Why Go to College if the World Is About to End?

null By James Piereson and Naomi Schaefer RileyDec. 10, 2023 5:15 pm ETJournal Editorial Report: The week’s best and worst from Kate Bachelder Odell, Kyle Peterson, Allysia Finley and Dan Henninger. Images: AP/AFP/Getty Images Composite: Mark KellyThe Jehovah’s Witnesses have long preached that going to college is a waste of time because the world as we know it is going to end soon. “No doubt, school counselors sincerely believe that it is in your best interests to pursue higher education,” advised the faith’s official publication a few years ago. “Yet, their confidence lies in a social and financial system that has no lasting future.” This admonition sounds a lot like the Nov. 5 viral tweet from Notre Dame professor Alexander O. Hsu, who claimed to be “tired of defending ‘the humanities’ every five seconds.” Mr. Hsu asked: “Given the very real risk of climate extinction due to capitalism, what are some defenses of business schools? What possible justification is there in making more

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Opinion Dec 11, 2023 Add to Reading List

Why Go to College if the World Is About to End?

null

James Piereson

and

Naomi Schaefer Riley

Dec. 10, 2023 5:15 pm ET

Journal Editorial Report: The week’s best and worst from Kate Bachelder Odell, Kyle Peterson, Allysia Finley and Dan Henninger. Images: AP/AFP/Getty Images Composite: Mark Kelly

The Jehovah’s Witnesses have long preached that going to college is a waste of time because the world as we know it is going to end soon. “No doubt, school counselors sincerely believe that it is in your best interests to pursue higher education,” advised the faith’s official publication a few years ago. “Yet, their confidence lies in a social and financial system that has no lasting future.”

This admonition sounds a lot like the Nov. 5 viral tweet from Notre Dame professor Alexander O. Hsu, who claimed to be “tired of defending ‘the humanities’ every five seconds.” Mr. Hsu asked: “Given the very real risk of climate extinction due to capitalism, what are some defenses of business schools? What possible justification is there in making more businesspeople?”