[CP] Re: [Wittrs] On the Value of Philosophy to Law and Society
- From: Sean Wilson <whoooo26505@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: wittrsamr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, cv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 16 Oct 2010 12:09:54 -0700 (PDT)
... whoops, forgot to quote it as I indicated.
----- Original Message ----
From: Sean Wilson <whoooo26505@xxxxxxxxx>
To: wittrsamr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx; cv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sat, October 16, 2010 3:07:11 PM
Subject: [Wittrs] On the Value of Philosophy to Law and Society
See the lead post to this thread:
http://www.poliscijobrumors.com/topic.php?id=26414 (quoted below)
====================================================
(from Poly Sci Job Rumors)
We all know that "publish or perish" pressures now reach farther and farther
down through academia and have become extreme at R1 schools. I think this has
had negative consequences on the quality of scholarship. Most of what is
published is, in my opinion, meaningless crap that will never make any
difference in the world or even in our profession. Honsetly, look at you own CV
and evaluate how many of your works really matter in the big picture. If you're
honest, for 99% of you, the answer will be zero.
Yes, I include my own work in that blanket indictment. I'm starting my 5th year
of a tenure track assistant professorship at a R1 university and have had
enough. I just don't want to do it anymore. I'm back on the market looking for
a
job at a place where a high quantity of research is less expected and good
teaching is more valued. Though I have so far succeded in my review process -
including the big 3rd year review - it has left me feeling dirty and even
dishonest. My tenure and promotion committee has continually told me to just
get
stuff out - quick and dirty in necessary - even if I am not satisified with it.
It is about lines on a CV, not about any actual quest for knowledge. I hate it.
So, let me ask you, why do you publish? Is it because you believe your research
is of real worth to the human race and will make the world a better place? (If
so, I think you are delusional.) Or is it because you just personally enjoy
doing the research to satisfy your own curiosity and would do so whether anyone
else valued it or not? Or is it just to satisfy the demands of the profession
and boost your standing in the eyes of others? I bet for almost all of us it is
the third reason. Political science publishing isn't really about advancing any
"science" at all. It is about advancing careers and personal conceit. Nothing
more.
If I'm right, and publish or perish career pressures have turned most political
science scholarship into meaningless crap, hasn't the overwhelming emphasis on
research that is consuming our profession done more harm than good? Wouldn't it
be a better system if people only sought to publish when they actually had
something important to say? Sure, still reward the best scholars with the best
jobs, if you like. But don't make everyone else think that they have to keep up
just to keep their jobs, and force them to churn out crap to do so.
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