Why so many leftist academics?

Akria · 17-09-2007, 06:39 PM

I have heard from ex-lecturers that it is quite difficult to get such a job.
They have no real reason to try impressing me.

Akria

John Carter · 17-09-2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akria

I intend on becoming a university lecturer in mathematics.
Just a bit more ammunition for you to claim that I'm left-wing, John.

Well, let me tell ya - if you're not left wing you'll soon be so disillusioned with the system that you'll leave.

Been there, got the t-shirt.

Smidgey · 17-09-2007, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Carter

Who told you that ****? Let me guess - the professors who want to impress you?

My brother who is attempting to do it?

John Carter · 17-09-2007, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akria

I have heard from ex-lecturers that it is quite difficult to get such a job.

I attended a course as a student. Within three weeks they'd asked me to become a lecturer, since I actually knew more about the subject than anyone in the department did.

It's that easy. You just have to know your stuff.

Besoeker · 17-09-2007, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smidgey

It is actually exceptionally difficult to get a job in academia. Especially in philosophy.

Did you have a career path in mind when you decided to study philosophy?

Smidgey · 17-09-2007, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Besoeker

Did you have a career path in mind when you decided to study philosophy?

Nope.

I got enough flak from my brothers (who did biology and engineering and are now in jobs from their degrees) that I don't need any more of it from people telling me not to study what I love to study

. I dislike the notion that education is only to prepare future generations for work. That's the mentality that gave the UK degrees in beauty therapy...

EDIT: Although, I do have a rough idea of what I would like to do with my life.

Akria · 17-09-2007, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Britannia

I was wondering why there are so many leftists in academia, to the point where it seems almost the "default setting" in our universities.

Just for the sake of it, I tried Googling "leftist intellectual" and "rightist intellectual". The results were 1,530,000 and 241,000 respectively.

This raises all sorts of questions for me. For example:

Are those who are not left-leaning discriminated against at university? Not only at the entry stage, but in having dissertations making a case for views of another hue receiving lower marks - simply because people have become so conditioned this way?

Do people see it as a credential of their academic/intellectual status to be left wing, and see having these views as proof of their credibility?

We seem to have become conditioned into a situation where the arguments of traditionalists, small "c" conservatives or nationists are automatically viewed as having less weight.

Also, as, I like to believe, a liberal intellectual, I corrected your search terms to 'left-wing intellectual' and 'right-wing intellectual'.

The former provided 1,590,000 results; the latter 1,860,000.

Personally, I think both extremes are fairly stupid.

Akria

Akria · 17-09-2007, 10:24 PM

Furthermore, ''liberal intellectual' yields 2,130,000.
And 'libertarian intellectual' yields 1,770,000.

Akria

Aardvark · 17-09-2007, 10:31 PM

Fascist intellectual got 6,650!!!!!!

Akria · 17-09-2007, 10:51 PM

I'm surprised.
I expected somewhere in the region of 10 at most.

Akria

17-09-2007, 06:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
Akria Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Grimsby, NELincs Posts: 2,477 Party: None	I have heard from ex-lecturers that it is quite difficult to get such a job. They have no real reason to try impressing me. Akria __________________ I am getting very tired of people not reading my posts properly. Please do not reply to me unless you are sure you have not missed out the key points I am making and key words I am using. http://real-democracy.co.uk \| Admin and proud The commonality of mankind: If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?

17-09-2007, 10:24 PM	#18 (permalink)
Akria Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Grimsby, NELincs Posts: 2,477 Party: None	Furthermore, ''liberal intellectual' yields 2,130,000. And 'libertarian intellectual' yields 1,770,000. Akria __________________ I am getting very tired of people not reading my posts properly. Please do not reply to me unless you are sure you have not missed out the key points I am making and key words I am using. http://real-democracy.co.uk \| Admin and proud The commonality of mankind: If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?

17-09-2007, 10:31 PM	#19 (permalink)
Aardvark Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oxonia Posts: 3,987	Fascist intellectual got 6,650!!!!!! __________________ When in Woking do as the Wokes do. "I do not wish to form my opinions by thoughtlessly quoting others; I wish others to support their opinions by sensibly quoting me." Paul Wesson (Aardvark) 13th April 2008

17-09-2007, 10:51 PM	#20 (permalink)
Akria Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Grimsby, NELincs Posts: 2,477 Party: None	I'm surprised. I expected somewhere in the region of 10 at most. Akria __________________ I am getting very tired of people not reading my posts properly. Please do not reply to me unless you are sure you have not missed out the key points I am making and key words I am using. http://real-democracy.co.uk \| Admin and proud The commonality of mankind: If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?

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