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That’s exactly what universities are these days. They sell a signal that says “this worker can do the bare minimum you need” called a Degree. We make the worker

That’s exactly what universities are these days. They sell a signal that says “this worker can do the bare minimum you need” called a Degree. We make the worker get certified themselves, but this is the purpose. To act like modern Universities do anything else today is disingenuous in my opinion. It’s like saying people who work in finance are there to allocate capital efficiently. No, they’re there to make money. That’s it.

wolverine876 4y ago
It's a popular meme but IMHO does not reflect university-level analysis. That exists, but reductionist arguments merely take the worst of someone or something and blow that up to 100%. For example, everyone feels self-interest, but the reductionist claim it that it's all we are. A simple look at the evidence shows that it's manifestly untrue; people are much more than self-interested. Similarly universities do and are much more. I know university students and they are learning a lot - I'm very impressed with the thought and creative effort put into the cirriculum. The reductionists really hurt themselves and people who listen to them. They wall themselves off from all the good in the world, including education.
- fullsend 4y ago
  True, the reductionism is no good. I guess to me I’m tired of discourse that leans towards “universities are places where we make you a complete human”. The real state of things is more what I describe, with a dash of making you deeper. Not vice versa.
  - wolverine876 4y ago
    I agree it can go too far the other way too. People come with many different motives and experience many different things. > I’m tired of discourse that leans towards “universities are places where we make you a complete human”. I'm surprised that's said much. I see the reductionism as the mainstream; when I say otherwise, I'm 'politically incorrect'. On HN, certainly the reductionism is much more common. Isn't what you quote now the outsider view?

wolverine876 4y ago

It's a popular meme but IMHO does not reflect university-level analysis. That exists, but reductionist arguments merely take the worst of someone or something and blow that up to 100%. For example, everyone feels self-interest, but the reductionist claim it that it's all we are. A simple look at the evidence shows that it's manifestly untrue; people are much more than self-interested. Similarly universities do and are much more. I know university students and they are learning a lot - I'm very impressed with the thought and creative effort put into the cirriculum. The reductionists really hurt themselves and people who listen to them. They wall themselves off from all the good in the world, including education.

fullsend 4y ago
True, the reductionism is no good. I guess to me I’m tired of discourse that leans towards “universities are places where we make you a complete human”. The real state of things is more what I describe, with a dash of making you deeper. Not vice versa.
- wolverine876 4y ago
  I agree it can go too far the other way too. People come with many different motives and experience many different things. > I’m tired of discourse that leans towards “universities are places where we make you a complete human”. I'm surprised that's said much. I see the reductionism as the mainstream; when I say otherwise, I'm 'politically incorrect'. On HN, certainly the reductionism is much more common. Isn't what you quote now the outsider view?