← All stories
Education & Learning

High-Achieving Students More Fearful of Uncertainty Than Previous Generations, Professor Observes

Big Think · A philosopher’s argument against the cult of achievement | Zena Hitz: Full Interview · July 10, 2026
High-Achieving Students More Fearful of Uncertainty Than Previous Generations, Professor Observes
Big Think
Big Think
A philosopher’s argument against the cult of achievement | Zena Hitz: Full Interview
"It does seem that they are more fearful about uncertainty, about not knowing, about sitting in the space where they really don't know what the answer is going to be. They really don't know what's going to come out of their mouths. That's very uncomfortable. It's uncomfortable by nature, but it's particularly uncomfortable for these young people."
Hitz observes that today's young people display heightened discomfort with uncertainty and not knowing answers compared to previous generations. She attributes this to relentless achievement culture where any mistake feels like sudden death, and to the internet teaching students to view learning as information retrieval rather than an open-ended process of discovery.
From this episode
Big Think
Big Think

A philosopher’s argument against the cult of achievement | Zena Hitz: Full Interview

August 3, 2026 · 48m · 4 Egleze moments
Read episode summary and key points →

More moments from this episode

Education & LearningHumanities Majors Collapsing as Students Face Pressure to Choose Lucrative CareersEntertainmentMC Hammer Studies Consciousness and Nature of Life Through Scientific ResearchFaith & SpiritualityPhilosophy Professor Left Academia for Monastery to Rediscover True Intellectual Life
More stories More from Big Think