Academic quote of the day

[kat_lair]

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“The appeal to the tree of knowledge is necessary, but to be educational, university studies have to be more than extensive reading, more than `knowledge for its own sake’, or pursuing the argument wherever it leads’, more even than the `disinterested pursuit of truth’ and the formation of judgement under the influence of the educated. The tree is of the knowledge of good and evil…Education has to be a form of the pursuit of the good. This is the principle missing from the modern university which, if brought back into it, would rid it of its clutter of corrupt specialization and turn back a pile of twigs into a living tree again.”  (Maskell and Robinson 2002: 171)


Full Ref:
Maskell, D. & Robinson, I. (2002). The New idea of a University. London: Imprint Academic

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Comments

[pushkin666.livejournal.com]

I like your quotes. A lot of the time I have no idea what the hell they mean but hey :)

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Heh bless you. This is from an influential book (in the area of higher education studies) that debates the purpose of universities, basically arguing there that it's not enough just to pass on knowledge but that universities' have a duty to ensure that that knowledge is used for the 'good' as well.

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

I really like this quote, it brings knowledge and education back to a grassroots level somehow;)

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Yeah it does. And it boldly takes sides in the 'what is (higher) education for' debate.