Dear Rosan,



Your statement below seems to be based on unwarranted assumptions about my

views, my life, or my work. You seem to believe that I see academic inquiry

as superior to other forms of inquiry. I do not.



I argued the virtues of research and free academic inquiry for specific

kinds of questions. The tradition of free academic inquiry is superior for

answering certain kinds of questions.



Other forms of inquiry are superior for addressing other issues. These

include public choice, political process, religious belief and dozens more.



My earlier note was written as clearly as possible to develop a line of

reasoning. To analyze my intentions and assumptions requires reading what I

wrote without over-interpreting the explicit text. In this case, I feel you

misread my views from the background of your assumptions.



Many issues form a foundation for action. To call research a partner for

action is a reasonable metaphor. My view is that research gives us the

information that establishes a robust foundation for action ALONG WITH

values, political will, personal commitment and many other issues.



I am more than a scholar. You may “live an academic life right now, no more

no less.” I do not. I live more than an academic life and I always have.



I am an active citizen. I contribute to the common good in many different

ways. These include volunteer action and advising others in volunteer

ventures. I encourage others to act on issues of principle through personal

commitment. I take personal action in my life and work to embody and to

enact ethical principles. I have sometimes taken serious risks in living

this way, and I have sometimes paid a high price for acting rather than

talking. ‘



The specific stories of my life history are not important. The important

fact is a commitment to my responsibility as an individual human being. You

will find this emphasis in my life and work since the 1960s. I have often

discussed these issues in relevant publications. The reason I rarely

discuss these issues here is that these issues are rarely relevant to the

discussions on a research list. Here, we tend to focus on epistemology,

comparative methodology, or other questions.



Whether or not I discuss these issues here, I act in my life and work.



Best regards,



Ken Friedman





Rosan Chow wrote,



—snip—



Dear Ken



thanks for the post. this is between you and me, but i will let everyone

evasdrop: hush, hush...

i love ideas, reflection, theories, philosophy and thinking.

i understand the value of academic inquiry and freedom.

i live an academic life right now, no more no less.



the only thing that is different between you and me, as i see it is that i

don't see academic inquiry as more difficult or superior than other forms

of inquiry.

and i don't see that academic inquiry as a foundation for action, but

rather a partner.

and just in case it is not apparent already: in general, i don't believe in

hierarchy but collaboration.



hope this clarifies my position.



best, rosan



—snip—