Why so many leftist academics?

Lady Britannia · 17-09-2007, 02:17 PM

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.

harryaldridge · 17-09-2007, 02:32 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.

More to the point it brings into question the word 'intellectual'! Surely leftist intellectual is an oxymoron?!

Smidgey · 17-09-2007, 03:10 PM

I am the only libertarian in my political philosophy class and there is one more right winger (conservative) in my legal philosophy class - so we don't agree on everything anyway.

I can speak from philosophy, since it is my degree. There seem to be very few right wingers in British philosophy and there are many socialists - which is a real shame considering British philosophy has a very long tradition of classical liberalism (with Locke, Smith, Mill, Hume and such). America is a little different - although they still have large numbers of socialists in academia they have still had some very prominent names on the right side of the political spectrum (recently at least) - especially in libertarian philosophy, with the likes of Robert Nozick and Milton Friedman (despite not being a philosopher, he obviously influenced political, legal and economic philosophy).

Every time I walk through my university campus there are posters for parties such as the Communist Party of Britain, the Scottish Socialist Party and RESPECT and so on. It's sickening really and the number of students who buy into this rubbish sickens me even more.

Aardvark · 17-09-2007, 03:30 PM

Does Smidgey's post imply that I am not the only guy on the forum to have to have read some of Nozick's theories? I studied Rawls, Nozick and Dworkin as part of the jurisprudence element of my first law degree.

Our college, Trent Poly, was more balanced and whilst the leftists were noisy they found out that they were in the minority when they tried to call students out on strike to support a campaign against cuts. It was quite funny, we had a wet Tory as union president, but the rest of the executive were left. The lefties realised they had a problem so held the crucial meeting on the Clifton campus outside Nottingham and provided one bus to get the other 3000 students from the city centre. The president booked 7 more buses that ran in shifts and the meeting was attended by a 4-figure number of students (the usual silent majority). The lefties tried all the usual delaying tactics, motions and debates about rules and procedures, but everyone sat put for hours until the main vote was held and the left were comprehensively defeated (they had hoped to impeach the president, but that fell as well).

On another occasion the left also tried to ban the NF from speaking, but the meeting was inquorate. Initially it started with lefty after lefty proclaiming support for free speech and then justifying banning it. There were 3 NF supporters present and, by a reasoned argument, aTory proposed that the NF be allowed to put their view. As the meeting couldn't ban the NF it meant that the longest speech,followed by Q&A, was from the NF. How we laughed.

Smidgey · 17-09-2007, 03:46 PM

I have read and studied Nozick. We did a comparative between Rawls and Nozick (since Nozick is obviously replying to Rawls in Anarchy, State and Utopia) and I have to say - Rawls is the most boring person I have ever had to read, if you need something to send you to sleep, Rawls will do it. I really enjoyed reading Nozick though and although he has some flaws his most famous work is really good and I'm sure you would agree.

I'm at Edinburgh university and I have to say, where you went to sounds like paradise compared to here. We have had green presidents after socialist presidents after Labour presidents again and again and again. They vote on banning any products that they think are harmful to the environment or the third world. I am a person who does believe global warming exists, but do I think government will ever be able to do anything about it? Absolutely not! Something about the free speech example you gave above happened at Edinburgh when the president Tim Gee (a green) banned a course run by the Christian union. Whilst I am not a Christian myself and I did not agree with the course the Christian Union was running I was not in favour of banning it. You probably read about this at the time, since it was in the national newspapers.

University politics at Edinburgh is completely dead and I just know the consecutive leftist 'governments' are the reason. We have a virtual 'one party state' up here. The only glimmer of hope is that the student newspaper seems to be rather fair and balanced and gives both of the sides of the argument that are clearly missing in our university's politics.

Aardvark · 17-09-2007, 04:01 PM

I couldn't agree more about Rawls.

Student politics has changed a lot. There almost seems to be a consensus that 'left' is normal. Odd the ban on Christian courses, the Labour Party grew, in part, out of the Methodist movement.

John Carter · 17-09-2007, 05:54 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.

Because they're too stupid to be able to hold down a job in the real world. Simple as that really.

Smidgey · 17-09-2007, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Carter

Because they're too stupid to be able to hold down a job in the real world. Simple as that really.

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

Akria · 17-09-2007, 06:38 PM

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

Akria

John Carter · 17-09-2007, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smidgey

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

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

17-09-2007, 02:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lady Britannia Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London Posts: 9	Why so many leftist academics? 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.

17-09-2007, 03:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Aardvark Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oxonia Posts: 3,987	Does Smidgey's post imply that I am not the only guy on the forum to have to have read some of Nozick's theories? I studied Rawls, Nozick and Dworkin as part of the jurisprudence element of my first law degree. Our college, Trent Poly, was more balanced and whilst the leftists were noisy they found out that they were in the minority when they tried to call students out on strike to support a campaign against cuts. It was quite funny, we had a wet Tory as union president, but the rest of the executive were left. The lefties realised they had a problem so held the crucial meeting on the Clifton campus outside Nottingham and provided one bus to get the other 3000 students from the city centre. The president booked 7 more buses that ran in shifts and the meeting was attended by a 4-figure number of students (the usual silent majority). The lefties tried all the usual delaying tactics, motions and debates about rules and procedures, but everyone sat put for hours until the main vote was held and the left were comprehensively defeated (they had hoped to impeach the president, but that fell as well). On another occasion the left also tried to ban the NF from speaking, but the meeting was inquorate. Initially it started with lefty after lefty proclaiming support for free speech and then justifying banning it. There were 3 NF supporters present and, by a reasoned argument, aTory proposed that the NF be allowed to put their view. As the meeting couldn't ban the NF it meant that the longest speech,followed by Q&A, was from the NF. How we laughed. __________________ 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 Last edited by Aardvark; 17-09-2007 at 03:42 PM.

17-09-2007, 04:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Aardvark Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oxonia Posts: 3,987	I couldn't agree more about Rawls. Student politics has changed a lot. There almost seems to be a consensus that 'left' is normal. Odd the ban on Christian courses, the Labour Party grew, in part, out of the Methodist movement. __________________ 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, 06:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
Akria Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Grimsby, NELincs Posts: 2,477 Party: None	I intend on becoming a university lecturer in mathematics. Just a bit more ammunition for you to claim that I'm left-wing, John. 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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17-09-2007, 03:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
Smidgey Uber Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 2,222 Party: Libertarian Party	I am the only libertarian in my political philosophy class and there is one more right winger (conservative) in my legal philosophy class - so we don't agree on everything anyway. I can speak from philosophy, since it is my degree. There seem to be very few right wingers in British philosophy and there are many socialists - which is a real shame considering British philosophy has a very long tradition of classical liberalism (with Locke, Smith, Mill, Hume and such). America is a little different - although they still have large numbers of socialists in academia they have still had some very prominent names on the right side of the political spectrum (recently at least) - especially in libertarian philosophy, with the likes of Robert Nozick and Milton Friedman (despite not being a philosopher, he obviously influenced political, legal and economic philosophy). Every time I walk through my university campus there are posters for parties such as the Communist Party of Britain, the Scottish Socialist Party and RESPECT and so on. It's sickening really and the number of students who buy into this rubbish sickens me even more.

17-09-2007, 03:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
Smidgey Uber Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 2,222 Party: Libertarian Party	I have read and studied Nozick. We did a comparative between Rawls and Nozick (since Nozick is obviously replying to Rawls in Anarchy, State and Utopia) and I have to say - Rawls is the most boring person I have ever had to read, if you need something to send you to sleep, Rawls will do it. I really enjoyed reading Nozick though and although he has some flaws his most famous work is really good and I'm sure you would agree. I'm at Edinburgh university and I have to say, where you went to sounds like paradise compared to here. We have had green presidents after socialist presidents after Labour presidents again and again and again. They vote on banning any products that they think are harmful to the environment or the third world. I am a person who does believe global warming exists, but do I think government will ever be able to do anything about it? Absolutely not! Something about the free speech example you gave above happened at Edinburgh when the president Tim Gee (a green) banned a course run by the Christian union. Whilst I am not a Christian myself and I did not agree with the course the Christian Union was running I was not in favour of banning it. You probably read about this at the time, since it was in the national newspapers. University politics at Edinburgh is completely dead and I just know the consecutive leftist 'governments' are the reason. We have a virtual 'one party state' up here. The only glimmer of hope is that the student newspaper seems to be rather fair and balanced and gives both of the sides of the argument that are clearly missing in our university's politics.