The hottest Academia Substack posts right now

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"Crowned Masterpieces of Eloquence" Introduction

Anarchonomicon • 707 implied HN points • 15 Apr 23
🚌 Education History Literature Politics Academia
  1. The collection 'Crowned Masterpieces of Eloquence' provides a unique window into early 1900s speeches and reveals the power of oratory in shaping history.
  2. While oratory may be a lost art today, historical speeches have the ability to surprise and enlighten readers with perspectives from different eras.
  3. Trump's distinct persona and communication style, though not a classical orator, stand out in a field of polished, scripted politicians, showing a different approach to public speaking.

Misinformation Researcher Sander van der Linden Caught Lying and Spreading Misinformation

The DisInformation Chronicle • 670 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Misinformation Research Academia Controversies Propaganda
  1. Misinformation researcher Sander van der Linden was caught lying and spreading misinformation, tarnishing his credibility.
  2. The incident sheds light on the concern that 'misinformation research' might be used for political purposes to silence dissent on controversial topics.
  3. Van der Linden's behavior on social media and Wikipedia highlights potential manipulation to create a false image of credibility and promote personal research.
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On Cultivating “Genius” (Part I)

if not, Paris • 530 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Literature Language Academia Art
  1. The term 'genius' and language have been questioned by structuralists and post-structuralists, blurring clear meanings.
  2. Academic discourse can prioritize sounding smart over communicating effectively, leading to confusion and inadequacy.
  3. Academia's cultivation of 'genius' can limit new ideas and perspectives, impacting the understanding of genius in the 21st century.

The New Expanded Illustrated Orwelexicon: DSM 666

Unsafe Science • 48 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🔬 Science Psychology Academia Sociology Research Bias
  1. The New Expanded Illustrated Orwelexicon introduces new words to highlight biases and issues in psychology and academia. It aims to make these concepts clearer and more accessible.
  2. This resource shows how language can shape our understanding of societal problems. By using specific terms, it helps pinpoint dysfunctions within various fields.
  3. Overall, the Orwelexicon encourages critical thinking about psychology and social science. It invites people to reflect on how words influence perceptions and beliefs.

That Might Have Been The Strangest Thing That Has Ever Happened To Me On Twitter

Singal-Minded • 1670 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
📰 News Social media Ethics Academia Transparency
  1. A controversy on Twitter erupted when a researcher accused a writer of misinterpreting a sentence in the Standards of Care document
  2. The writer engaged in a debate on social media to defend their interpretation of the sentence
  3. The controversy reached a dramatic conclusion when it was revealed that the writer was falsely accused, leading to public embarrassment for the accuser

Losing my Religion, 2e

KCKlatt’s Substack • 2 HN points • 22 Sep 24
🚌 Education Academia Research Nutrition Career Cognitive dissonance
  1. Navigating academic life can create a lot of confusion, especially when you see a gap between the ideals of research and the reality of how things operate. It can feel frustrating when the focus is more on getting published than on genuine discoveries.
  2. The pressure to publish often leads to questionable practices in research, which can hurt the integrity of the work. Many people in academia are just trying to survive in a system that doesn’t set them up for real success.
  3. Finding a supportive environment in academia is tough, and it's important to constantly question what the true mission of academic work is. Many academics feel like they’re in a game where they have to compete rather than collaborate.

A retracted paper tells us something important about academia

The Path Not Taken • 418 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🚌 Education Academia Standards
  1. A retracted paper revealed resistance in academia to the idea of certain subjects or institutions having more merit than others, especially regarding external hierarchies.
  2. In academia, there appears to be a growing trend of reluctance towards acknowledging external hierarchies, potentially leading to declining standards and subjects being vulnerable to market pressures.
  3. Editorial actions and societal trends reflect a shift towards more egalitarian philosophies in academia, raising concerns about defending academic standards and traditional disciplines against cost-cutting measures.

The RCT Agenda

Bet On It • 352 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🚌 Education Economics Research Science Academia
  1. The book highlights how the randomistas in economics might have a political agenda of serving government rather than challenging it, focusing on randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
  2. Many economists focus on RCTs to measure causal effects of variables, emphasizing laboratory, field, and natural experiments in research, with randomization as the core of experimentation.
  3. Randomistas often avoid engaging in the debate of free markets vs. government, favoring government-centered policies in their research strategies, leading to limited exploration of free-market economics.

The cult of positive thinking comes for academe

The Recovering Academic • 356 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🚌 Education Academia Leadership Student experience Critical Thinking
  1. Positive thinking originated as an antidote to Puritanism and is about trying to think positively as a practice or discipline.
  2. In academia, positive thinking can enable gaslighting where university leaders may manipulate or undermine faculty concerns to align with their personal visions.
  3. Negative thinking, while often seen in a bad light, can be essential for seeking truth and survival by challenging assumptions and serving as a tool for vigilantly assessing reality.

Tenure Is a Total Scam

Bet On It • 644 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
🚌 Education Research Teaching Academia
  1. Getting tenure involves a complex process of academic achievements and connections.
  2. Tenured professors have minimal job responsibilities and are difficult to fire.
  3. The tenure system in academia may be sustained by perverse incentives and weak selection pressure.

Fired by Pfizer: Former Harvard prof reveals he was dismissed from CDC committee for promoting a non-mRNA vaccine

The Dossier • 290 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Pharma CDC Mandates Academia
  1. Martin Kulldorff was fired from the CDC committee for promoting a non-mRNA vaccine and disagreeing with the decision to pause the Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine.
  2. Kulldorff's experience highlights the powerful influence of the Pharma-Government Health system in America.
  3. Kulldorff's stance against vaccine mandates and his opposition to Pharma influence showcases his courage and bravery in the scientific community.

3 Reasons Why You Should Watch Lucky Hank

The Recovering Academic • 257 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture TV shows Literature Academia Satire
  1. The show brings attention to how higher education has shifted towards treating students as customers, focusing on job outcomes over learning.
  2. It highlights the pressure and pathology in the publishing world, showing how success can lead to narcissism and a relentless pursuit of acclaim.
  3. The series sheds light on the power dynamics and control issues within academia, portraying the absurdity and corporate influences in higher education leadership.

How STEM is Sleepwalking into Wokery

Heterodox STEM • 270 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🚌 Education STEM Academia Science Identity politics
  1. STEM education is facing challenges with the introduction of ideologies like 'Indigenous science', leading to a shift in traditional approaches.
  2. University environments are becoming increasingly focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion, which can sometimes lead to conflict with academic freedom and rational discourse.
  3. There is a concern among some STEM professors about the impact of ideological pressures on teaching quality, mental health, and innovation within academic environments.

Guest post: Jenn Zuko

The Recovering Academic • 217 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Theater Academia Gender Dynamics
  1. The author reflects on the challenges faced as an adjunct theatre professor and the lack of recognition or support received after many years of service.
  2. The narrative highlights the profound impact of the decision to leave, detailing the mixed reactions and emotional moments during the announcement.
  3. Despite the author's anticipation of theatrical reactions to their resignation, the reality was met with unexpected, mostly silent responses during a faculty meeting.

The crisis of scholar-activism

The Path Not Taken • 264 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
🚌 Education Activism Scholarship Academia Research
  1. Scholar-activism has faced a crisis lately, especially concerning left-wing positions like support for Palestine.
  2. There is tension between the original ideal of activism and its progression into institutionalized careerism.
  3. The future of scholar-activism is uncertain, with some scholar-activists falling silent and facing challenges in balancing their activism with their academic careers.

The state of The Path Not Taken

The Path Not Taken • 220 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
📰 News Current Events Opinion Media Academia Social media
  1. The author has gained over 1,200 subscribers from 58 countries for their Substack on politics and academics.
  2. In 2023, the author focused on topics like low liberalism, freedom of speech, and reviewed books on academia.
  3. The author plans to continue writing about politics with a focus on institutional theory in 2024 and asks for recommendations to help grow their Substack.

Update to "Jews don't Count......Or Do They?"

Fisted by Foucault • 223 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics DEI Speech Academia Anti-Semitism
  1. The fight between US universities and its donor class over free speech on campus is intensifying.
  2. The battle includes issues of ideological capture, free speech limitations, and the role of the donor class in academia.
  3. The conflict also reveals concerns about DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) and the potential impact on different groups within universities.

Why History's "Alone" reminds me of graduate school

The Recovering Academic • 138 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Survival Nature Reality TV Academia Literature
  1. Survival shows like 'Alone' and the academic world of graduate school both promote a self-reliant mentality, but this mindset can be isolating and self-defeating in real life.
  2. Growing up close to nature can instill a deep connection with the environment, but nostalgia for a primitive past can sometimes cloud the reality of the present.
  3. The use of technology in survival scenarios, like on 'Alone', can be contradictory and may not accurately reflect historical survival methods. Invention often arises from abundance, not scarcity.

HOISTED FROM THE ARCHIVES: DeLong: "The Economist as...?: The Public Square & Economics"

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 138 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🚌 Education Philosophy Literature Books Academia Research
  1. The post discusses the role of economists in the public square and compares different views on the matter.
  2. It delves into a defense of economists against certain criticisms from other thinkers.
  3. There are references to interesting literary preferences and reading lists of some philosophers mentioned.

Cancel Culture Questions, Part 1

Dreams in the Which House • 98 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Cancel Culture Public Discourse Media Academia Literature
  1. Cancel culture cases aren't just about celebrities, but also impact many less known individuals
  2. The fear of self-censorship due to cancel culture is not well-supported, especially as it often stems from prominent figures and lacks widespread factual basis
  3. Criticism of cancel culture narratives should involve more thorough fact-checking and not rely solely on anecdotes for evidence

Why faculty of color are leaving academe

The Recovering Academic • 98 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
🚌 Education Diversity Academia Higher education Teaching
  1. Many faculty of color in academe feel disenfranchised, exhausted, and isolated due to issues like work/life balance and inadequate compensation.
  2. These scholars experience unique challenges like isolation in rural communities, hostile work environments, and guilt over prioritizing self-care over student needs.
  3. There is a growing trend of faculty of color reevaluating their place in academia and questioning the sacrifices required, suggesting a need for change.