Why is the Left so dominant in academia?
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that article also says "This suggests that more intelligent people in this study tended to support both greater personal freedom and less government regulation in general (libertarians take note)."
socialism is totally opposed to personal freedom in a major area of the spectrum...so I don't know how this thread can claim something that is suggesting the opposite for this study's conclusion
socialism is totally opposed to personal freedom in a major area of the spectrum...so I don't know how this thread can claim something that is suggesting the opposite for this study's conclusion
Original post by Alexion
Usually because the left keep promising free education and the like.
We all know they wouldn't hold up to that if they got into power.
We all know they wouldn't hold up to that if they got into power.
Despite the fact that the left had established this completely until right wing New Labour introduced university fees?
Original post by United1892
Because a higher proportion of intelligent people are lefties.
So true.
Original post by a noble chance
Your evidence?
Investigation found this.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2095549/Right-wingers-intelligent-left-wingers-says-controversial-study--conservative-politics-lead-people-racist.html
Original post by driftawaay
Well of course I would. I am full of empathy. I am a leftie, remember?
empathy doesn't translate into good governance/policy if you're still trying to pass off your "saintly" socialist morals as greater intelligence
Original post by sleepysnooze
empathy doesn't translate into good governance/policy if you're still trying to pass off your "saintly" socialist morals as greater intelligence
This is just getting....
[video="youtube;uyPOaBlrKuM"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyPOaBlrKuM[/video]
Original post by StrangeBanana
People choose industry for many reasons. One of them being the inability to hack a doctorate.
Lol please. in any challenging field, a teaching/research position is the easy route
Original post by a noble chance
It seems to me that the Left is represented disproportionately in academic circles and I do not know why this is. There are of course exceptions to this, but so many of them only serve to reinforce this view because of how they have been treated by their peers - think of Roger Scruton's Salisbury Review and the leper status it gave him.
Why do you think this is? Do you even believe it is?
Why do you think this is? Do you even believe it is?
I think there are three main reasons:
a) people in academia aren't motivated by money otherwise they wouldn't be in academia, which pays some of the brightest hardworking people in the country far less than the private sector would
b) not only is it the public sector, therefore in there interest to vote against the conservatives who will put their jobs at risk, but it is already a pretty unstable workplace with a lot of short term contracts and your continued employment being based on the quality and quantity of your research output.
c) academics are more likely to understand how to interpret numbers and statistics therefore less likely to buy into any sort of media spin. They question things a lot more than the general population who will believe news stories without thinking what's behind them.
Original post by VV Cephei A
those who cant do, teach
Academia is more about research than teaching though. For most academics teaching is just something they have to do as part of their job that takes time away from their research.
There appear to be academic subjects that are explicitly left-wing, not just happening to contain a lot of individuals who are privately left-wing. For instance, here is how wikipedia defines sociology:
"It is a social science that uses various methods of empirical investigation[2] and critical analysis[3] to develop a body of knowledge about social order, social disorder and social change."
And here is how wikipedia defines critical analysis:
"Critical theory was first defined by Max Horkheimer of the Frankfurt School of sociology in his 1937 essay Traditional and Critical Theory: Critical theory is a social theory oriented toward critiquing and changing society as a whole, in contrast to traditional theory oriented only to understanding or explaining it."
This is not a scientific method; it is an explicit effort to produce ammunition for a specific ideological cause. The fact that that cause is left-wing politics is incidental. It is the same difference between theology as a scientific investigation of theological texts and ideas, and theology as the attempt to interpret one given theological text on the assumption that it is true. The difference between the sort of theology practiced today at Oxford, and the sort of theology practiced in a madrasa (or in 1500 at Oxford). In these subjects, left-wing ideology has replaced Christianity as a sort of official religion. It is essentially impossible to enter these subjects without being left-wing, just as it was essentially impossible for a professed atheist to become a theology don at Oxford in 1500.
I don't think that any left bias elsewhere in academia is a direct result of this, but it is surely an indirect one, just as it was not a coincidence that most scientists and doctors were Christians at the time when enormous academic effort went in to interpreting the Bible on the assumption that it was true. People who are looking to believe in something see what is on offer and in the university system there is no equivalent centre of mass on the right.
"It is a social science that uses various methods of empirical investigation[2] and critical analysis[3] to develop a body of knowledge about social order, social disorder and social change."
And here is how wikipedia defines critical analysis:
"Critical theory was first defined by Max Horkheimer of the Frankfurt School of sociology in his 1937 essay Traditional and Critical Theory: Critical theory is a social theory oriented toward critiquing and changing society as a whole, in contrast to traditional theory oriented only to understanding or explaining it."
This is not a scientific method; it is an explicit effort to produce ammunition for a specific ideological cause. The fact that that cause is left-wing politics is incidental. It is the same difference between theology as a scientific investigation of theological texts and ideas, and theology as the attempt to interpret one given theological text on the assumption that it is true. The difference between the sort of theology practiced today at Oxford, and the sort of theology practiced in a madrasa (or in 1500 at Oxford). In these subjects, left-wing ideology has replaced Christianity as a sort of official religion. It is essentially impossible to enter these subjects without being left-wing, just as it was essentially impossible for a professed atheist to become a theology don at Oxford in 1500.
I don't think that any left bias elsewhere in academia is a direct result of this, but it is surely an indirect one, just as it was not a coincidence that most scientists and doctors were Christians at the time when enormous academic effort went in to interpreting the Bible on the assumption that it was true. People who are looking to believe in something see what is on offer and in the university system there is no equivalent centre of mass on the right.
Original post by United1892
Because a higher proportion of intelligent people are lefties.
Original post by queen-bee
Why does everyone hate lefties? They're nice people
lol that's exactly how i feel. Might be because they see them as "idealistic". Life is hard for the majority of people just trying to get by. Also they are perceived to be more pro immigration.
Vote Labour!!
Tbh most my last few gfs have been lefties, they were pretty nice people too. I tend to prefer lefties!
Original post by queen-bee
Why does everyone hate lefties? They're nice people
Original post by Bill_Gates
lol that's exactly how i feel. Might be because they see them as "idealistic". Life is hard for the majority of people just trying to get by. Also they are perceived to be more pro immigration.
Vote Labour!!
Tbh most my last few gfs have been lefties, they were pretty nice people too. I tend to prefer lefties!
Vote Labour!!
Tbh most my last few gfs have been lefties, they were pretty nice people too. I tend to prefer lefties!
Exactly,they're inclusive of everyone
Original post by Bupdeeboowah
Until they start calling you deluded, stupid, brainwashed, or even worse, spitting on you on the streets, when you disagree with what they believe in.
Has this happened to you?
I've realised it's usually the right wingers who are aggressive and sometimes racist on this site. They'll come here and make a temporary account just so they can spew some hate comments
Original post by queen-bee
Has this happened to you?
I've realised it's usually the right wingers who are aggressive and sometimes racist on this site. They'll come here and make a temporary account just so they can spew some hate comments
I've realised it's usually the right wingers who are aggressive and sometimes racist on this site. They'll come here and make a temporary account just so they can spew some hate comments
[video="youtube;8FnQmecJtJY"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FnQmecJtJY[/video]
You'll see all sorts of aggressive people on both sides of the political spectrum. The only problem is, the left does not seem too keen in purging such people from their ranks (unlike how the BNP has been relegated to the fringe of the right) and seemingly even condone such activity.
See for example this: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3253598/Don-t-worry-hipsters-cereal-cafe-got-vandalised-enjoying-publicity-says-Class-War-academic.html
Original post by Bupdeeboowah
Related:
[video="youtube;8FnQmecJtJY"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FnQmecJtJY[/video]
You'll see all sorts of aggressive people on both sides of the political spectrum. The only problem is, the left does not seem too keen in purging such people from their ranks (unlike how the BNP has been relegated to the fringe of the right) and seemingly even condone such activity.
See for example this: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3253598/Don-t-worry-hipsters-cereal-cafe-got-vandalised-enjoying-publicity-says-Class-War-academic.html
[video="youtube;8FnQmecJtJY"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FnQmecJtJY[/video]
You'll see all sorts of aggressive people on both sides of the political spectrum. The only problem is, the left does not seem too keen in purging such people from their ranks (unlike how the BNP has been relegated to the fringe of the right) and seemingly even condone such activity.
See for example this: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3253598/Don-t-worry-hipsters-cereal-cafe-got-vandalised-enjoying-publicity-says-Class-War-academic.html
I see what you mean. What do you think of Jeremy ?
Original post by queen-bee
I see what you mean. What do you think of Jeremy ?
Original post by queen-bee
I see what you mean. What do you think of Jeremy ?
Original post by Bupdeeboowah
I think Jeremy should stop making comparisons with his Chinese wife's work ethic, considering the average British person's hostility towards China.
It's in the interests of the largely right wing press to show them in the worst possible light. I've found lefties to be very welcoming personally. The right is full of nutcase racists. Who would rather see Britain go back to the "good old days". But the irony is the world's not moving in that direction any more.
Plus they say they're all pro business and "work ethic" when the only ones who win are the corporations.
Original post by JD1lla
what is the left
Labour/Communist depending how you look at it
Original post by sw651
Labour/Communist depending how you look at it
i'm not very good with the whole political compass thing. people here are obsessed with it.
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