For Discussion

Vox Day says the following, regarding the Socratic method:

while it is an effective critical device, it is simply not the effective means of constructing positive conclusions that many people appear to believe it to be.

I think he nailed it. That’s the academic culture in a nutshell, especially humanities and social science departments. Lots of questions–sometimes good ones–but few answers, and even fewer legitimate conclusions.

Very overrated, as many college graduates are now finding out the hard way.

If a high school grad wants a career path with earning power, here’s what I suggest: go to a community/technical college for 2 years, learn a trade, take on minimal debt (or no debt at all), and save enough money to start your own business in that trade. Then find a community that needs people in that trade.

I know some plumbers and electricians and nurses who are saying, “Recession? What recession?”

If you aren’t aiming for a particular profession–such as medical or engineering–it may be within your best interests to reconsider the cost/benefit of a 4-year degree. Especially if it requires a substantial amount of student loan debt.

The dirty secret: few people–in percentage terms–can legitimately justify that latter albatross. By opting to take on student loans, students are–more often than not–submitting to the financial equivalent of extended waterboarding.

The academic world is a financial bubble the demise of which I will celebrate with Guinness.

Extra Stout, of course…

One thought on “For Discussion

  1. One thing that I learned just after I graduated college was that trade school would have probably been a better idea for me. However, if I hadn’t had the college education, I would have always wondered what I would have missed.

    College education is held up as an idol in our culture. “If you’re intelligent, then a college education is the obvious next step. Only dumb people don’t go to college.”
    Trade school would be the prudent thing. If you can establish a minor league career and get some money saved, then a college education would be more feasible.
    It would be nice if I could enter into marriage with no debt, but those student loans (that I was counseled were “normal” and therefore “good”) are going to be a thorn in my side for awhile.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Connect with Facebook

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.