Economics, Competition and Academia : An Intellectual History of Sophism Versus Virtue

'In this exceptionally well written and highly perceptive book, Stabile has provided a unique perspective on the continuing debate over whether universities should be funded from non-fee sources (endowments, public funding) or from fees. He locates the philosophical roots of that debate in the ancient Greece, with the sophists selling their services as teachers for fees and Plato and Aristotle virtuously teaching without fees (made possible by personal wealth). He then traces how virtue and sophism became entangled and morphed into various hybrid arrangements throughout the development of modern universities. As universities continue to evolve in their perceptions of how to match their functions to the ever-changing sets of financial constraints and opportunities, the relevance of this book will continue to grow. It should be on the "must read" list for all who are involved in modern higher education.' - Charles G. Leathers, University of Alabama, US 'Anyone interested in the important, current debate over assessing educational outcomes should read this book. It offers important historical perspectives on the value of education. Understanding the different points of view on the value of education is the first step in assessing what outcomes one wants to achieve with current education policies.' - Andrew F. Kozak, St. Mary's College of Maryland, US 'Stabile pulls together in one study of reasonable size the threads of higher education that span the centuries from ancient Greece to the twenty-first century United States. While readers may or may not agree with his conclusions, they will discover links between the past and the present and clues to the future of American higher education.' - David O. Whitten, Auburn University, US