In the old days, professors assumed their main role was to be stewards of tradition. They were the guardians of greatness passing it along to the young. Critique was an important, but minor part of their duties. The roles have reversed now--no, it's worse: it's all critique.
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@mark_bauerlein
In the old days, you mean 17. century? Because since 18. century it seems to me that you have a more systemic attack on tradition.
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@Nordisali
In academia (as opposed to the off-campus intelligentsia), the tradition orientation prevailed all the way into the 1980s, I would say.
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@mark_bauerlein
Students used to aspire to be worthy of the tradition; they had to cultivate their attention and check themselves to study it. Now, students demand that the tradition be worthy of them; professors must check themselves and cultivate whatever can be attractive to student interest.
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@mark_bauerlein
Note the current preoccupation with Year 1 thinking. It’s as if there has been a sudden collapse in Society’s immune system.
These two topics are the same topic.
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@mark_bauerlein
I think that's why I wanted to be a professor when I was younger. I can't remember a time when I've not cared very much about being a steward of tradition.
Constant critique works as well for love of tradition as it does in marriage.
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@mark_bauerlein
I think of the lectures I had as an undergrad in the early Nineties on Spenser's Faerie Queen, which were all about how it was a shameful defence of colonialism with no redeeming features. I couldn't understand why we were studying something the academics considered so vile.
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@mark_bauerlein
@yhazony
Yes, and an 18 yr. old mind is not going to challenge a professor like a real adult would.
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