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

Historian and Professor Thaddeus Russell returns for a three-part discussion about problems in academia and the challenges facing this generation of college students.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.comPrevious School Sucks Show With Thaddeus Russell - http://schoolsucksproject.com/category/podcast/a-renegade-history-cours…A new way to incentivize the production of educational content.Please Support School SucksOur Amazon Wish ListDonate With BitcoinOr Join the A/V ClubYour continued support keeps the show going and growing, which keeps us at the top of the options for education podcasts and leads to new people discovering this message. This subscription also grants you access to the A/V Club, a bonus content section with 200+ hours of exclusive audio and video. If you are a regular consumer of our media, please consider making a monthly commitment by selecting the best option for you...A/V Club - Basic Access - $8.00/Month AP Club - "Advanced" Access - $12.00/MonthSigma Sigma Pi - Full Access - $16.00/Month