Why are academics so liberal?


Recent surveys suggesting academics are disproportionately liberal have
caused some to conclude that universities discriminate against those
holding conservative ideas. They further suggest that people be
dismissive of anything emanating from "out of touch academics"
because it does not reflect mainstream thought. Why are so many
talented and highly educated people, chemists, artists, mathematicians,
archeologists, psychologists, physicists, geologists, economists,
biologists, and so on, liberals? What is it about getting an advanced
degree and dedicating one's life to the study of important scientific
and social problems that causes liberal views to emerge? My department
hires the best possible teachers and researchers. Politics plays no
role whatsoever in our Ph.D. admission or hiring decisions. The vast
majority of us are professionals who would never let personal politics
interfere with our academic conclusions. These conclusions often align
with liberal ideas regarding scientific and social policy issues, and
we promote such ideas vigorously because our goal is to make things
better for all of us. We care deeply about this community, this state,
about this nation and its role in the world. We pursue our academic
interests with passion and intellectual integrity. We have families,
safety concerns, we care about the values our children acquire. We live
in the real world. Please don't be misled into dismissing us
summarily as out of touch liberal professors whenever our academic
conclusions challenge your beliefs. Listen to all viewpoints with an
open mind and a critical ear, and then make up your own mind.