Category Archives: School / Education

Why are most professors and university administrators to the left of the general population on politics?

This is an interesting question and one which Becker and Posner grapple with on their blog last week. Posner says it’s bizarre, and posits a couple reasons including: a) Jews tend to sympathize more with left-wing causes, and Jews occupy a disproportionate number of higher ed positions, and b) Men and women who came of age in the 60’s now occupy senior positions in the academy.

Becker, an intellectual himself, is more interesting:

In his 1950 book, Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy, the great economist, Joseph Schumpeter, discussed exactly this question when asking why intellectuals were so opposed to capitalism during his time? His answer mainly was that businessmen do better under capitalism, whereas intellectuals believe they would have a more influential position under socialism and communism. In essence, Schumpeter’s explanation is based on intellectuals’ feeling envious of the success of others under capitalism combined with their desire to be more important.

I do believe that Schumpeter put his finger on one of the important factors behind the skepticism of intellectuals toward markets, and their continuing support of what governments do. Neither the unsuccessful performance of the US government first in Vietnam and now in Iraq, which they so strongly condemn, nor even the colossal failures of socialism and communism during the past half century, succeeded in weakening the faith of intellectuals in governmental solutions to problems rather than private market solutions. Since their basic hostility to capitalism is largely unabated, but they are embarrassed to openly advocate socialism and very large governments, given the history of the 20th century, intellectuals have shifted their attacks to criticisms of the way they believe private enterprise systems treat women and minorities, the environment, and various other issues. They also promote political correctness in what one can say about causes of differences in performance among different groups, health care systems, and other issues.

I believe considerations in addition to simple jealousy and envy are behind the opposition of intellectuals to capitalism. A belief in free markets requires confidence in the view that both sides to a trade generally gain from it, that a person’s or a company’s gain is not usually at the expense of those they trade with, even when everyone is motivated solely by their own selfish interests. This is highly counter-intuitive, which is why great intellectuals like the 16th century French essayist, Marquis de Montaigne, even had a short essay with the revealing title "That the Profit of One Man is the Damage of Another ". It is much easier to believe that governments are more likely than private individuals and enterprises to further the general interest.

Of course, the evidence that has been accumulated since Schumpeter’s book gives good marks to free market systems in promoting the interests of the poor and middle classes, including minorities. And examples abound of corrupt and incompetent government officials who either mess things up for everyone, or promote these officials’ interests. This evidence has impressed the man and woman in the street, but intellectuals are more removed from the real world, and tend to rely on and trust ideas and intellectual arguments.

…In effect, intellectuals have changed their views far less than other groups in response to the evidence. While intellectual opinions have stood rather still, the general population has moved their thinking against government solutions and toward solutions that use markets and other private transactions and relations.

Alan Jacobs, over at The American Scene, links to this National Review article which begins:

I am old enough to remember when America’s colleges and universities seemed to be the most open-minded and intellectually rigorous institutions in our society. Today, something very much like the opposite is true: America’s colleges and universities have become, and have been for some decades, the most closed-minded and intellectually dishonest institutions in our society.

To which Alan asks:

What do people mean when they talk about intellectual dishonesty? How does that differ from any other kind of dishonesty? Is there some kind of dishonesty that’s not intellectual? I have just never understood that phrase. What would Barone’s sentence lose if you just struck out the word “intellectually”?

It’s a good question. In my post on what it means to "intellectually respect" someone, I say that intellectual honesty is the willingness to change one’s mind and be open to all viewpoints. But it’s definitely ambiguous.

As to the original point around whether America’s universities have become closed-minded and intellectually dishonest, I think there’s something to it. Fortunately not all colleges fit this bill.

If you really want to go suck the gas pipe, read this New Atlantis review of I Am Charlotte Simmons by two professors who say college is really as soul-sucking as Tom Wolfe thinks, or read Bill Bennett in the NRO who thinks we should abolish the department of education.

I wrote a brief commentary for Marketplace, a radio program that airs on NPR usually after "All Things Considered". The topic was "Thinking like an entrepreneur in college," since it’s back-to-school time. It aired a couple days ago.

Although I’ve done a couple dozen radio interviews / live conversations, I’ve never written anything in essay format. Much different than writing for print — I had a good time working with the producer to both write and record the piece in the studio (they mix and match your best lines).

I’m starting to like this "get paid to write" thing….

Text transcript below. Will I really be able to be entrepreneurial in college? Time will tell!

Most people, when they hear the word entrepreneur, think of someone who starts their own business.

And while that’s an accurate definition — I started my first company when I was 14 — it’s not the whole story.

Anyone can think like entrepreneur…even about going to college.

Acting like an entrepreneur means exposing yourself to randomness and being relentlessly optimistic.

But no matter how hard you try, you have to be in the right environment. That affects what kind of rebel you might become.

My parents instilled quiet confidence but they never said if you set your mind to it you can change the world.  They were sober.

So was I.  Local governments never go out of business and they have constant customer service needs. So, I created a software company filling those needs.

College has its own atmosphere and influences.

Some schools turn students into life-long learners and problem solvers. Others teach them how to be professional task masters.

But in the end it’s up to me to be as entrepreneurial as possible about my college experience.

I need to cold call professors I find interesting.

I need to do that old business thing known as networking, but in the sheltered world of higher ed, that means genuine friendship-building.

I need to remember that the benefit of going from an A- to A+ is probably not worth the all-nighters it would require. Just like companies need to ship, ship, ship and not tinker till perfection.

In other words, settle for good enough, not perfect.

Sure, like any good entrepreneur, I need to take risks, but this time of the intellectual sort. The college environment might be the one place where changing your mind is celebrated, not dismissed as flip-flopping.

Yes, famous entrepreneurs like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs dropped out of college. But to pass up such a defining experience without trying it first?

That’s not what a true entrepreneur would do.

We’ve hit a new low for political correctness on campus. The University of Michigan LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgendered) office has determined that its name offends a boatload of excluded people. Excerpt from post:

And guess what? The name “Office of LGBT Affairs” oppresses straight people too, a.ka. “allies.” So they’re going to change the name. Great! So call a meeting, toss some ideas around, and pick a new name. Easy! Ah, no. That’s not the way it works in the LGBTQIALMNOP community. Everyone has to be included, every voice has to be heard, input welcomed, feelings honored, etc., etc., etc. And a respectful, inclusive process takes time. How much time?

Three years.

That’s not a typo. They devoted three years to getting due input and coming up with a more inclusive name.

And the wheels of higher ed keep spinning…

(hat tip: Andrew Sullivan)

I have to study a foreign language for at least a semester in college and I’m trying to decide between Spanish and Japanese. I turn to you, dear reader, for advice and insight.

My goals, in ranked order of importance:

1. Fulfill foreign language requirement in college
2. Study abroad and be able to speak local language
3. Become fluent in another language for this sake alone
4. Use my language skills in business / work

Current language skills:

Throughout middle and high school, I studied Spanish. I did OK in Spanish classes — I wasn’t terribly motivated to be proficient, but 7 or 8 years of academic study has given me a reasonable base of vocabulary and some basic grammar. I’d say I’m a 5 out of 10 on the Spanish proficiency scale.

Why I wouldn’t just study Spanish:

Last fall, I visited Japan for two weeks. I loved Japan. Whereas Spanish can hardly qualify as a foreign language in California — it is very much part of our culture, especially in the service industry — Japan and Japanese language struck me as exotic, tremendously different, and a real challenge to digest. A challenge with a payoff, though, for with the language you gain access to a wonderful culture and country.  For these reasons, I had been planning on studying on Japanese in college.

Why I’m having second thoughts about Japanese:

A few weeks ago I visited Mexico and discovered how much Spanish I actually knew and that with a couple years of concerted focus I could probably become fluent. I’ve also been thinking about how Spanish continues to penetrate all aspects of the U.S. — well beyond mere blue collar labor. Finally, while I love Japan, I also recognize how much time and energy it will take to become fluent in the language starting at ground zero. It would be an intensive effort that would come with tradeoffs.

So that’s where I’m at. I’d like to commit to whatever language I begin studying in college. I need to decide soon.

Thoughts from language-buffs, speakers of either Japanese or Spanish, or anyone else would be appreciated.