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Knowledge and the University: Re-claiming Life
For hundreds of years, knowledge has been central in understanding the university. Over recent decades, however, it is the economic value of knowledge that has come to the fore. Now, in a post-truth world, knowledge is also treated with suspicion and has become a vehicle for ideologies. Knowledge and the University combats all these ways of thinking. Its central claim is that knowledge is of value because of its connection with life. Knowledge is of life, from life, in life and for life. With an engaging philosophical discussion, and with a consideration of the evolution of higher education institutions, this Knowledge and the University is a radical text that looks to engender nothing less than a new spirit of the university. It offers a fascinating read for policy makers, institutional leaders, academics and all interested in the future of universities.
198 pages, Paperback
Published August 7, 2019
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September 28, 2019
I wanted to love this book. It explores the relationship between knowledge, university and life. How terrific. So much of Critical University Studies leaves the reader feeling hopeless and desolate. This book seemed like a moment of revisioning.
Wrong.
Each of the key terms are not tethered to the complex and changeable literature that enables their meaning. Certainly the book attempts to connection learning to life, but in the attempt to create a 'knowledge ecology' - specificity was lacking. We ended up with motherhood statements about the value of learning.
It is a tough project to consider the role of the university in the new public sphere, post-Brexit, Trump and the GFC. But hopes and visions are not enough. Concrete discussions of expertise, research and teaching are required.
This book could have been great. But the problem is that the three words in the title - knowledge, university and life - are not granted a history, a trajectory or a politics.
Wrong.
Each of the key terms are not tethered to the complex and changeable literature that enables their meaning. Certainly the book attempts to connection learning to life, but in the attempt to create a 'knowledge ecology' - specificity was lacking. We ended up with motherhood statements about the value of learning.
It is a tough project to consider the role of the university in the new public sphere, post-Brexit, Trump and the GFC. But hopes and visions are not enough. Concrete discussions of expertise, research and teaching are required.
This book could have been great. But the problem is that the three words in the title - knowledge, university and life - are not granted a history, a trajectory or a politics.
Displaying 1 of 1 review