[Marxism] Capitalism and the Universities Query

["Calvin Broadbent" <calvinbroadbent@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Can anyone recommend any works detailing the economic logics behind the
historical growth/truncation, development, and transformation of the
university sytems in the capitalist centres?

How/why is it that so much money is invested in paying rich kids to learn
obscurantist philosophy, for instance? Is it purely to expand (middle class)
consumption, keep the university big wigs earning, and disseminate esoteric
conservatism? I understand that many academic disciplines are directly
vocational, that is, serve the technical and administrative interests of
global corporations. But so much of academic study seems utterly worthless,
from the point of view of capitalism.

There is, of course, a view that 'knowedges' are the motor force of
production in the new postindustrial age. This is, of course, rubbish, and
the entire tertiary education megalith is thoroughly unproductive,
parasitic, short-term and rooted in imperialism. Does anyone know of any
good works critiquing the ideology of postindustrialism?

I would really appreciate any help on these matters. Thanks in advance.

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