> the academic discipline with its rigor, criticalness, and policing against self-promotion is a kind of last-bastion for intellect in the West If academic dis

> the academic discipline with its rigor, criticalness, and policing against self-promotion is a kind of last-bastion for intellect in the West If academic discipline really taught rigor and critical thinking, do you think the subjects of this article would be putting themselves through such horrible experiences? From what I've seen, critical thinking (which I do regard as a highly desirable capability, on a personal level) has to be acquired outside of any established institutional framework. An institution which actually teaches critical thinking is at a disadvantage in many circumstances, because it reduces compliance and hence organizational strategic focus. That disadvantage means that well-established institutions almost always have ways to shut critical thinking down. Those which don't tend to be out-competed by those which do.