Brexit, Trump and the failure of our universities to pursue wisdom

In a recent excellent article, George Monbiot , in response to the crisis that lies behind Brexit and Trump, concludes that, what we need is “a new story of what it is to be a human in the 21st century and to reclaim our humanity” (The deep story beneath Trump’s triumph, The Guardian, 14 November 2016).

Whilst I agree fully with this most eloquent analysis on the destructive consequences of neoliberalism in general, I wish also to mention that, in order “to reclaim our humanity”, what we actually need is a revolution in our institutions of learning.

We must rise and truly reflect on these three pertinent questions that T. S. Eliot has asked us:

"Where is the Life we have lost in living? Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?"

In order to solve the grave global problems we face – climate change, population growth, environmental degradation, extinction of species, war, acts of terrorism, inequality, intolerance, racism, refugees, xenophobia, building walls between nations and peoples, and the rest – we need governments to act appropriately.

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