Our vocabulary is our intellectual tool-box. The person with the largest vocabulary dies as the winner. Imagine the difference in what is discovered about reality for the individual with microscope, caliper, micrometer, plump-bob, and level in his intellectual tool-box versus he who has only a hammer, pliers, and yard-stick.
Quote:Our vocabulary is our intellectual tool-box. The person with the largest vocabulary dies as the winner.
i'm unthrilled with the metaphor, and the conclusion even more. if i find a master carpenter, and give you all his tools, he's still the master carpenter by comparison. getting more literal- everyone online has access to the biggest dictionary in the world. they could learn all the words and know crap-all about how to fit them together into newer, useful thought.
coberst wrote:The American culture is all about golf, sports, fashion, partying, and being cool and such. Not much room for intellect.
How do you account for the fact that more and more students choose to pursue graduate degrees, especially in the humanities, every year? One would think that humanities doctorates exemplify the kind of "disinterested knowledge" you're always advertising.
Shapeless wrote:coberst wrote:The American culture is all about golf, sports, fashion, partying, and being cool and such. Not much room for intellect.
How do you account for the fact that more and more students choose to pursue graduate degrees, especially in the humanities, every year? One would think that humanities doctorates exemplify the kind of "disinterested knowledge" you're always advertising.
I was not aware that was true. Could you direct me to some more info?
Sure. As I mentioned, the National Science Foundation conducts surveys pertaining to doctoral degrees in the United States every few years or so... I've found the 1989, 1991 and 1995 surveys online; I'm sure some meticulous Googling would pull up more. The Chronicle of Higher Education also conducts and publishes surveys and statistics pertaining to graduate degrees.
coberst,
Look for more straw!:wink:
From this question on another forum....
One respondent (having giving a page of detailed rejection of the thesis by reference to "Coherentism, and Minimalism") concluded
Quote:
..you are the one who has a problem.
coberst's "defense"
Quote:Sounds a bit anti-intellectual
fresco wrote:From this question on another forum....
One respondent (having giving a page of detailed rejection of the thesis by reference to "Coherentism, and Minimalism") concluded
Quote:
..you are the one who has a problem.
coberst's "defense"
Quote:Sounds a bit anti-intellectual
That response can serve as a general response to all pesky rabbits.
