The highlight:
I think the practice of soliciting letters of recommendation for academic positions is both foolish and immoral.
Tell us what you REALLY think!
Huemer on Letters of Recommendation
Nov 2nd, 2017 by wintercow20
Homines libenter quod volunt credunt
Nov 2nd, 2017 by wintercow20
The highlight:
I think the practice of soliciting letters of recommendation for academic positions is both foolish and immoral.
Tell us what you REALLY think!
(2) It contributes to a system in which the most coveted, scarce goods are distributed according to personal connections, rather than merit.
This comment is hilariously predictable coming from a career academic. If by merit he means SAT score or the speed at which someone is able to grasp mathematics proof, he may be correct. But since when is there no merit in developing meaningful relationships with people in your field that have pull? If someone can pull the wool over the eyes of three professors in their field who are of equal or senior status to them and this professor is intelligent enough to write a convincing letter of recommendation, God bless.