[MD] academia

[gav]

hey dan,
i think we have to very careful re: academia.
the nature of the beast just doesn't sit with MOQ and
mysticism in my opinion. it is based on individual
evaluation and evaluation is the SOMitic murder of
value. 

the neo-darwinian nature of the classroom -
competition over co-operation - is low quality;
although i have noticed more and more that classes are
becoming more like discussion groups than didactic
lectures: this is a good sign.

at the moment uni still reinforces the ego and the ego
is the biggest impediment to being a genuine
individual. in other words, the ego is the social
level trying to usurp the intellectual and dynamic.

but i think bob sees mucho value in academic
acceptance of the MOQ, and i think i agree. i just
think that such an acceptance implies a transformation
of university and education generally, which in turn
means: slow process. but that's okay, all lasting
change is gradual.

i tried uni again this year and loved the dynamic
discussions but was pushing against the grain when it
came to assessment. it all felt rather childish to be
honest. now i am still technically enrolled (don't
want give up that student card) but my actual
participation begins and ends with the student
philosophy association. this is an offcial uni club
that my friend and i have total control over. it
includes uni students from various faculties and
people from the general community also. this is
suiting me at the moment.

i think those going back to uni later in life are
often more immune to the social level bullshit of uni
- the status and propriety and assorted wank. my
advice would be to not take the grading side too
seriously, cos it isn't about that. what it is about
is mutual intellectual evolution, sharing ideas and
experiences and also having a lot of fun. after all
uni is an island, relatively insulated from the
pressures of 'the real world'. that is probably why it
can be so hard to leave.


		
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