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| Gábor Bethlen among his scholars (Sketch) by Géza Dósa |
Once upon a time attending college meant belonging to an intellectual elite: people were informed, cultivated and interesting to listen to. Back then, being ignorant was an anathema. Members of the elite wouldn’t offer an opinion upon a certain subject unless they were absolutely sure about the facts.
Once upon a time, when someone ignored something, it wasn’t afraid or ashamed to ask and learn from its companions. Back then, people seemed to ooze intellectual sophistication. Reason reigned.
Presently, attending college is a political-economic tool and not a path to intellectual nourishment.
In fact, attending college has become so banal that many individuals seem not to be bothered by being uninformed, uncultured and annoying to listen to.
Today, being ignorant is something to be proud of. Nowadays, most folks are so opinionated: they often offer opinion upon things they know little about. Holding the facts is not interesting because facts and propaganda (+ demagoguery) do not match.
These days, one has to give the impression of knowing all. God forbid that others realise how little information one holds; and thus the answer is to wear the “smart-a**e” mask, as a defence mechanism. In present times, most people seem to exude irrationality.
Emotions reign.
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Dissecting Society™ welcomes all sorts of comments, as we are strong advocates of freedom of speech; however, we reserve the right to delete Troll Activity; libellous and offensive comments (e.g. racist and anti-Semitic) plus those with excessive foul language. This blog does not view vulgarity as being protected by the right to free speech. Cheers
Hmmm. This reminded me of the three things the modern world inherited from the Dark Ages: 1) The University. 2) The Ph.D. 3) Peer Review.
ReplyDeleteI probably oversimplified a bit.
What astounds me is that today someone will spend more than US $100,000 to get a degree that will neither help one get a job nor bring one any closer to being educated.
While we are at it, I have a question: Is to "ooze intellectual sophistication" a virtue or a vice? (I mean in the classical sense, not the modern!)
Hey Looney :D!
ReplyDelete"Hmmm. This reminded me of the three things the modern world inherited from the Dark Ages: 1) The University. 2) The Ph.D. 3) Peer Review."
lol so so true.
"I probably oversimplified a bit."
Let's just say that it practically sums it all up, really.
"What astounds me is that today someone will spend more than US $100,000 to get a degree that will neither help one get a job nor bring one any closer to being educated."
Right? It astonishes me as well *nodding*.
In Portugal, getting a degree is much cheaper than that (with good quality), however the final result is generally the same.
"While we are at it, I have a question: Is to "ooze intellectual sophistication" a virtue or a vice? (I mean in the classical sense, not the modern!)"
Excellent question!! :D
Oozing intellectual sophistication can either be a virtue or a vice (depending on the attitude of the sophisticated intellectual). It can be a virtue when the individual uses that sophistication to promote personal and collective well-being. Whereas it can a vice, when the intellectual sophisticates its mind in order to commit hideous crimes (and people who do it, obviously have a defective character) - this reminds me of the movie "Seven" (the serial killer was intellectually sophisticated, yet this quality turned into a vice).
Looney, always a pleasure talking to you :D! Thanks for this marvellous comment!
Cheers
Very well said max.
ReplyDelete"These days, one has to give the impression of knowing all. God forbid that others realise how little information one holds; and thus the answer is to wear the “smart-a**e” mask, as a defence mechanism.
In present times, most people seem to exude irrationality.
Emotions reign." - I've met some of them, and the more you try to prove your point, the more they try to explain and elaborate by going to another topic and totally ignoring the real topic.
Thanks for the visit sweetie. I hope you are doing great too. Take care!
*kisses and hugs*
"Presently, attending college is a political-economic tool and not a path to intellectual nourishment."
ReplyDeleteAmen to this and everything else you have said, Max. We are indeed in an irrational age in which people look outside themselves for validation, collect friends as well as riches, and place little emphasis on knowledge, virtue, or self-mastery.
It's a sad state of affairs. I don't understand how our species can endure unless we learn again to listen, to value knowledge and learning, and to respect others' opinions. But first we must learn to respect ourselves!
Hi Max! It has been sometime since I attended any form of college but back in the early days, three things came first, rugby league, cricket and of course, my education.
ReplyDeleteI do know of professional students of all ages, who strive to obtain as many degrees etc as they can possibly get, and, all without the need for a job. How do they survive?
I guess they have parents and or connections who are willingly to go above and beyond the call of duty.
Then there's the case of people studying their hearts out, only to find no jobs at the end of the road.
Take Care,
Peter
Dear max, impossible to know everything.We can know something or what we want to know.
ReplyDeleteFor example: a Lawyer...he doesn´t all laws but if he wants to learn about CIVIL RIght he can it.
In fact, we never know the whole world of the subjects!!!!
be happy! and take care, sweetheart
Max:
ReplyDeleteYou clever gal you. I know you weren't talking about the students. You were talking about the professors. LOL!
I bow to your wisdom.
Happy trails.
Hey Liza :D!
ReplyDelete"Very well said max."
Thank you so much *bowing*!
"I've met some of them, and the more you try to prove your point, the more they try to explain and elaborate by going to another topic and totally ignoring the real topic."
I so know what you mean *nodding*...
"Thanks for the visit sweetie. I hope you are doing great too. Take care!"
You are most welcome, darling! Yes, I am doing just fine, thanks! Take care yourself, Liza!
My dear friend, thank you for your input :D!
Cheers
Hi Lynda :D!
ReplyDelete"Amen to this and everything else you have said, Max."
Thank you ever so much *bowing*!
"We are indeed in an irrational age in which people look outside themselves for validation, collect friends as well as riches, and place little emphasis on knowledge, virtue, or self-mastery."
Amen to what YOU have just said here! Yes, this is indeed it!
"It's a sad state of affairs. I don't understand how our species can endure unless we learn again to listen, to value knowledge and learning, and to respect others' opinions. But first we must learn to respect ourselves!"
I agree with you: like totally!
Lynda, an amazing comment for which I thank you a million times :D!
Cheers
Hi Peter :D!
ReplyDelete"It has been sometime since I attended any form of college but back in the early days, three things came first, rugby league, cricket and of course, my education."
LOL you played rugby? Awesome!
"I do know of professional students of all ages, who strive to obtain as many degrees etc as they can possibly get, and, all without the need for a job. How do they survive?"
I also know people like that: well, some survive upon grants; others on personal wealth; and others at the expense of their parents....it is a choice of life, I guess.
"I guess they have parents and or connections who are willingly to go above and beyond the call of duty."
Indeed...
"Then there's the case of people studying their hearts out, only to find no jobs at the end of the road."
Oh yes, there are thousands of those too...
Peter, thank you ever so much for this fabulous comment :D!
Cheers
Hey Grace :D!
ReplyDelete"Dear max, impossible to know everything.We can know something or what we want to know. For example: a Lawyer...he doesn´t all laws but if he wants to learn about CIVIL RIght he can it."
You may be right.
"In fact, we never know the whole world of the subjects!!!!"
What about savants?
Grace, thanks for your input: it is always great when you migrate from Etnias over to MAX :D!
Cheers
Hey Swu :D!
ReplyDelete"You clever gal you. I know you weren't talking about the students. You were talking about the professors. LOL!"
LOL LOL thank you, man! *no further comments*....LOL
"I bow to your wisdom."
I bow to YOUR wisdom *bowing*!
Swu, thank you so much for your comment :D!
Cheers
Max, you got that right.
ReplyDeleteI think education overall is getting very diluted everywhere, and sometimes meaningless. Some just get the degree, and .... yeah and what?
Max lot of great points. Sorry to spam you with all these comments tonight. I did not realize that I was that behind, lol. Anna :)
Anna, hi :D!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right.
Thanks, for your input, Anna (it is much appreciated)!
And don't worry about the "spam": you are allowed lol ;).
Cheers