Academic Freedom In An Age Of Conformity: Confronting The Fear Of Knowledge (palgrave Critical University Studies)
by Joanna Williams /
2016 / English / PDF
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Academic freedom is increasingly being threatened by a stifling
culture of conformity in higher education that is restricting
individual academics, the freedom of academic thought and the
progress of knowledge – the very foundations upon which academia
and universities are built.
Academic freedom is increasingly being threatened by a stifling
culture of conformity in higher education that is restricting
individual academics, the freedom of academic thought and the
progress of knowledge – the very foundations upon which academia
and universities are built.
Once, scholars demanded academic freedom to critique existing
knowledge and to pursue new truths. Today, while fondness for the
rhetoric of academic freedom remains, it is increasingly criticised
as an outdated and elitist concept by students and lecturers alike
and called into question by a number of political and intellectual
trends such as feminism, critical theory and identity
politics.
Once, scholars demanded academic freedom to critique existing
knowledge and to pursue new truths. Today, while fondness for the
rhetoric of academic freedom remains, it is increasingly criticised
as an outdated and elitist concept by students and lecturers alike
and called into question by a number of political and intellectual
trends such as feminism, critical theory and identity
politics.
This provocative and compelling book traces the demise of academic
freedom within the context of changing ideas about the purpose of
the university and the nature of knowledge. The book argues that a
challenge to this culture of conformity and censorship and a
defence of academic free speech are needed for critique to be
possible and for the intellectual project of evaluating existing
knowledge and proposing new knowledge to be meaningful. This book
is that challenge and a passionate call to arms for the power of
academic thought today.
This provocative and compelling book traces the demise of academic
freedom within the context of changing ideas about the purpose of
the university and the nature of knowledge. The book argues that a
challenge to this culture of conformity and censorship and a
defence of academic free speech are needed for critique to be
possible and for the intellectual project of evaluating existing
knowledge and proposing new knowledge to be meaningful. This book
is that challenge and a passionate call to arms for the power of
academic thought today.