A review of The Closing of the American Mind by Allan Bloom

Type :

Book review

Pages :

3 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

07/07/2009

Category :

Social studies

Sub category :

Journalism

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Summary :

Introduction
Difference between European and American college students
The development of science in addition to Americans' nature of being open to new ideas
Conclusion
Work cited

Abstract

In "The closing of the american mind", allan bloom argued about what he believes is the failure of contemporary american universities and colleges. The very first thing he mentioned in his book was that "almost every student entering the university believes, or says he believes, that truth is relative" (bloom 25). He argues the education system is to blame for this. "Relativism is necessary to openness; and this is the virtue, the only virtue, which all primary education for more than fifty years has dedicated itself to inculcating" (bloom 26). bloom believes this openness that our education system has created within its students is the root for relativism and postmodernism and in the book he tries to argue against it. In my opinion, bloom is right that the goal of education should not be to provide students with openness. But I don't think his whole argument in this book about universities and colleges failing at teaching students what they need to know are totally just. Are we students really going to school just to obtain this so called "virtue"? I believe the education we are hoping to achieve is one that gives us objective knowledge and truth.