Opinion & Ideas - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Philosophers Rip Darwin

Yet another cadre goes after the old English naturalist. But these critics, like many before them, are deluded, says Michael Ruse.
On Going Viral at the (Virtual) MLA

Brian Croxall's paper was a smash hit because it touched a nerve in academe.
Economics Is on the Verge of a Golden Age

... despite what you may have heard, writes Diane Coyle.
Literature for Real

Nonfiction emits a whiff of the déclassé on the literary menu, served with a garnish of condescension. Two zesty new books rewrite the bill of fare.
New Reality's Old Realities

Steven G. Kellman offers an alternative view of one of those books: David Shields’s Reality Hunger.
Finding Jesus at College

He's not where you would expect, writes Edward Dutton.
Skim This Article (or Just Skip It)

Just pretend you read it, advises Robert J. Cabin. We're all very busy.

E-Books Must Be Accessible, and That Means Audio

If they don't have that capability, libraries should refuse to buy them, says Peter Blanck.
A 'Race to the Top'

President Obama has declared one for K-12. But higher education needs one too, writes Kevin Carey.
5 Lessons America Can Learn From Asia About Higher Education

The region is confronting American colleges with serious competition, writes Kishore Mahbubani, of the National University of Singapore, who suggests some responses.
The Liberal Arts Are Not Elitist

A flourishing economy requires the same skills that support citizenship, Martha C. Nussbaum writes.
7 Major Misperceptions About the Liberal Arts

Liberal arts include the sciences, too, and have nothing to do with liberal politics. Goucher College President Sanford J. Ungar tries to clear up some misunderstandings.
For the Liberal Arts, Rhetoric Is Not Enough

All college presidents spout the rhetoric of liberal education, but it's time to make the virtues of the liberal arts clear and transparent.
Critique Your Critiques

Whether comments on papers or a review of a colleague's book, words can wound. Susan J. Behrens offers tips for making criticism constructive, not cruel.