20100404

學術遊戲

早兩天參與了美國哲學聯會西岸年會,不是發表論文,只是做評論。我絕少參加學術會議,因為不大喜歡那裏的氣氛;今次的會議在三藩市,不必穿州過省,只需駕兩三小時車便到,於是便請纓做評論,算是履行會員的義務。

我說不喜歡學術會議的氣氛,只是指哲學的學術會議,其他學科的,我不曾參與過,當然沒有資格說些甚麼。我不喜歡的,是這些會議很令我覺得哲學已被弄成一種學術遊戲;在會議上發表的論文,不乏重要和有趣的,但大多數不是跟風寫熱門題目,就是無關痛癢、小眉小眼之作。哲學茶杯裏的風波,每年都有不少,學術會議正是把這些小風波裝扮成大風浪的好機會;看著一大群哲學家煞有介事地討論這些「無中生有」的哲學問題,我是有點吃不消的。

無奈我這次負責評論的文章,正是這種學術遊戲的產品。文章寫得不錯,清楚而工整,是標準的分析哲學格局,可內容就是那麼derivative,是哲學茶杯裏的風波的一個小漣漪;讀完、評論完、跟與會者討論完這篇文章後,我最強烈的感覺是:大家都浪費了不少時間。

搞學術,是否就一定要參與這種學術遊戲?

10 則留言:

  1. I was told exposure is a must... I was told it is all about connections... That is the point of going to conference. Otherwise we might as well just read journal papers.

    And that was the reason I bought that super expensive ticket (by my own fault).

    However, I don't think we have to... once we are established enough or if we don't care if we are appreciated...

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  2. RandomCoil,

    In my field, as long as one has enough publications, not going to conferences would not be a problem.

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  3. Yes, it might be field specific. In a sense if we have a lot of good publications, people would come to us...

    However, I was told that showing our presence is important. Even for established professors... showing that s/he is still very active is important for getting fundings...espeically when research is multidisciplinary and we can't do everything on our own.

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  4. RandomCoil,

    It seems that you don't have much of a choice then.

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  5. This is my little note about networking. Hate it!

    http://boundaryinterfaces.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/the-wrong-profession/

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  6. RandomCoil,

    Have just read your piece. I think I would feel the same if I were in your situation.

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  7. 對于已經有教職和業績的哲學家而言,你們可能會覺得是在浪費時間,
    不過,對于像我這種在讀PhD學生而言,能否在類似會議宣讀論文,有時是生死猶關的。

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  8. Hello CYC,

    I am not sure if that is really field specific.
    I am organising a symposium right now (not in Philosophy)...

    While some conferences are more pretigious than others, I would say, don't take the acceptance/rejection of a presentation too seriously...

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  9. Hello RandomCoil,

    →don't take the acceptance/rejection of a presentation too seriously...

    Frankly, I am currently writing a conference paper...

    Your words make me feel better:)

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  10. CYC,

    即使是當研究生時,我也沒有去conferences,不過這只是我自己的性格問題。

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