Dr. Bauerlein: The Younger Generation

Dr. Bauerlein’s general argument during his speech is about how the younger generation have forgotten the classics and have been so absorbed into digital technology that it hinders them in their lives. He makes the age old saying “we didn’t have these when I was a kid” come to life. He talks about how young adults now do not appreciate literature the same way that he did when he was younger. He also explains that the digital age is messing up the intellect of the younger generation, making them dumber. I agree to an extent with his argument but mostly I do not agree. I understand that the younger generation has a different way of experiencing life but that has been the case for years. History repeats itself. In comparison, Bauerlein’s generation

This shows the evolution from younger generations to the older generations. When relating to old classics, Dr. Bauerlein brings up the example of heartbreak and Dido and Aeneas. He compares that to the heartbreak that “young people” experience in life. Many young people may not see the same thing today in their heartbreak and that may be a very good thing. Aeneas left Dido because of what the gods have told him to do. In that sense, many people would lose their faith in their god or religion. Next, Dido makes a funeral pyre and commits suicide on top of it and lights it on fire. If that was the reaction that everyone had after a heartbreak, no one would be alive today. Although it may be nice to learn about the classics, it doesn’t put the best ideas into the future generation. What really stood out to me was when he was trying to do the comparison of “when I was younger” to the generation today. Our generation, albeit different, has very good qualities that will further the human race in science and math. Humanities will even be furthered but will be taught in a different way. What Bauerlein doesn’t recognize is that there was a huge push to include more STEM majors in our