Utilitarianism and the Crisis of Medieval Studies in Argentina

Utilitarianism and the Crisis of Medieval Studies in Argentina: An Op-Ed

By Francisco Iversen

Summer 2025 – The fact that the humanities are struggling all over the world to establish themselves as a crucial area of study and development is nothing new. Late capitalism is reluctant to invest in areas that don’t offer immediate profit or a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Moreover, most universities are reducing the scope of philosophy and medieval studies in order to make room for programming and other subjects that are considered more important for graduates’ career prospects. The following is an example of what is happening in a specific country where libertarian policies are hurting the humanities and medieval studies.

Congregation in defence of public education 2024

Argentina’s libertarian government, under the motto of ‘there is no money’ and with fiscal equilibrium as its only goal, has begun to reduce all public investment. One of the sectors most affected is research, particularly philosophy. Philosophy, which was previously a priority area for development in Argentina, is now fighting for survival under Milei. Many researchers in this field are leaving research to become teachers, or leaving Argentina for countries that offer opportunities in research and higher education.

Many people applaud these kinds of policies that ‘avoid unnecessary waste of public money’. But how can philosophy, especially medieval philosophy, be considered a luxury that must be abandoned to achieve fiscal equilibrium? If public expenditure is only directed towards fulfilling basic needs and private investment is only in research that could generate income, then medieval studies are in danger.

This endangers not only philosophy researchers, but also wider society. If the system cannot provide PhD students and postdoctoral researchers with scholarships, it is only natural that the number of qualified scholars will decline. Similarly, this market logic creates an overly competitive struggle for the few positions at public and private universities. Furthermore, as this process continues, the competition could affect places not only at universities, but at schools too. Earning a living from philosophy in Argentina is becoming increasingly difficult when you consider the hours of reading and years of study required compared to salaries, employability, and available job opportunities.

How can Medieval Studies defend its place as a key area of study within this framework? As the saying goes, ‘Those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it’, and the study of the past is always useful and fruitful. The fact that a libertarian party won the 2023 elections is proof of what can happen to a society that ignores its recent history — it can vote against its own interests. In other words, fiscal equilibrium — when the state’s income equals its expenditure — does not affect most people’s daily lives. Nevertheless, drastic cuts to public investment in areas such as health, education and construction are immediately felt by most inhabitants.

Another argument in favour of medieval studies is the growing flat-earth movement. Contrary to the idea of the Middle Ages as a ‘Dark Age’, studying medieval thinkers — especially scholastic philosophers — reveals that no educated person during the millennium known as the Middle Ages believed the Earth was flat.

In conclusion, I would like to encourage all scholars to help people understand the importance of research and medieval studies. It is crucial that wisdom remains a central goal for young people and society in general.