An Independent Scholar's Manifesto, part 3: Intellectual Independence

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This is part 3 of An Independent Scholar's Manifesto, in which I articulate a vision of what it means to be a scholar and an intellectual without being employed by an academic institution. This series is for post-academics who still want to pursue their intellectual vocations, even if they have chosen to leave Academia. Toward that end, I propose claiming and rehabilitating the term "independent scholar." I would suggest that an independent scholar is anyone who pursues a life of scholarship as the practice of freedom.
Here are a few books and authors I'm drawing on in this video:
* Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue
* Pierre Hadot, Philosophy as a Way of Life
* A.G. Sertillanges, The Intellectual Life

Пікірлер: 9

@alanbunce7448 2 ай бұрын

Well expressed and completely right, to my way of thinking about things

@philosophyforeverydaylife1861 2 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@UberMayinch 2 ай бұрын

Good points

@garrett9945 2 ай бұрын

Do you have any advice for autodidacts (assuming unlimited motivation) before they have an opportunity to earn a PhD?

@philosophyforeverydaylife1861 2 ай бұрын

I don’t have any specific advice. I think being an autodidact is a great thing. You can start living the life of an intellectual now. You don’t have to get a PhD. That said, a PhD can be helpful-it gives you colleagues, mentors, and time to focus on intellectual pursuits. If you get a PhD, you might approach it as a 5-year opportunity to learn that stands on its own. Perhaps you’ll get an academic job, but if you don’t, have a backup plan and some skills in place that you can use to get a day job once you finish.

@mishapurser4439 2 ай бұрын

What are your thoughts on people without a PhD, Masters, or Bachelors but who have used information technology to do the equivalent in education going on to become independent scholars? I'd really like to see you expand further on this question. My neurodivergence made going through the university system extremely challenging such that I had to leave, but I still want to contribute to the conversation in scholarly circles.

@philosophyforeverydaylife1861 Ай бұрын

I think there is lots of potential for this. An example that comes to mind is Solomon Maimon. He was one of the first to understand Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason, but he was almost entirely self taught. Obviously neurodivergence was not a concept in use at that time. But some of his behavior might suggest neurodivergent traits. That being said, I think that his path was not easy, because he lacked the social credibility that comes from institutional affiliation and accreditation. That doesn’t mean it’s not a worthwhile path. It’s just a difficult one. What are you interested in specifically?

@mishapurser4439 Ай бұрын

@@philosophyforeverydaylife1861 Thanks for egetting back to me, I really appreciate the encouragement and reality check on the idea. As for me specifically, I'm interested in various subjects including philosophy, politics & govt, history, sociology, etc.

@philosophyforeverydaylife1861 Ай бұрын

Absolutely, best of luck with your journey!