Education as entertainment means that the goal is to get the consumer to feel good about himself, to feel like he learned something. You're getting paid (in money or kudos or whatever) to engage the consumer's narcissism, not his curiosity.

This is a profound observation. I’m not sure it only applies in entertainment.

I’ve heard it put other ways, but your version, if applied to education as a whole, might be a pretty big deal. There’s no shortage of evidence, either; from Ivy League campuses to niche interest subcultures.

Maybe “narcissism” isn’t the best word, but some sort of similar tension related to confidence seems to be associated with successful educational environments. We commonly attribute it to a one-way causal relationship, but you’re articulating the opposite. Likewise, we are used to acknowledging that ‘not giving up’, or ‘belief in one’s self’ is a necessity, but again you’re making a separate claim.

You’re saying, in so many words, the confidence in and of itself defines the will as well as the curiosity. And I can’t argue with it. I want to, but I’m not sure I can.