tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post3087769732619639732..comments2024-02-23T11:23:45.971-05:00Comments on Lost Motorcyclist: Again the Question, Why are Universities so Liberal?Lost Motorcyclisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08873504561959138792noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2156536327610779049.post-34809013300067328902013-03-10T08:37:13.764-04:002013-03-10T08:37:13.764-04:00You quote John Henry Newman, but Newman has also w...You quote John Henry Newman, but Newman has also written that, through a university education, '<i>a habit of mind is formed which lasts through life.</i>'<br /><br />For the sake of argument, let's assume that that 'habit of mind' is one which questions received wisdom and is willing to entertain fresh ideas. After all, many of the tangible benefits to society which have emerged from universities have largely come from the willingness of researchers to 'think outside the box.'<br /><br />Of course, like most things in life, nothing is perfect, and we do have live with strange aberrations such as the Chicago University '<i>freshwater</i>' economists.<br /><br />But, in general, a willingness to challenge dogma and closely examine the leading paradigms have generally been characteristics of academia, characteristics of any healthy research. And, hence, we consistently see statistics indicating university faculty are predominantly 'liberal.'<br /><br />http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2010/01/18/arts/18liberal-2/popup-v2.jpg<br /><br />But, in the larger context, as secondary education continues to be watered down, loses its value, and the university degree becomes the 'new high school diploma,' not only does the ratio of students interested primarily in the 'ticket' (i.e. rather than true 'learning') become significant, but 'credentialization' takes over from 'education.'<br /><br />And with that trend, the door opens to more dogmatic faculty members. As, as university faculty hire each other, we may now be witnessing the 'thin edge of the wedge' in operation. <br />Madeyehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593933575568389288noreply@blogger.com