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
(00:48) David Benatar on Rhodes Must Fall and Fees Must Fall
(02:28) David Benatar on the violence at UCT
(06:55) David Benatar on UCT's capitulation to lawlessness
(10:05) David Benatar on 'decolonisation'
(13:43) David Benatar on racial preferences at UCT
(20:38) David Benatar on academic appointments at UCT
(23:56) David Benatar on Bongani Mayosi
(27:26) David Benatar on academic freedom
(33:30) David Benatar on freedom of expression
(35:46) David Benatar on the state of the Humanities at UCT
(38:59) David Benatar on the future of universities
(42:55) David Benatar on whether to study philosophy
(45:24) David Benatar on resisting group-think
(46:55) Conclusion

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-Universit...