What's the Point?

I spend a lot of time dealing with academic issues. Reading this person or that person's thoughts on this or that, writing about this or that, discussing this or that. Most of what is done within academia seems to be a waste of time however. The academics do not seem to me to justify their salaries. We really have to think hard about what their purpose in society is. What do we gain from academics? Which types are useful, which not, and how do we know? I believe that academics must justify their activities through their connection to the improvement of human life (or I suppose life in general, since the lives of non-human creatures should also matter). So really the question to ask is "what is your contribution to society?" If it is not very significant then the research or whatnot is not justified.

Scholarship should be reserved for those most devoted to the improvement of society (or rather to increasing net per capita happiness). Those who are most devoted to this will put their energies into the most productive activities, while those who are not very devoted to this purpose will simply follow their fancy or pursue what will bring them tenure.

One last point. In the end we must remember to ask: "Who is paying for this?