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I'm with you regarding the importance of careful reasoning. I'll just say that I'm skeptical of the usefulness in the development of that faculty of classes whe

by SiVal 13y ago

I'm with you regarding the importance of careful reasoning. I'll just say that I'm skeptical of the usefulness in the development of that faculty of classes where the quality of your "reasoning" is considered commensurate with your apparent support of the teacher's political agenda. Compared to classes where the quality of your reasoning is judged by whether the things you design actually work or your opinions are confirmed or refuted by voltmeter, critical thinking as a synonym for compliance with authority is not my idea of the kind of critical reasoning that matters. I'm more impressed by the critical thinking in the physics department than the philosophy department, but departments like philosophy and law are way ahead of the pure activist studies departments, because they tend to genuinely reason about issues from multiple perspectives, not just proselytize the approved one.

eitally 13y ago
The key difference, though, is that arts & humanities classes force students to cultivate written and [hopefully] verbal communications skills in addition to critical thinking... not to mention reading. I think you vastly overestimate the amount of sway personal politics has over students, or how much faculty discuss/care about politics in the context of their teaching.
morgante 13y ago
> I'm more impressed by the critical thinking in the physics department than the philosophy department, but departments like philosophy and law are way ahead of the pure activist studies departments, because they tend to genuinely reason about issues from multiple perspectives, not just proselytize the approved one. Eh? I'm not sure what your college experience is based on, but I don't even know what you mean by "activist studies" departments. Most humanities classes don't even touch contemporary politics, and I couldn't even guess the political leanings of (for example) my literature professor. I'd probably agree with your criticism when it comes to, say, gender studies. But the majority of liberal arts classes don't involve the "teacher's political agenda." In my experience, it's extremely possible to do well while completely disagreeing with the professor as long as your argument is well-reasoned and articulate.

by SiVal 13y ago

eitally 13y ago

The key difference, though, is that arts & humanities classes force students to cultivate written and [hopefully] verbal communications skills in addition to critical thinking... not to mention reading. I think you vastly overestimate the amount of sway personal politics has over students, or how much faculty discuss/care about politics in the context of their teaching.

morgante 13y ago

> I'm more impressed by the critical thinking in the physics department than the philosophy department, but departments like philosophy and law are way ahead of the pure activist studies departments, because they tend to genuinely reason about issues from multiple perspectives, not just proselytize the approved one. Eh? I'm not sure what your college experience is based on, but I don't even know what you mean by "activist studies" departments. Most humanities classes don't even touch contemporary politics, and I couldn't even guess the political leanings of (for example) my literature professor. I'd probably agree with your criticism when it comes to, say, gender studies. But the majority of liberal arts classes don't involve the "teacher's political agenda." In my experience, it's extremely possible to do well while completely disagreeing with the professor as long as your argument is well-reasoned and articulate.