Academia and the Self
January 12th 2007 03:41
Perhaps you've noticed that academics aren't usually reknowned for their social skills, their looks, their ease of interaction, or for having full and complete lives. In fact, most people who have excelled in specialized areas of expertise are lacking signficantly in other areas of their life.
Do you have to make a choice between excellence in the academy or a more fulfilling existence? Are there people who are reknowned for the quality of their scholarship and the quality of their social connections? Have you known someone like that?
What do you give up to excel in only one area and if you had to make a choice which one would you prefer? Is it trendier to know yourself very well, or to know a subject very well? Is it trendier to be a world expert in a field but have difficulty doing everything else? Or trendier to be a fabulous *person* but perhaps fall short of excellence in your selected field? What if both could make you happy? What if neither could?
Do you have to make a choice between excellence in the academy or a more fulfilling existence? Are there people who are reknowned for the quality of their scholarship and the quality of their social connections? Have you known someone like that?
What do you give up to excel in only one area and if you had to make a choice which one would you prefer? Is it trendier to know yourself very well, or to know a subject very well? Is it trendier to be a world expert in a field but have difficulty doing everything else? Or trendier to be a fabulous *person* but perhaps fall short of excellence in your selected field? What if both could make you happy? What if neither could?
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