Let's Be Reasonable: A Conservative Case for Liberal Education

Conservative college professor Jonathan Marks argues that liberal education is an antidote to despair and that the true purpose of college is to encourage people to be reasonable. He argues that conservative nightmare visions of liberal persecution and indoctrination bear little resemblance to what actually goes on in college classrooms and that advocates for liberal education must offer a coherent defense of themselves against their conservative critics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Conservative intellectuals, including William F. Buckley Jr., once believed in the value of universities. However, today, there is a growing inclination among conservatives to undermine and even destroy them. In his book, Let's Be Reasonable, conservative political theorist and professor Jonathan Marks offers a compelling defense of liberal education as an antidote to this despair.

Marks argues that the true purpose of college is to encourage people to be reasonable, a value that is essential for the health of our democracy. He draws on the ideas of John Locke and other thinkers to make his case, emphasizing why conservatives must not give up on higher education.

Marks recognizes that professors and administrators often adopt the language and priorities of the left, but he clarifies why conservative nightmare visions of liberal persecution and indoctrination bear little resemblance to what actually goes on in college classrooms. He examines why advocates for liberal education struggle to offer a coherent defense against their conservative critics and demonstrates why such a defense must rest on the cultivation of reason and pride in being reasonable.

Let's Be Reasonable is not just a guide to navigating the campus battlefield; it goes beyond that. It recovers what is truly liberal about liberal education—the ability to reason for oneself and with others—and shows why the liberally educated person considers reason to be more than just a tool for scoring political points.

In conclusion, conservative intellectuals must not abandon higher education. By defending liberal education, we can cultivate the values of reason, critical thinking, and respect for diverse perspectives, which are essential for the health of our democracy.

Weight: 342g
Dimension: 140 x 216 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691207728