Please at least read the last paragraph and contribute to my wonderings!
A month or so ago I finally finished reading The Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Today's Students. I was unaware of the controversy surrounding the book's assertions about philosophical roots of cultural trends and their (negative) effect on higher education. I picked it up because it was recommended by a few former profs. Allan Bloom was either loved or hated for this book.
I can guess from the Wikipedia article and from the associated books on Amazon that The Closing of the American Mind has come to be seen as a "conservative" book on politics, philosophy, culture and higher education. The first review on Amazon says a little bit of what I think about the book: it's not necessarily friendly to (political) liberals, (political) conservatives, (theologically conservative) Christians, or most any other major viewpoint in America. I found it an incredibly challenging book (not least because I spaced my reading of it over 10+ months), and I would enjoy hearing what you folks thought about it (maybe someone out there read it?). You could find a copy, read it in the next few months, and revisit this post for a comment.
So, the issue Bloom raised that is sticking with me is this: (1) We live in a liberal democratic society (in contrast to conservative societies with true aristocracies) where free speech and free inquiry are precious, hard-won freedoms we enjoy. The goals of higher education embodies (or should embody) the self-evident truths that are protected by our Constitution - we are free not only to live and engage in affairs of our choice, but we also have a fighting chance to improve our socio-economic status (again, in quite a contrast to aristocratic or even caste societies). Education is the noblest way to 'improve oneself.' (2) But I am a confessional & creedal Christian. I am biased already in the search for truth. Free inquiry ought to lead one to the truth I already affirm in the Bible and in well-written creeds and confessions of faith. (3) The rub is the idea of the quest for truth - free inquiry that is truly up to the discretion of the student does not always or even usually lead him to biblical Christianity. Therefore, can a Christian really affirm 'liberal arts education' in the sense that we have no reins on where the quest leads students?
Everyone is welcome to weigh in!
