Needless to say, he is a full professor and tenured. Great deal for him...not so great for taxpayers.”
I have been in and around the higher-ed “industry” for most of my adult life. Here are a few observations:
1. Yes, there are tenured professors who aren't worth the salary they are paid.
2. Yes, there are tenured professors who study arcane subjects the social value of which are difficult, if not impossible, to defend.
However,
3. There are many professors who work 60-70 hours per week, following their passion for understanding the fascinating world around them.
4. There are exciting breakthroughs in our understanding of biology, chemistry, cognition, and human behavior that regularly occur on college campuses, with and without the support of large research grants. Some of these discoveries have saved or improved countless lives and have contributed critically to the ongoing improvements in our collective well-being.
Years ago I attended a history conference with my then-chairman. One speaker was a medievalist (now retired) who gave what to me was an interesting talk about a society in medieval Spain whose mission was to ransom Christians who had become prisoners of the Muslims. Afterwards my chairman was livid: his attitude was that we should only be interested in topics that will make our students better citizens.
What is the social value of knowing about the battle of Marathon or the battle of Cannae?
In 413 B.C. the Athenian forces besieging Syracuse were destroyed because, following a lunar eclipse, their general Nicias believed the soothsayers who told him that they should not go anywhere for 27 days. The delay in leaving led to them all being killed or captured, with few exceptions.
I'm thinking of going to a conference in October which would require traveling less than 27 days after a lunar eclipse. I'm pondering whether it's safe to do so, bearing Nicias' experience in mind.
Arcane knowledge rocks!
Years ago I attended a history conference with my then-chairman. One speaker was a medievalist (now retired) who gave what to me was an interesting talk about a society in medieval Spain whose mission was to ransom Christians who had become prisoners of the Muslims. Afterwards my chairman was livid: his attitude was that we should only be interested in topics that will make our students better citizens.
What is the social value of knowing about the battle of Marathon or the battle of Cannae?
In 413 B.C. the Athenian forces besieging Syracuse were destroyed because, following a lunar eclipse, their general Nicias believed the soothsayers who told him that they should not go anywhere for 27 days. The delay in leaving led to them all being killed or captured, with few exceptions.
I'm thinking of going to a conference in October which would require traveling less than 27 days after a lunar eclipse. I'm pondering whether it's safe to do so, bearing Nicias' experience in mind.
Arcane knowledge rocks!