving writings were incredibly influential. In Arabic philosophy, he was known simply as “The First Teacher”; in the West, he was “The Philosopher.”” ~history.com~

Who Provided Education to the Great Philosophers?
It wasn’t universities. We can confidently say “that’s true”. So can we call these great thinkers ‘Self Educated’? I favor that term, for them. Rene Descartes a student of Aristotle, broke the process down. ‘Lay aside all prejudice, find the fundamental truth on which all knowledge rests. Discover the cause of error. understand everything clearly and distinctly.’ ~global-logic.net~

What Causes the Desire to Learn?
I’m not sure of that one trait that separates human instinct for learning, from that of other animals. I lean toward curiosity, yet most other animals also have that same nature. Descartes, thought ‘doubts’ were what pushed him forward in a quest to know. Personally I believe in a power greater than myself, one who created us and endowed us with the need to know. Some are going to argue this, because they won’t believe my statement fits with Descarte’s evaluation of finding knowledge. I find no discrepancy between his belief or mine.
I have drifted away from my original reason for this essay, formal education vs self-education. In today’s world a highly regarded, formal education, with the paper that comes with it, can get someone a better job and life in many cases. Yet it categorically does not overshadow those of us who, through whatever circumstances, have chosen to be self-educated. The important word is EDUCATED.

The degree of anyone’s ability to self-educate will be based on their access to materials and personal mental or physical conditions. My main ability has been an insatiable desire to know and my desire to read, thus, know. I’m not alone in that category. We are legion. I suspect we are more numerous than those with higher formal learning. Here is another plus on our side… we wanted to learn, we made the effort(s) to learn, we weren’t sent to college/university as a matter of conformity to a family standard or to gain a higher status in life. We learned for the love of learning. I suspect that was the way it was with Aristotle and Plato.

Who Are Some Famous Self Educated or Non Degree Persons?              We have nine presidents of the USA who were not recipients of a college degree and many with self-educated knowledge that carried them on to greatness in other fields.

Andrew Jackson, 1767 – 1845, President 1829 – 1837, No college education. Read law for two years and became practicing lawyer with no degree.

William Harrison, 1773 – 1841, President 1841 (died of pneumonia after just one month in office), Hampden-Sydney College – left to study medicine. University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine – left to join the army. 

Zachary Taylor, 1784 – 1850, President 1849 – 1850 (died halfway through first year in office, apparently from eating cherries and milk containing some type of type of contagion at a July 4th celebration), No college education – joined the army early in life and had a military career before entering politics. 

Millard Fillmore, 1800 – 1874, President 1850 – 1853, No college education. Read law and worked in law firms, and was admitted to New York State bar at age 23. 

Abraham Lincoln, 1809 – 1865, President 1861 – 1865, No college education. Lincoln had less than one full year of formal education in his life, in a log cabin school taught by unqualified teachers. He did a great deal of reading at home, and later worked in a store, where he had an opportunity to spend time reading numerous newspapers and other periodicals of the day. Went into Illinois politics after a very brief military career. 

Andrew Johnson, 1808 – 1875, President 1865 – 1869, No college education. Johnson grew up in poverty. Opened a tailor shop as a young man began participating in debates at an academy in his home town, which led him into politics. 

Grover Cleveland, 1837 – 1908, President 1885 – 1889 and again from 1893 – 1897, No college education. Cleveland only attended school from age 11 to 16. Father’s death forced him to drop out of high school at age 16 to support his family. No college education, though he studied law independently to become admitted to the bar. 

William McKinley, 1843 – 1901, President 1897 – 1901 (assassinated), Enrolled in Allegheny College, Pennsylvania, but dropped out in first year due to illness. Fought in the Civil War, and afterward attended Albany Law School, New York, enabling him to become an attorney in 1867. Last but not least, 

Harry Truman, 1884 – 1972, President 1945 – 1953, After finishing high school, worked in various jobs until age 33, when he attended University of Missouri, undergraduate Kansas City School of Law (attended two years, and did not receive degree). ~www.successdegrees.com/collegeeducationofamericanpresidents~  

(NOTE: I have cherry picked the following names, as there is a very large group of individuals. I chose those I am most familiar with and happen to love)

Some other famous names of those with no college degrees are: 

John Glenn Astronaut, U.S. Senator

Barry Goldwater U.S. Senator, 

Benjamin Franklin U.S. Ambassador and Founding Father, 

Winston Churchill Prime Minister of England,

Robert Frost Poet, Florence Nightingale Nurse, 

George Eastman Founder of Eastman Kodak,

George Bernard Shaw Playwright,

Peter Jennings News anchor for ABC,

Christopher Columbus Explorer.

The next three are personal favorites of mine, from way back,

Mark Twain Author

Charles Dickens Author 

Jack London Author

These next few names are probably known on sight all over the world and it’s hard to believe they have/had no college degrees,

Mark Zuckerberg Founder of Facebook,

Steve Jobs Founder of Apple,

Steve Wozniak Founder of Apple,

Bill Gates Founder of Microsoft and

Paul Allen Founder of Microsoft.

Just because he is pertinent to my history, here is

Ringo Starr Beatle.

~www.richdad.com/Resources/Rich-Dad-Financial-Education-Blog/april-2013/50-extremely-successful-people-who-never-finish~

I urge any and all who want a higher education to go for it. It is definitely a worthy aspiration. Just remember, knowledge is available to all who seek it. Self-education is not a dirty word or a condition to be disparaged.