Blake Doan 100403624 2/11/2014

The Prostitution of Academia Essay Analysis

1. What does Suzuki feel are the primary roles of both the academic and the university in our society? Do you agree? Explain.

Suzuki believes that the primary roles of academic and the university in our society should be to build a community of people sharing in the exploration of human thought and creativity as well as a place where scholars, dreamers, artists and inventors can exist with no more justification then excelling at what they do. I for one agree with Suzukis claims and wish that the education system was not as corrupt as it has become over the recent years due to capitalist infiltration leading to the exploitation of students and their ideas.

2. What are Suzukis reasons for objecting to the industrialization of academia? Do you believe that the industrialization of the university is a mistake? Why or why not?

Suzuki claims that the industrialization of universities is a mistake and suggests that corporate interests are exploiting new ideas and discoveries as well as pushing the ideas of established scientists aside. He also suggests that due to corporate interests students are losing the ability to free think or oppose corporations and their sinister plans. I would like to agree with him based on these claims but I have yet to weigh all aspects of the situation and decide for myself. That being said I have already experienced corporate perversion of secondary education due to the large markup on textbook prices and the lack of effort by administration.

3. Suzuki seems to suggest that he understands why scientists are so inclines to accept a Faustian bargain with private enterprise; however, he, in turn, criticizes the humanities for seemingly acquiescing so easily. Why? Do you agree?

Suzuki says that he understands why scientists are willing to accept the industrialist agenda solely due to long term underfunding. He then claims that philosophers, historians, and sociologist who should know better are allowing this infiltration to happen and should be putting a stop to it. I agree with him on these statements fascism has proven itself to be destructive and dangerous time and time again and those who know the patterns of history are the only ones that can stop the pattern and protect the ignorant.

4. What seems to be the primary effect of the prostitution of academia? Do you agree with Suzukis concerns? Explain.

The primary effect of the commercialization of universities seems to be the long term mentality of scientists after their educations. Scientists without large amounts of funding by corporate interests are now being ridiculed or blown off as if money has anything to do with true findings. Another outcome of this is the control over scientific findings and the narrow minded beliefs that companies are forcing on scientists and narrowing the horizons for future scientific findings, creativity, and the evolution of the human mind.