David Bromwich on Why Americans Have Lost Faith in Universities

About this episode

Yascha Mounk and David Bromwich discuss the crisis of trust in higher education, focusing on grade inflation and political conformity.

Yascha Mounk and David Bromwich discuss grade inflation, political conformity, and the crisis of trust in higher education. David Bromwich has taught literature at Yale University since 1988. His books include Hazlitt: the Mind of a Critic, The Intellectual Life of Edmund Burke, How Words Make Things Happen, and Politics by Other Means: Higher Education and Group Thinking. In this week’s conversation, Yascha Mounk and David Bromwich discuss why Americans have lost faith in universities, how grade inflation and political conformity undermine academic credibility, and whether the opacity of elite admissions processes can be reformed. Note: David Bromwich asked us to be clear that the views he expresses are his own and not those of any institution or group within an institution. If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following this link on your phone. Email: leonora.barclay@persuasion.community Podcast production by Mickey Freeland and Leonora Barclay. Connect with us! Spotify | Apple | Google X: @Yascha_Mounk & @JoinPersuasion YouTube: Yascha Mounk, Persuasion LinkedIn: Persuasion Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Yascha Mounk

Guest: David Bromwich

Topics covered

• higher education
• grade inflation
• political conformity
• trust in universities
• elite admissions processes

Keywords

• universities
• academic credibility
• trust
• education
• admissions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Yale University

Books & works: Hazlitt: the Mind of a Critic, The Intellectual Life of Edmund Burke, How Words Make Things Happen, Politics by Other Means: Higher Education and Group Thinking

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