MY ALMA MATER, the University of Chicago, has a certain unique spirit, which I recently vexed myself to define in words. I finally realized that Mr. Thorstein Veblen, one of the many famous people who have taught at Chicago, had already done most of the work for me.
Veblen coined the phrase "conspicuous consumption" which still rings true today--to mock the excesses of capitalism. Chicago itself is defined by a better spirit, a spirit of "conspicuous production." The University of Chicago produces graduates and fosters faculty who want to be useful and productive and to make their mark in the world.
And often they do make their mark.
I suppose one could also speak of "secular Calvinism."
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