3 ms·
The essay reads as satirical to me. Especially the ending line: > My sole desire is that when future generations come of age, they will inherit a mature academ
by chillacy 6y ago
The essay reads as satirical to me. Especially the ending line:
> My sole desire is that when future generations come of age, they will inherit a mature academic tradition, and will not have to travel such long distances and endure these various discomforts.
- Apocryphon 6y agoSounds like something out of a travelogue by a Victorian gentleman of leisure.
- AnimalMuppet 6y agoWritten in 2008. But that says that in 2008, China does not have a mature academic tradition. That's... I don't quite know what to make of it, but it's an interesting admission.
- jacobolus 6y agoThat's true though. The academic tradition in China was substantially dismantled several decades ago, and for decades afterward the focus was on practical fields (say, engineering rather than literature). Academics in China are under much more pressure than in Europe or the US to avoid politically controversial research or advocacy, and for better or worse students are under more pressure to pursue fields with high earning potential instead of those they find personally interesting. I am sure the Chinese academy will continue to grow and develop dramatically over the next few decades, but it takes generations to rebuild after as big a disruption as the cultural revolution etc.
- AnimalMuppet 6y agoI don't disagree. I just find it surprising that anybody said it.