Dogmatic Wisdom: How the Culture Wars Divert Education and Distract America

As a critique of educational problems in the early 1990s (and, arguably, still today), "Dogmatic Wisdom" succeeds wonderfully well. Jacoby points to both the yuppy-producing, cookie-cutter mentality of the Right as well as the bureaucratically entrenched, "ism"-protecting mentality of the Left as problems that pervade modern American education. His scathing comments are a delight to read, especially for centrally minded independents. Unfortunately, Jacoby stops his analysis at the critique stage. As much fun as it was to read his rantings, I was very interested to know what he would propose to help correct the educational system. He had no such proposal. In fact, as he states in his preface, he seems content to only "reflect on liberal education" and its demise. The book is definitely worth the read, but be aware that you'll be coming up with the solutions on your own when you're done. Jacoby sees the problems, but he leaves it to others to think up the fix-it strategy.

There are two primary themes running through this book, both of which are well developed and explained by Mr Jacoby in his usual incisive manner. They are: (1) Multiculturalism is a marketing ploy of corporate America (2) Regardless of which side of the culture war you choose, the only winners are the stakeholders of professional academic life. Mr Jacoby thus places himself firmly in the middle and tweaks the intellectual noses of both the left and the right, pronouncing their positions as DOGMATIC WISDOM. He recognizes that his views are not palatable to either side, but instead of being apologetic, rightly sees this as one of the problems with the debate. "Only in the current ideological climate [are these views] news or heresy".MULTICULTURALISM AS A CORPORATE MARKETING PLOY. Mr Jacoby sees multiculturalism as a 'way-station' on the road to monoculturalism. He argues that our multiple ethnic groups are not different cultures at all, because we all "partake of a larger industrial society". Partake and become homogeneous. Higher education, pop culture (t.v., movies, music), professional sports, name brand clothes and consumerism in general are making us all alike no matter our ethnic origins. Jacoby says "inexorable loss calls forth proud declarations of identity". It is in recognition of this fact that corporations have latched onto multiculturalism, using it as a marketing tool to draw in minorities here, and attract new consumers abroad. While Jacoby is convincing in arguing that marketing is an important element of multiculturalism he does not mention a critical issue. Namely, we can share traits as mentioned above but this is acculturation, not integration. Acculturation is simply conformity to the superficial cultural traits of a society. It is not synonymous with assimilation, and assimilation is what is needed. MULTICULTURALISM, AN ACADEMIC PURSUIT. Mr Jacoby makes the connection with consumerism by stating that the elective system of our universities is the equivalent of the free market; choices beyond reason. "This makes passionate arguments about the curriculum seem like shadowboxing; at least in higher education no punches can be landed, because the object, a liberal education, has vanished". The 'professionalizers', he says, have triumphed - "a coherent curriculum has disappeared". Remaining in the middle, he sees no need to join those carping about the radical professors because he sees them as anything but revolutionary. They remain insiders and Jacoby cuts right through their bluster. "They encounter the world as secure employees of mainstream institutions". Hardly the definition of a radical! This dismissing of the multiculturalizing professors is not only a criticism of the left as Jacoby includes 'right' thinking critics as well, lumping all together and pronouncing on their collective hypocrisy. He sees "a celebration of academic hierarchy, professions and success. Never has so much criticism yielded so much affirmation". To w