This podcast explores the threats facing universities, such as rising costs and bureaucratic bloat. It also discusses excessive spending on diversity and inclusion, and the trend of self-criticism within academia. The origins and development of medieval universities are also explored, highlighting the limited education during the Dark Ages and the role of printing press in establishing university libraries.
The rising cost of college education and the burden of student loans are major threats to the university system in the United States.
Universities play a critical role in fostering a well-educated citizenry and advancing human progress, making any threat to the university system a cause for concern.
Deep dives
Threats to the University System
The podcast discusses the threats facing the university system in the United States, including escalating college tuition costs, student debt, bureaucratic bloat, and illiberal thinking. It highlights how universities are spending a significant amount of money on administrative bureaucrats instead of investing in education. The rising cost of college education and the burden of student loans are major concerns. The podcast provides specific examples of excessive administrative salaries at the University of Michigan, questioning their value compared to the salaries of assistant professors. It also addresses the shift in college curriculums towards illiberal thinking and the focus on divisive, rather than unifying, aspects of history and culture.
The Sacredness of Universities
The podcast explains the importance of universities in modern civilization. It emphasizes the role of universities as workshops of wisdom, cultivating knowledge and protecting it from self-destruction. Universities have been critical for fostering a well-educated citizenry and advancing human progress. The podcast argues that any threat to the university system should be a cause for concern and discusses the historical significance of universities as institutions of learning over the past 800 years.
Evolution of Universities
The podcast traces the evolution of universities from their early beginnings in medieval Europe to the modern era. Initially, universities served a primarily religious purpose, focused on reconciling biblical teachings and classical philosophy. Over time, universities expanded their academic programs, embraced reason, and began incorporating the latest scientific insights. The podcast highlights how universities became repositories of knowledge, instilling a culture of learning and contributing to the advancement of various fields. The development of libraries and the emphasis on original research and tenure further transformed universities into modern academic institutions.
The Future of the University System
The podcast expresses concerns about the future of the university system. While acknowledging the enduring value and resilience of universities, the podcast emphasizes the need for university leaders to prioritize knowledge and uphold the principles of academic freedom. It warns against succumbing to political pressures and the erosion of tenure, which could undermine the pursuit of truth and compromise the integrity of universities. The podcast suggests that the fate of the university system rests on the ability of leaders to reaffirm their commitment to knowledge and withstand societal trends that prioritize administrative concerns over education.
Like many others, I’ve begun to worry about the fate of higher education in American society.
Having spent most of my professional life in academia, my instinct is to regard the university system as sacred - as Wisdom’s Workshop, to borrow the historian James Axtell’s recent book title.
Liberal democracy relies on a very well educated citizenry. And, modern civilization more generally relies on a significant number of us possessing hard-earned historical perspective on what is true and what is good, and hard-earned scientific perspective on the full reach of human potential.
Any threat to the university system should worry us. Today, there appear to be multiple, and the most frustrating thing of it is... those threats seem to be mostly self-imposed.
In this episode, I highlight those threats and explore the history behind the legacy of modern knowledge.