Lost Generations
A professor enjoys several advantages not granted to lesser mortals. For one thing he is not expected to know a great deal outside his own particular field of competence. And then, he is entitled to say without loss of face, “I don’t know.” A professor of pathology, eg, is not expected to answer questions on anesthesiology or clinical pediatrics. A mantle of authority has definite circumscription, and a chair covers only a small territory. The medical student, on the other hand, possessing neither mantle nor chair, feels very uncomfortable about saying, “I don’t know.” He is supposed to know a great deal about almost everything.
A professor enjoys several advantages not granted to lesser mortals. For one thing he is not expected to know a great deal outside his own particular field of competence. And then, he is entitled to say without loss of face, “I don’t know.” A professor of pathology, eg, is not expected to answer questions on anesthesiology or clinical pediatrics. A mantle of authority has definite circumscription, and a chair covers only a small territory. The medical student, on the other hand, possessing neither mantle nor chair, feels very uncomfortable about saying, “I don’t know.” He is supposed to know a great deal about almost everything.
