tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3614841571339583501.post2514386930182464074..comments2023-11-02T08:17:49.134+00:00Comments on Law and Sexuality: Homophobia and Academic FreedomChris Ashfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12071159399124287824noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3614841571339583501.post-64552479220921170452010-08-03T15:29:52.196+01:002010-08-03T15:29:52.196+01:00Sponsorship and funding of academic positions by b...Sponsorship and funding of academic positions by business and other bodies with a vested interest in promoting particular points of view are not the expression of academic freedom to begin with. In fact, I would venture to say such arrangements are an abuse of academic freedom and threaten to undermine it.<br /><br />It is a travesty of the principles of a robust, independent and at least theoretically impartial higher education system to force universities to seek private funding that endangers all of these principles. In cases where private funding for academic positions is in place (and yes, it looks like a growing trend), this should be clearly flagged by the institution concerned and accompanied by some kind of disclaimer.<br /><br />I don't think "true" impartiality exists, but there is a difference between the (presumably well studied and considered) individual opinions and personal biases of an academic, and knowledge delivered in a lecture theatre or publication that have been sponsored by an external, organised, vested interest group.Daryl Championhttp://www.somethingdark.eunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3614841571339583501.post-47596717806282525222010-07-20T12:00:49.457+01:002010-07-20T12:00:49.457+01:00True Academic freedom would appear to derive from ...True Academic freedom would appear to derive from total impartiality - the ability to be objective without prejudgment (prejudice). When you add money into that are you truly removing impartiality or underscoring an existing bias?<br /><br />It's a tricky one - I think the best we can hope for is that all such funding/employment conditions are stated under the author's name each time they submit for publication; it's up to Academia in the whole to judge whether the opinions or findings given were conditioned by the paymaster.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15137651608599246654noreply@blogger.com