Here’s an interesting essay about the incomprehensibility of some academic writing. (Via Althouse) I can’t speak for the problem in academia generally, but I think the problem in legal scholarship is that complex and sophisticated words create the impression of complex and sophisticated arguments. Indeed, it’s much easier to create that impression through words. (I’m reminded of the reaction of my fellow first-year law students when we couldn’t understand what one of our professors was saying: “He’s so brilliant I can barely follow him!”)