Principles That Don't Change by Harvey Mansfield - City Journal

A harvard professor on arrogance at the most prestigious school in the world. I'm interested in the institutional shift toward Mansfield's "unofficial motto"--mutabilitas, or adjusting to change--instead of the old veritas.

"Confidence in progress has now been replaced by postulation of change. Progress is achieved and can be welcomed, but change just happens and must be adjusted to. “Adjusting to change” is now the unofficial motto of Harvard, mutabilitas instead of veritas. To adjust, the new Harvard must avoid adherence to any principle that does not change, even liberal principle. Yet in fact it has three principles: diversity, choice, and equality. To respect change, diversity must serve to overcome stereotypes, though stereotypes are necessary to diversity. How else is a Midwesterner diverse if he is not a hayseed? And diversity of opinion cannot be tolerated when it might hinder change.

Contemporary inquiry hacks at what sets itself up as authoritarian and absolute. So, even Hahvad is wrestling (awkwardly) with its own sky-high self-esteem. Apparently for Harvard grads of this era, the school's prestige is as embarrassing as it is gratifying.

Principles That Don't Change by Harvey Mansfield - City Journal