Profession by Isaac Asimov

I love a good commentary on modern education systems. This novella feels especially relevant as AI makes it seem more possible than ever to have knowledge without working for it. The story is well done, and it gave me lots to think about.

Some unorganized thoughts:

• I find it particularly interesting that Asimov combines the idea of effortless education and an obsession with efficiency that eliminates personal choice in the matter. Do the two inherently go together? I’m not sure, but I can see how the former might lead to the latter.

• The focus on efficiency and planning, plus the 1957 publication date, makes Profession seem like it may have been a critique of communism. Yet the key aspects of Asimov’s fictional society don’t seem that far off from where modern Western capitalism is headed, either.

• A common complaint about modern education systems, at least in the U.S., is that they encourage regurgitating information and squash the true desire to learn. Given the content of this story, I assume that same concern existed 70 years ago. I hope that we can figure out how to do better 70 years from now.

• The way that Earth maintains a monopoly on the “tapes” for the most advanced skills is a curious detail. Even with information that can be shared via direct download to the brain, imposed scarcity to allow making a profit trumps open access.