In this episode of the Solutions With David Ansara podcast, I speak to Professor David Benatar about his new book, 'The Fall of the University of Cape Town: Africa's leading university in decline'.

Prof. Benatar and I discuss the origins of the Rhodes Must Fall movement in 2015, and how it later metastasized into the Fees Must Fall movement, unleashing a wave of violence, arson and intimidation at UCT. These destructive acts were met with acquiescence by the university authorities, who refused to sanction the protestors despite the widespread havoc on campus.   

We also discuss the state of UCT today. Prof Benatar is deeply concerned by the climate of intellectual conformity that currently prevails. 

The costs of going against the grain of orthodox opinion are too great for most academics to resist, he says. Academic freedom is under severe strain.   

Stringent racial preferences in academic appointments and student admissions have also caused great damage to the quality of the university system, he says.    

We conclude the discussion by looking at the future of universities more broadly, and whether young people should study philosophy.

TIMESTAMPS  

(00:00) Introduction

BOOK  

'The Fall of the University of Cape Town: Africa's leading university in decline' by David Benatar (PoliticsWeb Publishing): https://www.amazon.com/Fall-University-Cape-Town-university-ebook/dp/B09L96NJRK