I had a chat the other day about Bertrand Russell and Ludwig Wittgenstein. Ludwig studied under Russell—mathematical principles and all—and went on to achieve fame. It’s truly amazing how inquisitive and sharp their minds were in the early part of the previous century.
I compared that to some of the academic papers coming out of universities today. I was horrified the other day to see a paper on surfing—revisionist—and the contribution to society is probably very small.
Here’s the conversation between me and Sandra Bullinachinashop (real name omitted for legal reasons).
CB: I can’t believe where universities are going these days. What sort of academics are they churning out? These papers they write—who acts on them? What contribution are academics making to society?
SB: Can you believe it? I’m paying—and you are too, as taxpayers—for all this bullsh*t. It’s worthless.
CB: Aren’t you being a bit harsh? I mean, academics must make some sort of contribution…
SB: Well, if you look at the number of unemployed graduates, then you can see how successful they are, aren’t they?
CB: I came across a youngster with a master’s degree in something like jewellery design. Can you believe it? About 25 years old—and the only job she can get is in modelling.
SB: What do you expect? When will these people get a real job?
CB: What fascinates me is how professors at this university can sit in their jobs for 40 years—and at the end of it, what have they achieved? In science, or the arts, or social science? Have they discovered anything new? Have they contributed to society? Or have they just been well-paid and well-fed educators—teachers? As Mark Twain said: “Those who can’t—teach.” Things haven’t changed.
SB: What’s going on at some of these universities—not only here in South Africa but all over the place—they’re revising history! When you read some of their stuff, you can’t believe you lived in the same world. Where were they? What were they doing? What were they smoking?
CB: I suppose everyone’s got to earn a living… and by being propagandists for their masters, that’s the only way they can survive. By telling lies to keep their salaries going at these so-called “prestigious” universities.
SB: Don’t get me going… prestigious my foot.
(She shifts in her chair and wants to get up.)
CB: Who cares about them anyway? Thank goodness I’ve got no children at university.
SB: But as I said—we’re paying for all of this mess. I have no gripe with real studies, like engineering and medicine. But these social studies and PhDs in art? It’s ridiculous.
CB: I see you going after the subject like a dog after a bone. Let’s go make supper.
SB: Always when I get started you want to go do something else. You never want to listen to me.
CB: Okay… well, I am all ears.
SB: Oh never mind—let’s go make supper.
