The Low Expectations of Youth: A Critique of Intellectual Decline
By
rmdmphilosopher
Slow-proofed and worth the wait. Worth its weight in flour.
Summary
An opinion piece examining how older generations have lowered their expectations of youth, using the example of a UCLA student displaying a ChatGPT window at graduation as a symbol of intellectual decline. The author argues that the "demonic vice" of older generations today is not being too demanding but demanding too little, and that young people are failing to meet even those minimal expectations. The article critiques the hollow, formulaic thinking encouraged by academic and cultural institutions.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledToday, the demonic vice of the old is not that they are hard and demanding on the youth — instead they do not demand enough from us, and they cannot quite believe that we have not lived up to the little they have demanded.
And so perfect parallel constructions fill the lecture halls, the take-home tests, the school newspapers, and perhaps even the idiom of student chatter.
They think too well of our generation.
You might also wanna read
Analysis: The Reversal of the Flynn Effect and Concerns About Declining Intelligence in Western Society
The article argues that Western civilization is in decline, citing the reversal of the Flynn Effect (which previously showed rising IQs) as
thecritic.co.uk·5mo ago
Chicago Teachers Union members reject dues increase for political campaign funding
Chicago Teachers Union members voted overwhelmingly against a proposed amendment that would have raised union dues to fund political campaig
chicagotribune.com·1h ago
A Marxist case for democratic socialist economic planning
This article is a transcript of a Marxist Winter School presentation by Vincent R. Beaudoin arguing for the necessity of a socialist planned
marxist.ca·6h ago
Tightening US visa rules threaten international researchers and scientific competitiveness
International scientists in the US are facing worsening visa bottlenecks marked by prolonged administrative processing, new fee and lottery
cen.acs.org·7h ago
Privy Council (United Kingdom): Overview of the Advisory Body to the Monarch
The article provides a comprehensive overview of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, the formal advisory body to the British monarc
en.wikipedia.org·7h ago
OMB's Proposed Rule Would Allow Political Appointees to Override Peer Review for Federal Research Grants
This article analyzes the implications of OMB's proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule (OMB-2026-0034), which would allow political appo
elizabethginexi.substack.com·8h ago