The Death of Academia

And Its Role in the Degradation of Culture

Higher education was once the cornerstone of intellectual development and societal progress, a place where young minds were sharpened by rigorous debate, mastery of subjects, and a pursuit of objective truth. Today, however, academia has shifted from this venerable role, devolving into a system that prioritizes ideological conformity, subjective reality, and intellectual infantilization. This shift not only undermines the quality of education but also plays a significant role in the degradation of broader culture. The problem is compounded by the phenomenon of extended adolescence, where young adults remain intellectually stunted, shielded from real-world challenges, and perpetuate these corrosive ideologies into society.

Ideological Echo Chambers and the Erosion of Critical Thought

What used to be an environment that encouraged critical thinking and intellectual diversity has, in many cases, turned into an echo chamber for progressive ideologies. Courses such as gender studies, queer theory, and critical race theory have become mainstays in many academic institutions, focusing on subjective realities and identity politics rather than offering practical or survival-based skills. These courses teach students to view the world through the narrow lens of identity, oppression, and victimhood, promoting a worldview that is detached from the complexities and challenges of real life.

Rather than honing practical skills—such as problem-solving, financial literacy, or technological competencies—students are increasingly steeped in abstract theories that do little to prepare them for the workforce. For example, according to a 2020 report from Georgetown University, graduates with degrees in fields like gender studies and ethnic studies often face lower-than-average earnings and struggle with employability compared to those with degrees in fields like engineering or business. Academia, once a place for developing critical thinkers and competent professionals, now often serves as an incubator for ideological conformity. This environment insulates students from opposing ideas, discouraging the kind of intellectual growth that occurs when beliefs are rigorously challenged.

Extended Adolescence and the Delay of Personal Responsibility

This intellectual stagnation is part of a larger cultural trend of extended adolescence, where young adults remain dependent on their parents or institutions well into their twenties and even thirties. Universities, especially elite ones, promote this extended adolescence by insulating students from the real-world consequences of their decisions. The emphasis on identity over competence and subjective experience over objective reality leaves students unprepared for the demands of adult life.

Instead of equipping students with the tools to become self-sufficient and take personal responsibility for their futures, many of these programs encourage a reliance on external systems to validate their identities. This reliance promotes a mindset that defers personal responsibility, framing challenges as systemic rather than personal. In doing so, academia promotes a culture of intellectual immaturity, where the development of skills that could lead to independence and success is delayed or entirely bypassed.

Extended adolescence also intersects with these ideologically driven courses, as students are encouraged to continually explore and deconstruct their identities, often at the expense of actionable progress. In fact, a study from the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology shows that extended adolescence correlates with delayed financial independence and prolonged psychological immaturity. Universities enable this prolonged self-exploration without providing the practical guidance necessary to thrive in a competitive world. The result is a generation of young adults who may have a deep understanding of the latest social theories but lack the competence to navigate life independently.

The Breakdown of Generational Knowledge

One of the most significant consequences of this phenomenon is the breakdown of generational knowledge. Historically, families have passed down practical wisdom—about life, work, and survival—from one generation to the next. However, ideologically charged academic courses often encourage students to reject their parents’ and grandparents’ wisdom as outdated or oppressive. The focus on deconstructing tradition, identity, and history alienates students from their own familial and cultural heritage, leaving them without the tools to navigate the world effectively.

This erosion of generational continuity results in young people being disconnected from practical knowledge, such as how to manage money, build a business, or create long-term financial stability. Instead, they are encouraged to adopt ideologies that focus on societal or systemic explanations for their personal struggles, creating further dependence on external validation and social structures. The intergenerational bond, once a source of strength and guidance, is weakened, leaving students adrift in abstract academic theories that offer little real-world application.

Financial Exploitation of the Middle and Upper Classes

The financial aspect of this educational shift cannot be overlooked. Universities have become wealth extraction machines, exploiting the aspirations of parents and students alike. With the promise of social and financial mobility, families are willing to spend enormous sums of money—often through student loans—to send their children to prestigious institutions. Yet, these same institutions offer courses that may have little return on investment. Degrees in gender studies or critical race theory, for example, may leave students with large debts but few marketable skills to secure high-paying jobs.

Data from the Federal Reserve shows that the average student loan debt in the U.S. is around $37,000, and many graduates with degrees in the social sciences struggle to find employment in their fields. The inflated tuition costs, driven by easy access to student loans, have led to massive wealth extraction from families, particularly the middle and upper classes. This financial burden is compounded by the reality that many students graduate unprepared for the workforce, often struggling to pay off their loans or establish financial independence. The university system, far from being an institution of learning, has become a profit-driven entity that monetizes ideological conformity and intellectual stagnation, leaving students and their families to bear the financial cost.

Cultural Degradation and the Loss of Practical Knowledge

The cultural impact of academia’s decline is profound. As universities focus more on subjective identity politics and abstract theories, they contribute to the degradation of culture by promoting division rather than cohesion. The intellectual environment promoted by these institutions emphasizes individual identity over collective well-being, leading to a fragmented society where common values and shared knowledge are eroded.

At the same time, practical knowledge—the kind that helps individuals and communities thrive—has been devalued. In previous generations, young adults were taught skills that helped them contribute meaningfully to society and secure their own futures. Today, universities prioritize abstract discourse on oppression and identity over teaching students how to build, innovate, and solve real-world problems. For example, research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers shows that employers prioritize critical thinking, problem-solving, and technical skills, yet these are increasingly absent from many academic programs. The result is a culture where intellectual posturing replaces practical competence, and where students graduate without the tools needed to contribute meaningfully to society.

The Death of Academia

Academia, once a bastion of intellectual rigor and critical thought, has been hollowed out by ideologically driven courses that prioritize subjective identity over practical knowledge. This shift has promoted extended adolescence, delayed personal responsibility, and eroded generational wisdom. Meanwhile, universities extract massive amounts of wealth from families through inflated tuition costs, offering little in return but ideological conditioning. The result is a degraded culture, where intellectual growth is stunted, practical skills are devalued, and students are left unprepared to face the challenges of the real world.

The question that remains is how long society can tolerate the growing disconnect between academic institutions and the real world before these problems manifest in broader societal dysfunction. Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate our educational priorities—shifting back to a focus on teaching practical skills, fostering critical thinking, and preparing students to thrive beyond the ideological confines of the classroom. For an exploration of an alternative education system that might have a far better chance at promoting intellectual development, check out our article here.

Read More

Here are some key resources that delve into the issues discussed in this article:

• “The Coddling of the American Mind” by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
• A look at how overprotection in education has promoted intellectual immaturity and echo chambers in universities.
• “The Diversity Delusion” by Heather Mac Donald
• A critique of identity politics in higher education and its negative impact on academic standards and intellectual diversity.
• “The Tyranny of Virtue” by Robert Boyers
• An examination of how ideological conformity has overtaken intellectual rigor in academia.
• “Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens through the Twenties” by Jeffrey Jensen Arnett
• Research on the cultural trend of extended adolescence and its implications for young adults.
• “The Case Against Adolescence” by Dr. Robert Epstein
• Arguing that society artificially extends adolescence, stunting intellectual and personal growth.
• “The Student Loan Trap: Why the College Debt Crisis Isn’t Going Away” by William J. Bennett
• A critique of the student loan system and how it drives the inflation of tuition costs without improving educational outcomes.
• “Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses” by Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa
• Research showing that many students learn little in terms of critical thinking or practical skills, despite rising tuition.
• “The Rise of Victimhood Culture” by Bradley Campbell and Jason Manning
• An analysis of how the focus on victimhood in academia promotes cultural division and undermines societal cohesion.
• “The Decline of Universities and the Leftist Takeover” by Jordan Peterson
• A lecture series that critiques the ideological shift in academia toward identity politics and intellectual stagnation.
• “Georgetown University’s Study on Employment Outcomes for Gender and Ethnic Studies Majors”
• This data highlights the financial and employment challenges faced by graduates in these fields Found HereAnd Here.
• “Student Loan Debt Statistics from the Federal Reserve”
• Detailed insights on the average student loan burden in the U.S. and its consequences for young adults Found Here.
• NACE Job Outlook 2022 Survey on Critical Thinking and Other Competencies
• NACE Report: Job Outlook and Competencies