Hello Chris, always a pleasure...
My point was that yes, there is a connection. I was referring to a Western movement including universities, politics, cultural war etc. To some lesser (& on a rare occassion greater) extent, this 'cultural' war is going on, always.
I certainly wasn't trying to be controversial.
So many people think that cultural liberalism is 'a good thing' the same reason you? and your Dad may have voted Liberal. But one can be very tolerant of others; even endorse others precepts so long as you is not imposed upon them. This however, in my Humble opinion has nothing to do with liberalism. Most if not all conservatives believe in the same tolerance and endorsements. Most fundamentalist or neo-liberals however, are too simply minded in their constructs to notice; albeit conveniently to endorse their world views. Harsh, isn't it? But just try conducting experiments of media observation not for its arguments but rather for its methodology.
Liberalization of design education has points but just like in the UK, remember the 3Rs?; one must accept some level of conservative ideas in order to establish meaning. If you perpetually change the meaning of everything for the sake of liberalism, the level of relativism begins to distort truth, distinguishable and credible understanding. This is no different in culture or politics. Our society seem to be racing towards a ubiquitous liberalism for the sake of it. No wonder many are rediscovering the need for 'actual' or 'real' meaning. Those who believe that everyone has their own distinct reality to the Nth degree are missing the point. One only has to observe thousands of years of history studying human behaviour to see the results of relativism in the liberal tradition. If you see this as a circular argument then I have not been successful in illustrating my point in so few words.
Joe
Chris Rust <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Dr. Joseph Chiodo wrote:
>>...there is a considerable bias within Universities towards liberal politics in the USA.<<
Richard Buchanan wrote
>>I am encouraged by ..... "Powers of the Mind: The Reinvention of
Liberal Learning in America," <<
OK guys I'm prepared to accept a fee for mediating here. Is there ANY
relationship between the two concepts of "liberal politics" and
"liberal education"?
And, as an aside, I've always been amused by the thought that "liberal
economics" tends to mean the most right-wing, let it rip variety. In
Britain, "Liberal" implies somebody who is rather nice but has no strong
views. Our impression (skewed I'm sure) is that, for a lot of people in
the USA, liberals are only a step away from Pol Pot. (Maybe Uncle Pol
Pot thought he was a liberal too?)
My Dad voted Liberal all his life, he was an intelligent and tolerant
person who could not abide extremism. Since very few other people voted
Liberal we never got to find out what they actually stood for.
Chris
********************
Professor Chris Rust
Head of Art and Design Research Centre
Sheffield Hallam University
Psalter Lane, S11 8UZ, UK
+44 114 225 2706 (direct)
+44 114 225 2686 (research admin)
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www.chrisrust.net
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