06-28-2012, 08:17 PM
I can't speak to the economic situation in the UK. I think that recognizing public impact is a good thing (after all, the reason the public pays academics is to increase knowledge of things they are curious about) but I can't speak to the metrics used in the UK. It may be that humanists are encouraged to publish too much.
I think that some of the things which Stanley talks about are a symptom of attempts to impose values from the world of commerce onto every other sphere of life. We see this when people state straightfaced that higher education is obviously for professional training (even though I have never heard of a society where this was the main purpose of higher education); when people are urged to develop a personal brand or think about their sexual market value (!); and when academics are encouraged to market their works like hucksters. The values of an honourable academic are fundamentally different from those suited to getting rich as an author or media personality.
I think that some of the things which Stanley talks about are a symptom of attempts to impose values from the world of commerce onto every other sphere of life. We see this when people state straightfaced that higher education is obviously for professional training (even though I have never heard of a society where this was the main purpose of higher education); when people are urged to develop a personal brand or think about their sexual market value (!); and when academics are encouraged to market their works like hucksters. The values of an honourable academic are fundamentally different from those suited to getting rich as an author or media personality.
Nullis in verba
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
I have not checked this forum frequently since 2013, but I hope that these old posts have some value. I now have a blog on books, swords, and the curious things humans do with them.
