The Wisdom of Professor Elkins

From a newspaper article:

Some years ago, then-prime-minister Pierre Trudeau - queried by a reporter 
about extensive polling Prof. Elkins was doing that showed the main cause of 
Western alienation to be Mr. Trudeau himself - snapped:
"Does he have a PhD ?"
"I think so", said the reporter.
"You think so," replied Mr. Trudeau.
"Well, find out. If he hasn't, I don't want to deal with him. Next question."

In any event, long before the present fury enveloped David Elkins's corner of the
university (the political science dept. at UBC), he became concerned about difficulties 
many of his best students were having 
in challenging false assumptions and hidden prejudices.
So he sat down and wrote them a few pointers. 
They are worth sharing with the country.


Prof. Elkins quoted Bertrand Russell:
"The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which 
there is no good evidence either way. 
Whenever you find yourself getting angry about a difference of opinion, 
be on your guard; 
you will probably find, on examination, 
that your belief is going beyond what the evidence warrants."


Prof. Elkins said:
"Be wary of dichotomies; 
be suspicious of all-or-nothing choices; 
be dubious about mutually exclusive possibilities.
Look for gradients ... complementarity."


"To a person with only a hammer, all problems look like a nail.
Try to use several tools (perspectives, theories, biases) 
before you conclude it is a nail."


"Read from time to time on topics that do not interest you.
Serendipity i a slow guide, but sometimes it is all we have."


"Make a point from time to time of listening to people who you know disagree with you. 
And I mean listen, not argue."


"Read lots of history. 
Concepts, institutions and beliefs which have a specific
historical origin cannot be universal or timeless."


"Read lots of history to see if things you believe were not always believed.
In reading about other periods, recall that words change meaning; thus 
they mask ideas as well as reveal them."


"When criticizing or condemning or evaluating ideas historically once 
more common - or current views held by other people - stop and ask if you would
be willing to be judged by the standard you are using on them. 
If not, ask what lurks behind your feeling or threat."


"Read science-fiction.
All good science fiction shares at least this feature:
If [such-and-such a] premise (axiom, law, principle) were different,
in what other ways would the world be different ?"


"Clichés, aphorisms and colloquialisms can often tell you a story if you let them.
Collect bumper stickers, graffiti, epithets. 
'Life is a sexually transmitted disease.'
'Old soldiers never die; the young ones die.'"


"Watch out for keywords in what you write or say. 
Especially likely to cover up unexamined assumptions are words and phrases like
'obviously,''naturally,''undoubtedly,''universally,'how silly' and 'self-evident.'"

"In what you say or write, ask yourself whom you mean to include and exclude 
by [using] 'we.'"


"Minorities, the oppressed and the marginalized almost always 
have a better understanding of the unconscious underpinnings 
of their society and culture than do
the majority, the top dogs and the insiders. 
To 'pass,' they must play a role conciously whereas
those in control usually can 'pass' without concious effort. Thus,
listen to poets; 
look at unpopular art;
seek out the malcontents and deviants."


Whatever the year David Elkins, PhD, is having, at a guess his university
and his students are fortunate in having him. 


Exercise/Exercice
Read a passage in a book or newspaper; but do it silently.
That is, do not read it aloud; 
do not say the words in your head.


Lisez un passage dans un livre ou journal; mais faites le silencieusement.
C'est à dire, ne le lisez pas à haute voix;
ne dites pas les mots dans vôtre tête.