As one who has more than once gone in and out of the ‘game’ you so aptly describe (how fickle it is!) , this account really rings true. University based academia is a prestige economy with a coin only redeemable inside the realm. So well said! I value your wide reading, wide writing and deep thinking very much. Your writing always encourages me that the goods that academic writing in past eras pursued, before hyper specialisation, before intensified output metrics, with fewer arbitrary distortions in the prestige economy, can be pursued in just the register of communication you engage in, in the community of letters you convene. Your writing here is always intellectually honest, deeply read, and reaches well across siloes. So my / our thanks to you Seumas!
I don't know why the algorithm put your work in my way but I'm very very glad it did! I have gained a lot from your work, thank you for it!
Glad to have you reading!
As one who has more than once gone in and out of the ‘game’ you so aptly describe (how fickle it is!) , this account really rings true. University based academia is a prestige economy with a coin only redeemable inside the realm. So well said! I value your wide reading, wide writing and deep thinking very much. Your writing always encourages me that the goods that academic writing in past eras pursued, before hyper specialisation, before intensified output metrics, with fewer arbitrary distortions in the prestige economy, can be pursued in just the register of communication you engage in, in the community of letters you convene. Your writing here is always intellectually honest, deeply read, and reaches well across siloes. So my / our thanks to you Seumas!
You’ve captured exactly why I quit writing peer review articles and don’t think I’ll ever have an academic position after this one.
Academia’s loss is our gain Seamus! Thank you for your perseverance - your efforts are deeply appreciated!