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Abstract

Quite naturally, the debate surrounding education raises questions that go much beyond the pedagogical framework. A major problem in Western societies is that the objectives presented to our youth are mediocre, centered as they are on comfort and leisure. A primary duty is to define societal issues that educe a collective yearning. I perceive two such issues as being of fundamental importance: the first is the ethics of knowledge (once advocated by Jacques Monod), and the second is global solidarity. It is clear that, should we fail to persuade our young generations to take up the banner of solidarity, we are heading toward a worldwide conflict within the next 30 years, and all will be lost.