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E.D. Hirsch Jr.

E.D. Hirsch Jr. is a literary critic and educator known for emphasizing the importance of shared cultural knowledge in effective communication and education. He argues that for people to understand each other and grasp texts or ideas fully, they need a common core of background information—things like history, literature, and cultural references. Without this shared knowledge, even skilled readers or speakers may struggle to interpret meaning. Hirsch advocates for education that strengthens this cultural literacy, believing it helps promote better understanding, critical thinking, and social cohesion.