online archive

Richard Rorty, academia and science

From Inside Higher Ed, the late Richard Rorty was a pragmatist philosopher and a generous soul. Scott McLemee looks back. From Open Democracy, Roger Scruton on Richard Rorty’s legacy. The provocateur's philosopher: Richard Rorty became widely known because he was widely hated, but he was also philosopher who couldn't be ignored (and more from Stanford).

From Princeton, what’s the big idea? Professors Cornel West and Robert George, ideological opponents, are unlikely partners in this popular freshman seminar. From ZNet, the Harvard Law School faculty and deans are no longer fit to educate lawyers, members of the Bar, and officers of the court. They are a sick joke and a demented fraud. From 01238, every admissions office gets it wrong sometimes. Here’s our list of Harvard’s biggest mistakes. An interview with Nader Baydoun, coauthor of The Rush to Injustice: How Power, Prejudice, Racism, and Political Correctness Overshadowed Truth and Justice in the Duke Lacrosse Case. Academic groups say the government's practice of denying visas to scholars without explanation is harming the United States' reputation for intellectual freedom. The Army Goes on Spring Break: Enticing half-naked college kids to look up from their beer guzzling and beanbag tossing and contemplate enlistment.

From The Chronicle, Authority 3.0: As the Web evolves, so will the ways we measure scholarly authority. Scholars, universities, and publishers will have to adapt to the changes. One of the 6 myths about work: Going to grad school open doors. A math lesson on college loans: Expanding the direct lending program is a sensible and cost-effective way for Congress and the Department of Education to help more of our young people realize the American Dream. In your parents' footsteps: Early findings show that a family tradition of university still has a huge influence on prospective students. America's Teaching Crisis: Saving public education begins with how we handle its most important part: teachers. Do away with public schools: Government is inept at running schools. It should subsidize education for needy students, then get out of the way.

From Discover, Soul Search: Will natural science pin down our supernatural essence? A look at how Richard Dawkins explains questions in evolutionary biology, and then answers them in a profoundly satisfying manner, in The Selfish Gene. Sleek, fast and focused, the cells that make Dad Dad: Sperm are some of the most extraordinary cells of the body, a triumph of efficient packaging, sleek design and superspecialization. Daddies' girls choose men just like their fathers: Women who enjoy good childhood relationships with their fathers are more likely to select partners who resemble their dads, research suggests.

Steve Jones on Jeremy Bentham, James Watson and the price to pay for our DNA. As Tony Blair seeks his place in posterity, he should heed the example of the scientists who identified the structure of DNA and then tried to shape their own place in history. Today, virtual games. Tomorrow, virtual worlds where you can turn into DNA, play a piano, and merge with your computer. More information confirms what you already know: Study says values win over facts when it comes to tech risks. The Science of Team Success: A growing body of research shows that groups can systematically enhance their performance. Think you've previously read about this? Researchers pinpoint the part of the brain that causes déjà-vu, which could lead to new memory-boosting therapies.