Uneducated Or Ignorant?

Many people use the word “ignorant” and “uneducated” interchangeably, which is ironic given that the word “ignorant” is largely composed of the word “ignore.” An ignorant person is not someone who hasn’t been to school, but someone who ignores what is obvious, common, easily observable, often discussed, or typically advised. An ignorant person is someone who doesn’t pay attention to reality.

An uneducated person is someone who doesn’t know who wrote the Divine Comedy. An ignorant person is someone who thinks that giving away lots of free money will solve the problem of poverty—even if this is what they teach in schools.  Paying attention to the way the world works won’t clue you in to the author of the Comedy, though it will help you understand how free money is typically spent.