No argument from me. Unfortunately “the system” for both advanced degrees (MS, PhD) for students, promotion and tenure for faculty require “research”. Should such a system be replaced? Yes ! But with what?
Questions that have to be answered for a replacement system to work
1. How do you train a student in “research” without doing “research” even “bad research” is better then no “research” or so its thought.
2. How do you measure faculty performance?
3. How do you even measure good teaching by faculty? Letting the students fill out evaluaion forms? Easily defeated ! If yu give out A’s all the students love you!
And here I am only talking about science & engineering!
Humanities, liberal arts & social sciences are just publishing personal prejudices and calling it “unbiased reserach”. Of course in the academic culture it has the same cache as research in medicine, science & engineering.
1. How do you train a student in “research” without doing “research” even “bad research” is better then no “research” or so its thought.
Should such a system be replaced? Yes ! But with what?
What does history teach us?
Patrons. Many basic researchers had a patron, an individual who believed in the research and supported it. Personal relationship and accountability. It was a good idea looking for money, not abundant money looking for any idea.
Real problems. capitalism seeking money and paying paying for research to get it done.
Common threads: passion, philosophy of seeking the truth, individuals, not government.
There is a role for government in research but it is always the individual, personal responsibility, personal risk.
Final Answer: I don’t know. The Invisible Hand is always at work.