This Opinion piece about the University system seems to be popular on the Times website, so I figured I would comment. I don't find the piece that compelling. The author seems to claim that because PhD dissertations have a tendency to be too narrowly focused and obscure, then we need to transform the whole system. I agree with what he says about dissertations. The pressure to produce something new and unique when so many topics have been covered and re-covered will lead to insane specialization. However, I do not see the same overspecialization with professors. My memory of college was that my professors were doing interesting research.
I also remember (despite underfunding by the UMass system) interesting classes that changed with the times to cover developing topics. And his point that colleges should be conducting interdisciplinary work suggests that this work isn't going on. My experience is that between the interdisciplinary work that does on at universities, along with the real-world focused work at think-tanks, and conferences sponsored by government or private groups leaves a situation that does not lack for interdisciplinary work and study.
I am not sure why this article got so much attention, but I imagine people will forget about it in a few days. The crises he imagines doesn't exist as far as I can see.
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