Columbia's Bicentennial

Abstract

Columbia University's theme for celebration of its Bicentennial—Man's to knowledge and the free use thereof—is not unlike an advertising slogan. Just as a manufacturer wishes to sell his product, so the university wants to sell It is an American economic attitude that everyone has a right to commodities and, likewise, to knowledge. That by such reasoning knowledge becomes a commodity few seem to care. This article can also be found at the Monthly Review website , where most recent articles are published in full. Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website.