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A disappointing article. The 'intellectual pollution' consists of exactly one supposed change in the way we raise our children: following our intuition instead

A disappointing article. The 'intellectual pollution' consists of exactly one supposed change in the way we raise our children: following our intuition instead of some guidebook. This change was supposedly brought about by Dr. Spock in 1946, but I think it is obvious that doesn't make any sense: how on earth does the author think people were raising their children in the past few hundred years? Based on keen pedagogical insights, gathered from books on the subject? Given illiteracy rates, lack of education, availability of books, etc., I doubt even 10% was reading about 'how to raise children'. The others raised their children as they saw fit, so there hasn't been a change at all.

Alex3917 17y ago
"It's not that parents weren't raising their children this way before. They were, but since the 40's the wealth of scientific best practices have been largely ignored thanks to Spock's influence." In other words, if not for Spock less people would be making these mistakes today. I don't think Spock himself was a bad guy and his advice may or may not have been sound at the time, but the problem is that this book has taken on a life of its own to the point where people today use it as a justification to avoid learning anything about being a good parent. And of course most of these people haven't even read the book, but that's a whole other thing.
- Confusion 17y ago
  We don't have an alternate history without Spock to compare to, so I reserve the right to doubt that it would have made any difference whether Spock would have existed at all. If not this book, then they would've used other excuses. Everyone likes to do things 'their way'. Only those motivated to be good or better at something go out of their way to read, learn and change. Most people aren't motivated to be better at parenting, because they think they are already doing a good job. Isn't Johnny smiling, crawling, talking, walking, potty trained, ... when he should?
  - billswift 17y ago
    For a more everyday example of how everyone wants to do things their way, despite evidence, see this post by Robin Hanson, http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/05/sweat-intuition.html http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/05/sweat-intuition.html

Alex3917 17y ago

"It's not that parents weren't raising their children this way before. They were, but since the 40's the wealth of scientific best practices have been largely ignored thanks to Spock's influence." In other words, if not for Spock less people would be making these mistakes today. I don't think Spock himself was a bad guy and his advice may or may not have been sound at the time, but the problem is that this book has taken on a life of its own to the point where people today use it as a justification to avoid learning anything about being a good parent. And of course most of these people haven't even read the book, but that's a whole other thing.

Confusion 17y ago
We don't have an alternate history without Spock to compare to, so I reserve the right to doubt that it would have made any difference whether Spock would have existed at all. If not this book, then they would've used other excuses. Everyone likes to do things 'their way'. Only those motivated to be good or better at something go out of their way to read, learn and change. Most people aren't motivated to be better at parenting, because they think they are already doing a good job. Isn't Johnny smiling, crawling, talking, walking, potty trained, ... when he should?
- billswift 17y ago
  For a more everyday example of how everyone wants to do things their way, despite evidence, see this post by Robin Hanson, http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/05/sweat-intuition.html http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/05/sweat-intuition.html