Introduction

It is with mixed feeling that I undertake writing this book; it criticizes an institution, the university, to which I have belonged for more than four decades and toward which I owe a profound debt. Let me here emphasize my respect for the university as one of the basic institutions of our civilization. Moreover, Karl Popper, whose philosophy inspired this book, regards criticism an expression of esteem, and my criticism is intended as a contribution to improve the university, and not to belittle its profound achievements in any way.