Conservatives Just Aren't Into Academe, Study Finds »
Posted By Neophile 1 year, 8 months ago in Science & TechnologyThe Woessners have peered into the psyche of conservative undergraduates to find out why so few of them want to earn Ph.D.'s and become professors.
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Goppy1 year, 8 months ago
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Neophile1 year, 8 months ago
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So do I. You're welcome. Here's the actual study for anyone interested (PDF):
http://www.aei.org/docLib/20071114_WOESSNER.pdf
Keep in mind this study was done by a Fox News-watching Rush Limbaugh junkie conservative professor.
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Dionys1 year, 8 months ago
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You don't really need a study to discover that the less education you have the more likely you are to be a Republican. You'd have to be both stupid and uneducated to constantly swallow that garbage they're feeding the American Public.
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DropkickaLib1 year, 8 months ago
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Could it be because Conservatives earn advanced degrees that earn real money instead of becoming professors? A large proportion of Conservative friends and acquaintances of mine are attorneys, successful entrepreneurs, and employed in management positions. This says nothing about negative about intellect. The academic environment/group think actively discourages the participation of Conservatives or deviation from Liberal orthodoxy.
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Locky121 year, 8 months ago
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jaspersneed1 year, 8 months ago
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MonkeyBiz1 year, 8 months ago
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Datas? we don't need no stinkin' datas!! Locky has solved the mystery!
Actually Locky's comment highlights what other research has born out; conservatives can only think and understand in simplistic black and white terms. Non-linear reasoning and nuanced gray areas are not in the conservative playbook.
"Those who can do, those who can't teach." Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists. If you hate the war you hate the troops. If you dislike Bush you hate America. We have to fight them over there so we won't have to fight them over here. etc. etc. etc.
It is not really that difficult to see why there are so few conservative PHDs. It requires an ability to think to earn a PHD.
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AtheismIsRealityComment removed: Retracted by user
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queenb7271 year, 8 months ago
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You don't know much about how universitys work, do you?
Most professors also "do". For example, the professors in this article also conducted the research. In order to be respected in many fields you must also work outside of the college system. Many professors come back to teaching after they have already worked in their field. Sometimes for decades. Many only become professors because the college will fund their work or research. In some cases the professors only teach on semester a school year and work the rest.
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dissent1 year, 8 months ago
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Locky 12: "Those who can do, those who can't teach."
here's a survey that has found the smartest kids in the world are from finland then hong kong and china. it seems it has to do with cultures that prize teaching as an extremely important and highly regarded profession.
http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/journal/
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Radiofreeeuropa1 year, 8 months ago
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1st it's best to clearly define what liberal really is and what conservative really is: According to Princeton.edu
Liberal-a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform, broadmindedness and tolerance, and the protection of civil liberties.
Conservative- one who is opposed to change, adhering to the existing order of institutions and authority.
For a another look at how the conservative brain may be quite different than a liberal thinkers check this article out-
http://shoelessandbibleblack.blogspot.com/2007/...
Also remember that Rove said their worst enemy in the election was those with "too much education". Yeah there is a reason there aren't very many conservative professors, an educated person comes to realize that clinging to old ideas and authorities as a philosophy is not intellectually honest.
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Locky121 year, 8 months ago
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Mdiar1 year, 8 months ago
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I disagree with Princeton's definition of conservative, at least when it comes to a political definition. Sure, conservatives exist who do wish to preserve the status quo. Not nearly all of them though. I consider the two to be mutually acceptable to the other. A liberal, when all is said and done, is a person who is broad-minded and tolerant. This tends to create the philosophy of "progress and reform". Scratch out that part of the definition and I'll agree with that definition of liberal. Tack onto conservative the protection of civil liberties (as in Bill of Rights and other things like this, a conservative wishes to "conserve" or "preserve" these rights). Frankly, that definition that Princeton put out for a conservative is simplistic and, in my view, incorrect. I reserve the right to disagree with anyone, including great figures of the past and Princeton. Most who say they're conservative really aren't, according to my own definition.
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Radiofreeeuropa1 year, 8 months ago
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Klarissa1 year, 8 months ago
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baddad59Comment removed: Retracted by user
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Mdiar1 year, 8 months ago
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That's a great article. Something very interesting and now I'm mad at them that I didn't think of that idea first :( Oh well. It is rather interesting to study this. My only problem with studies such as this is that its so difficult to define what "liberal" or "conservative" is. Is conservative to conserve the status quo? To some, unfortunately, yes it is. Is it to be pro-life and anti-gay marriage? To some, yes, unfortunately. Is it to believe that government should only expand to include extra freedoms or privileges? To myself, yes, and I hope that I don't have to change my "liberal conservative" status in the near future as a definition is finally accepted by all! Liberal, actually, is far easier to define then conservatism. It is to be open-minded and tolerant of other ideas, I believe. Or that is my definition of liberal.
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1-2-Oscar1 year, 8 months ago
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Tangent0011 year, 8 months ago
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There are few Conservative role models in academia for the same reason there are few Liberal role models in high finance. It's a different world view. Conservatives seem more focused on material success, while Liberals tend toward the intangible and abstract.
Tell you what: I'd agree to more global warming deniers among science professors if you'll agree to more Marxist theorists among economy professors.
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nikkibabe1 year, 8 months ago
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A true conservative family is someone who lives in the smokey mountains in Tennessee, who only know his house, local streets, school, church & grocery store.
They believe in producing children, don't watch TV news or read newspapers and no precious little about other countries, cultures and customs.
Anyone, who does not look similar or do similar things is a an outsider threatening their way of life.
Now these are the people who want John McCain to be the President after putting Bush in office for 8 years.
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bluetexasvalley1 year, 8 months ago
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I've known Democrats who went to school on grant money and started businesses with SBA loans (Democrat programs). Once they started making money, they became Republicans who didn't want to pay taxes (so others wouldn't have the same chances they did).
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chevydog1 year, 8 months ago
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Interesting article. When this person attended college, labels were even more meaningless than they are now. But everyone was educated to be conservative, defined as "placing high value on traditional methods and attitudes." This included a balanced budget, strong military (with corresponding reluctance to use it), and equal rights for all. Whether "all" included negroes (as they were then called) or females was barely thought of. The cynicism of government fed by the actions of LBJ and then Nixon was in the future. Given the limited communications by today's standards, people like Rush Limbaugh had no way to be heard.
I suppose that we all could have been called traditionalist pragmatists. Certainly some of the stuff that is dear to present-day "conservatives" was considered on the wacko fringe. All in all, it wasn't totally unlike what GWB would have experienced at Yale.
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engineer1 year, 8 months ago
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Thanks for the post. Tell all those like locky and Klarissa to go get their medical attention from a person without an MD (doctoral degree) or a lawyer for legal help. Ask them who has come out with modern Technology. Ask them who are the most progressive people. Most are not conservative. I guess the dumber and lesser you are, the more likely you'll be a conservative.
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chevydog1 year, 8 months ago
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"I guess the dumber and lesser you are, the more likely you'll be a conservative."
I would take exception to that. I consider myself conservative, though many on this forum might not. We have to remember that change is continually happening, sometimes outside of our control. Not to recognize this is anti-intellectual.
IMHO, one of the big splits between those who today consider themselves "conservative" and "liberal" is their respective attitudes toward their ability to affect themselves. C's often feel that, through personal choice, one has the ability to avoid bad things. L's tend to feel that there are powers out there that can negate any personal choices we make; those have to be controlled, through government if nothing else, so that we can be truly free. Personally I tend to believe C more than L, though it's a narrow line. Education or intelligence has little to do with it.
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crghss1 year, 8 months ago
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Not true. When you get in to Engineering and Computer Science and Business degrees you get more conservatives. When you get in to Psychology and Social Studies you get more liberals. Is this because of the difficulty of the courses?
Also the articles deal with people becoming professors and entering Academe.
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canadianrancher571 year, 8 months ago
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Definition of conservative, liberal, and socialist by my grandfather who lived from 1892-1987.
A conservative is a person who believes in law and order, believes in fairness and honesty when dealing with others, believes that the government is responsible for security of the nation and upholding the laws of the land, believes in aiding the puplic in time of crisis with out setting up a ongoing bureaucracy, and is in charge of taxes and also being responsible to the citizens of the country.
A liberal is a conservative but with a conscience, believes in setting up bureaucracies to provide services which they consider important to society such as social welfare, medicare and senior pensions where needed. Also the government ownership of businesses which are needed by the country but under free enterprise would not be available to all.
Socialist- The same as a liberal but lacking common sense, believes that the government has a part to play in all aspects of a persons life,(continued)
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sumptuousdigs1 year, 8 months ago
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It's Boola Boola versus Moola Moola to some. For many the financial state is the all important indicator of success. While fiscal health is desired, an intellect that atrophies for lack of exercise, or a soul that can be bought, is little comfort. I suspect an open mind runs the risk of airing out the conscience. Wanton capitalists would have difficulty with some of their financial alliances under such circumstances.
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Dencal261 year, 8 months ago
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On the other hand the Liberal Democrat base is made of the Ethnic Group with the lowest test scores in America. African American SAT scores for Math and Verbal are a dismal 857 average. Liberalism has its extremes from poor uneducated people to elitists with PHDs. Conservatives tend to get through their 4 year degree and get a JOB.
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MonkeyBiz1 year, 8 months ago
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Democratic base? That's total racist bullshiite. Blacks make up about 12% of the population. They mostly vote dem because the repugs have historically been hostile to their aspirations of freedom.
The poor and uneducated are the ones that support Bush and the evangelical extremists. Because they lack the education in critical thinking skills, they are easily duped by the simplistic and jingoistic hate and fear propaganda of the right wing. They are also easily duped by the outright lies and half truths of the right wing screech media like fux news and rush limpjaw.
BTW - The real elitists in our society are the CEOs that are making tons of money and taxed less by percentage than the average worker, the investors that don't pay taxes on their earnings at all, and of course our entertainment personalities. PHDs, who are you trying to kid?
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Dencal261 year, 8 months ago
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Whats most amazing is that most college students consider themselves to be Liberals. Its a very high percentage , I have heard somewhere in the area of 75%. As they graduate , get jobs and families the number drops dramatically. I suppose the ones who remain living in Daddys basement while getting a Doctorates in Geology remain liberal.
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prevere1 year, 8 months ago
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Intellectual freedom and curiosity are liberal attributes as are innovation and originality. Coservatives favor obedience to authority both civil and intellectual and are drawn to those who have a love of power for its own sake. Conservatives are doctrinaire, followers, reactionary, they distrust individual freedoms and feel more comfortable with rigid rules and narrow social limits. William James defined human motivations as the will to power,will to love, will to god and the will to knowledge. Which two are left and which tend to the right? Is there anything conservative about republican fiscal policy?
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simonsez1 year, 8 months ago
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Your definitions are hilarious.
Conservatives DISLIKE authority, want LESS Government, LESS intervention in their lives, more personal freedoms.
It is Dems who put everyone in a group and talk about "the poor", "the blacks", the hispanics, the middle class, the wealthy. They want government to take care of these groups so they vote to keep them in power.
Unfortunately (for Dems) most Americans are self sufficient and resent being boxed in to groups. They only want room to develop their lives.
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DoseASpinoza1 year, 8 months ago
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Am I the only one who finds it amusing that the researchers are proposing liberal solutions to encouraging conservatives to pursue higher degrees and teaching careers?
FTA:
"The research led the Woessners to conclude that if higher education wants to attract more conservatives to the professoriate, it should smooth the way financially, offering subsidized health insurance and housing for graduate students, and adopting family-friendly policies for professors."
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Mdiar1 year, 8 months ago
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Interesting. After reading your comments I find it obvious you really aren't a liberal. From what I've read of your comments in the past not only are you intolerant towards those you deem as "conservatives" you are also intolerant towards those who are religious. Really you should stop calling yourself a liberal since part of that definition, agreed upon by most liberals I believe, is to be open-minded of other ideas and tolerant. Of course maybe you don't call yourself a liberal. Hmmm, rather interesting.
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donald511 year, 8 months ago
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midleft, a good definition of a liberal always includes the Constitutional premise that all men are created equal! Repugs always believe that some are more equal than others - why Dumya can say the Constitution is "just a piece of paper"!
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