I would argue the telos of modern american universities is revenue generation. This wasn't always the case, but it is now and increasingly so.

> the de facto the purpose of a university is the furtherance of the intellectuals

Yes, and unavoidably so. That is why it is society's task to structure the universities in such a fashion that those goals align with society's goals.

Ah yes, the always correct "society" should be heavy handed, to counter unnecessary heavy-handed university administration. That is just shifting the tyranny of the majority from an internal to a less qualified external source. Universities' end should be pursuit of the truth, not society's "goals". If society must intervene, it should be to uphold the pursuit of truth, not its own goals. That is a tall task, but lets at least aim in the right direction.

This comment is also a bit odd given the context of the last 5 years of society being ever more overrun by anti-intellectualism, that is diametrically opposed to higher learning.

> society being ever more overrun by anti-intellectualism, that is diametrically opposed to higher learning.

This has been ongoing for ever. This happens because there's a big overlap between rich, powerful, and educated groups, and there's simply a fuckton of bad "us vs them" arguments that pick one easy to identify trait and attack anyone using that.

And of course the ongoing globalization led to a lot of job displacement. Whole regions suffered and continue to suffer heavily, and ... while the whole country reaps the benefits the affected areas only got a lip service. (And of course a lot of federal transfer payments.) This created a big group ripe for populist resentment, ready to project the drawbacks of free markets onto whatever Trump said. China. Mexico. Millenials. Green stuff. Welfare queens.

I don’t think society is opposed to higher learning. I think they’re opposed to scientism.

Whether the purpose of a bakery is to make bread or make money.

These days, the purpose of a university is to make money.