Is the World Returning to the Dark Ages? | Salman Rushdie | Big Think

TL;DR

More than 50% of self-identifying Republicans believe that universities are harmful to America; distrust of expertise is not unique to America, but seen internationally, as demonstrated by the Brexit vote.

Transcript

Well, I saw a really alarming newspaper article just a week or so ago in which it was—some survey had shown that more than 50 percent of self-identifying Republicans believed that universities were bad for America, really that universities were actually a negative, harmful force in American life. I mean I had never seen any group of people saying t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎓 More than 50% of self-identifying Republicans believe universities are negative forces in American life, indicating a significant distrust of education.
• 🙈 Distrust of expertise is not unique to America, as seen in England during the Brexit vote.
• 🤪 The author finds it unsettling to witness the suspicion towards knowledge and experts, as it goes against his belief in the value of knowledge.
• 🤑 The concept of elite has been distorted, with intellectuals being labeled as elites rather than the super-rich individuals in positions of power.
• 🥰 Art has historically thrived during times of adversity, offering a platform to challenge oppressive regimes.
• 🖤 The literature produced after the fall of the Soviet Union may not be as intense or extraordinary due to the lack of adversity.
• 🥰 The author believes there is a significant role for art to play in addressing the current adversarial and truth-centric climate.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is the belief that universities are harmful to America alarming and shocking?

The author finds it alarming because it shows a significant distrust of education and knowledge, which he sees as valuable virtues. Such a belief challenges the foundation of intellectual growth and progress.

Q: How does the author view the labeling of college professors and journalists as elites?

The author finds it absurd that intellectuals are labeled as elites when there are many billionaires who possess wealth and influence within the government. He sees this labeling as a comic inversion of reality.

Q: Why does the author believe that art plays a significant role in challenging adversity?

During times of adversity, such as oppressive regimes, art often thrives. The author compares it to the high-quality literature produced during the Soviet Union's era of oppression. He believes that art has the power to speak up and address critical issues during challenging times.

Q: How did the author approach the writing of his novel in response to the state of America?

Most of the novel was written before the election, but the author felt the need to capture the strange moment in American history. Although the election outcome did not impact the storyline, the context of the story had to be shaped to reflect the developments in America during the Obama administration.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Over 50% of self-identifying Republicans believe universities are negative forces in American life, causing concern for the author who values knowledge.

• Similar distrust of expertise is seen in England during the Brexit vote, where experts were disliked for "telling you what to think".

• The author believes that the concept of elite has been distorted, as the super-rich individuals in the Trump administration are labeled as elites, while intellectuals are seen as suspicious.