Category Archives: academia

So, Um, What’s the Value of a Liberal Arts Education Again?

From John Lingan’s “They’re All Zombies,” about a new craze sweeping colleges nationwide: Now that the game has been embraced by students at a dozen-odd other colleges, we can see its proponents for what they really are: kids who view college as a four-year playground. These students exists at any school—hence the popularity of H …

March 4, 2010 – 6:08 pm | By ashok | Posted in academia, education | Comments (3)

Briefly Noted: James W. Ceaser, “The Roots of Obama Worship”

James W. Ceaser, “The Roots of Obama Worship” James Ceaser has written credible and thoughtful articles before. In fact, I think it’s from him that I learned the Electoral College was designed so that not one popular vote was cast for the President. The article I’ve linked to above – which I am not too …

January 18, 2010 – 10:46 am | By ashok | Posted in academia, politics | Comments (4)

Briefly Noted: Kevin Carey, “That Old College Lie”

Kevin Carey, “That Old College Lie” The article is excellent and should be read by as many as possible as soon as possible. The primary call is for information: American colleges grant more than 300,000 bachelor’s degrees in business every year. Whose graduates are most successful in business? There are anecdotes, but no available, comparable …

December 17, 2009 – 3:05 pm | By ashok | Posted in academia, education | Comments (3)

Should Political Science Receive Money from the Federal Government?

I only indirectly am involved in this fight: given the nature of what I do, I might apply one day for an NEH grant if it were possible. I doubt I’ll be studying electoral models or conducting surveys any time soon, and applying to the NSF for a grant is rather unlikely for me. I …

October 9, 2009 – 5:21 am | By ashok | Posted in academia, politics | Comments (0)

What does success on the Internet look like?

Still thinking about how all this adds up, if it does. I’m aware there are gaps in the reasoning. 1. Been saying to people recently stuff like “look at the top bloggers, look at Kos, who basically transformed the Democratic party into his vision – no one knows who these people are, yet you can …

September 30, 2009 – 5:44 pm | By ashok | Posted in academia, blogging, education | Comments (3)

If I want to get started reading Leo Strauss, where do I begin?

Amazon sent a promotional e-mail this morning informing me there is a Cambridge Companion to Leo Strauss, and I took a look and yeah, there are some big names writing the essays: Stephen Smith, Laurence Lampert (whose work on Nietzsche I really need to spend more time with), the Zuckerts (whose work generally I need …

June 15, 2009 – 10:36 am | By ashok | Posted in academia, philosophy, politics | Tagged | Comments (16)

Prompt: Should a University have a class on the Red Sox? If so, who should take it?

Cute quote,  but this class on the New York Yankees, started in response to a class on the Red Sox, is probably still a waste of time and money: “From World War II through the turn of the century, the Yankees were the dominant cultural icon of this country,” says Mr. Curtis. “Nobody can deny …

March 14, 2009 – 10:28 pm | By ashok | Posted in academia | Comments (10)

Ah, the joys of libel…

…let’s play how many problems can you spot with this: However, a more intricate criticism is offered by the followers of Leo Strauss, who also believe in a hermeneutics of culture, and often echo many of Adorno’s criticisms of accessibility and art. Their critique rests on the anti-capitalist nature of Adorno’s orientation, arguing that while …

January 29, 2009 – 11:39 pm | By ashok | Posted in academia, personal | Comments (6)

English professor demonstrates why sitting around and being paid to muse can create really crappy articles

William Deresiewicz, whose “The Disadvantages of an Elite Education” article was excellent, has produced an absolute stinker in the Chronicle of Higher Education: “The End of Solitude” is a case study in how not to write. It’s far too long and very badly argued, and it is the latter I want to focus on, because …

January 24, 2009 – 7:19 am | By ashok | Posted in academia | Comments (2)

Professor William Ayers and the Corruption of the Academy

Before I begin, let me make something clear: reading Bill Ayers’ blog has made me feel really sorry for the guy, not because he’s done anything right, but because he just sounds nuts. Part of me feels as if he’s being used, weirdly enough, by people like Senator Obama and the educational/political establishment in Chicago. …

October 21, 2008 – 4:42 am | By ashok | Posted in academia, education, politics | Comments (6)