Universities, as such, were first created in the Middle Ages to train the clergy, and they began assuming their modern form in 18th-century Germany. For two centuries Germany was home to the best universities in the world, leading the field in philosophy, theology, philology and most of the sciences. But this was the same Germany that under Otto von Bismarck became a militaristic state and under Adolf Hitler a totalitarian one. Germany led the world into the two most destructive wars in history. Hitler always received higher ratings from students than from any other group in society, his views being strongly supported by a majority of German academics, with the world-famous philosopher Martin Heidegger setting the pattern.That was then, now universities are umpteen times more expensive, so they must be that much better. Reflecting further, Heidegger's dream, that the university elite should lead or run things, has in effect happened. Don't all our rulers come from academia? And what a bang-up job they've done of demonstrating the value of an education from an elite university. They've certainly enriched themselves and their fellow alumni.