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> But don't get the impression that tenure provides much protection for unorthodox views. I understand. I just think every degree of security/authority is a de

> But don't get the impression that tenure provides much protection for unorthodox views. I understand. I just think every degree of security/authority is a degree of "flexibility" (not quite "freedom") within the institutional structure of academia. Which is on par with totalitarian-oriented structures. > If the higher ups want to get rid of you, they'll find a way I am very curious who are the "higher-ups" in an institution dedicated to the production and enrichment of intelligence within humanity? If you are a brilliant professor exercising scientific thinking against your own establishment, then who really is considered "higher" than you? Are these higher ups objectively more intelligent? Perhaps, sometimes. But, my guess is the vast majority of the time these higher ups are just politically-savvy administrators who are just in it for the prestige and money. Science has become adulterated by the same incentive structures as religion e.g., endowments, donations, etc. It is not run for the promotion and of intelligence but rather for the optimization of the clerical. Administrator is practically synonymous with clergy. > If you mean that to advance requires unquestioning belief then I would largely agree. I am not even attempting to argue anything with regards to belief or faith. I am simply trying to make obvious the simple observation that structurally things tend to converge towards a certain status-quo (equilibrium) in almost everything. Academia is not free of this reality even if many within like to (naively or blindly) believe they are. But, it is most frightening that science itself (almost the epitome of which is to question) has converged towards these exact same structures (as religion and government often do) almost without any hindrance to becoming such. It is actually scary. I am genuinely hoping the younger generation changes this dramatically. But, I am not seeing it. Most millennial academics are either supportive or entirely silent towards the status-quo.

btrettel 7y ago
> I am very curious who are the "higher-ups" in an institution dedicated to the production and enrichment of intelligence within humanity? I was thinking about both university and department administration, though for the latter I'm thinking only about faculty members with administrative positions. Also included are committee members. > But, my guess is the vast majority of the time these higher ups are just politically-savvy administrators who are just in it for the prestige and money. I think most genuinely believe they are doing what is in the best interest of science in general, perhaps limited by their own capabilities as they see it, i.e., they can't do everything and need to follow their bosses and incentives. But these people aren't always helping. > I am genuinely hoping the younger generation changes this dramatically. But, I am not seeing it. Most millennial academics are either supportive or entirely silent towards the status-quo. I would tend to agree that the younger generations don't seem any better in these respects than the older. But there is a growing independent science movement, and I'm hoping eventually they'll move the needle. Many of them are here: https://forum.igdore.org/ https://forum.igdore.org/

btrettel 7y ago

> I am very curious who are the "higher-ups" in an institution dedicated to the production and enrichment of intelligence within humanity? I was thinking about both university and department administration, though for the latter I'm thinking only about faculty members with administrative positions. Also included are committee members. > But, my guess is the vast majority of the time these higher ups are just politically-savvy administrators who are just in it for the prestige and money. I think most genuinely believe they are doing what is in the best interest of science in general, perhaps limited by their own capabilities as they see it, i.e., they can't do everything and need to follow their bosses and incentives. But these people aren't always helping. > I am genuinely hoping the younger generation changes this dramatically. But, I am not seeing it. Most millennial academics are either supportive or entirely silent towards the status-quo. I would tend to agree that the younger generations don't seem any better in these respects than the older. But there is a growing independent science movement, and I'm hoping eventually they'll move the needle. Many of them are here: https://forum.igdore.org/ https://forum.igdore.org/