Dogmatic Wisdom

by Russell Jacoby

Criticizing liberals and conservatives alike, the author argues that the controversy over political correctness in higher education is drawing attention from the real problems of illiteracy among the young, violence, and rampant commercialism. Reprint.

Genres: Nonfiction

260 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Russell Jacoby (born April 23, 1945) is a professor of history at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), an author and a critic of academic culture. His fields of interest are twentieth-century European and American intellectual and cultural history, specifically the history of intellectuals and education.

Reviews

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original review - February 2021, edited for grammar and broken links.

"Too often conservatives blur critical differences between the state police and university committees or between censorship and opinion. They seem to suggest that an irritating or idiotic opinion is a form of censorship [...] Freedom of speech includes the freedom to be a fool." (47)

"A thousand studies and ten thousand reports and what is necessary is nothing fancy: decent classrooms, good libraries, devoted teachers, small classes, committed students, low tuition. If these were in place, hostilities over schooling, curriculum, affirmative action, racism, and free speech would shrink; pools of acrimony would drain away" (194)

Perhaps the most sober and accurate analysis of the 1990s culture wars. Jacoby's books are worth their weight in gold, and it is telling that the whole of this book is as applicable today as it was almost 30 years ago. Also, Jacoby's 2005 debate with David Horowitz is fascinating, and has many parallels with contemporary discussions and policy proposals around the supposed enforcement of free speech on British and American campuses.

[J.A.A. Purves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best books on higher education that I've read. Jacoby isn't interested in flinging accusations at the other side. Instead, he carefully considers both liberal and conservative arguments. Then, he criticizes the inherent flaws of both sides, points out how both sides are ignoring the bigger picture, and then places the subject or argument in its proper historical context. The way in which Jacoby does this is adept, polished and moderate in tone.

(For example, Jacoby looks at the conservative/liberal "culture war" battle over what texts or ideas should be included in a "Western Civilization" course. Versions of this fight have appeared in the National News on a regular basis. It seems like both sides will fight to the death over something like this and never mention once, during their fight, that with the elective system in most universities, a vast majority of students will never even take the course, much less ever be influenced by it, to begin with.)

I found myself surprised to find some arguments that I've made in the past heavily criticized by Jacoby. It seems I was ignoring the bigger picture. Reading this book was thus a tempering experience. Anyone interested in the modern day debate over education should read it. If they do so, they will be better informed and less inclined to level accusations at the other side without at least double-checking, first, whether history has already made their arguments superfluous or circular.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book on the "culture wars" that appears to be a "fair and balanced" look and does provide critiques of both sides and claims the wars are distracting America from the real problem of living in an illiberal society. Yet, the author's tone is markedly snottier and more flippant when discussing " left academics" living in a world of theory, etc. Conservatives "misrepresent" things: left academics are naive, silly, and ridiculous by Jacoby's account.

[Jerry Wall]

Screed decrying society being diverted from fixing education simple problems because of political correctness, free speech complexities academic and political interests, etc.
The book joins many others which would like us to do better in educating our folk and, most likely, to the same effect.