Comments on: ‘Diversity: The Mating Call Of The Contemporary Academic Bureaucrat’ https://barelyablog.com/diversity-the-mating-call-of-the-contemporary-academic-bureaucrat/ by ilana mercer Wed, 02 Apr 2025 19:29:09 +0000 hourly 1 By: Myron Pauli https://barelyablog.com/diversity-the-mating-call-of-the-contemporary-academic-bureaucrat/comment-page-1/#comment-4334 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:11:41 +0000 http://barelyablog.com/?p=2221#comment-4334 I see very little science in what is often called “social” science. Treating “blacks” or “women” or some other group as an ensemble of identical particles as I would treat electrons or neutrinos is to deny any aspect of individual behavior and individual choices. One often starts with nonsense and ends with even more nonsense – such as the concept of “equivalent work” whereby a librarian “should” be worth more than an electrician. And suppose every hundred years one took the “smartest” 10% of “blacks” or “Scandinavians” – had them reproduce and the others eliminated and did that for a few millenia – to breed smarter “blacks” or “Scandanavians” …. it would not, per se, demonstrate much other than man’s capability for violence and the evil of groupthink. If the benefits of centuries of pogroms and holocausts is “smart” Jews, I’d just as soon turn down such honors. Ironically, the “controversy” says that something was “offensive” without even defining (a) WHAT was offensive and (b) WHY it was offensive – this, sadly, is also illustrative of the lack of objective justice common in socialistic and authoritarian cultures.

]]> By: Alex https://barelyablog.com/diversity-the-mating-call-of-the-contemporary-academic-bureaucrat/comment-page-1/#comment-4332 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:11:08 +0000 http://barelyablog.com/?p=2221#comment-4332 This article really hit home with me. Being in the depths of arguing with my political science professor, about the free market.

Pretty much everything is being countered with ‘well X disagrees with you’ on either economic or ethical theory. I cannot even try to argue minimum wage laws, as he apparently thinks that they increase productivity and labor (!!!)

The real problem that I find is that modern academic thought seems to be rooted in nihilism more than a quest for knowledge (epistemology). What I am seeing is a denial of almost all ethical and economical thought unless it supports either interventionism or socialism.

I have been told that because of my young age, and my (current) lack of degree, I apparently cannot understand what is largely right or wrong, or economical theory. This is rubbish. If I cant understand economic theory and simple right or wrong, why am I supposed to learn it in college?

Quest for truth, as you found out when that Marxist referenced you – is defined as being arrogant, rude, impolite, and incorrect. I am not taking this out of context, or inferring this; I have been told by many that this is exactly what I am. Some admire the resilience, but others merely seek to break you down until you either agree with them, or come to the conclusion that reality is bogus.

I associate a lot with Ilana, because I am very quiet, mild, and easy going. What offends people (and now, professors) is that I don’t change my moral, ethical, or capitalistic beliefs because I think they are bedrock and ethical, all things considered equal. Not changing your beliefs – or being open about changing them – is considered by the elite to be akin to being rude, and impolite. Apparently, according those who are more histrionic than this author, merely disagreeing with someone is a personal insult.

Some intuitionists, as well as the brilliant Michael Huemer, have said that three things are out of the range of philosphers to debate on; 1) communism is bad, 2) capitalism is more ethical than communism, and 3) reality is objective.

These days, in academics, even arguing those three is apparently grounds for ridicule.

Thank you so much for posting this, Ilana.

]]>