Ep. 482: Thaddeus Russell vs. Academic Conformism – Part Three – Audience Questions Answered

What’s new?
Thaddeus has launched the first phase of his Renegade University.

Listener Questions We Address:

Peter M. – Is intellectual conformism among academics a purely academic problem, or does it extend into other social/intellectual spheres? How do we actively combat it, and what does he plan to do to make sure that the same problem doesn’t evolve at Renegade?

Phillip F. – Great question. Maybe Renegade (and other universities) can somehow incentivize intellectual diversity?

Patrick E. – I’d be interested in his thoughts on accreditation or some equivalent in a post university future.

David G. – This is a point Jordan Peterson has been bringing up in interviews and other public appearances for the past few months: now that the universities have lost sight of their authentic mission, it may be that the "true university" – to the extent that such a thing exists today – lives on the internet, and it is only a matter of time before some clever entrepreneur cracks the code of building a new and better credential. This is exactly what Zak Slayback appears to be attempting, as discussed on episode #454, but with an eye more toward career-building as opposed to real education. Peterson seems to think it’s a matter of designing the right kind of exam – something akin maybe to the bar but measures a more broad knowledge base than just law – that an individual would be able to leverage in the marketplace upon passing.

I’d be interested to hear Thad’s thoughts on this. Does he have a game plan for building a better credential? What does it look like?

Phillip F. – If you weren’t a writer/academic, what would you be doing?

Leah H. – Has he heard of Praxis? What’s his take on their apprenticeship model?

Other Topics and Tangents:
– Remembering the OJ Simpson trial
– government is a monopoly of violence and Marxists don’t mind
– merging one’s identity with America and with the government
– the pervasiveness of intellectual conformism
– Thad isn’t overwhelmed or discouraged by the current condition of alternative media
– Harvard’s fake news list
– what is the neo-liberal university the left is talking about?
– there’s a surplus of Ph.Ds
– the accreditation mafia; how it works
– Can Betsy De Vos help Renegade University?
– what are the forces protecting the intellectual monopoly in academia?

Look Closer:
Thaddeus Russell’s Site – www.thaddeusrussell.com

Previous School Sucks Show With Thaddeus Russell – http://schoolsucksproject.com/category/podcast/a-renegade-history-course-with-thaddeus-russell/

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