Scholarship and life

Scholars are almost always academics. We assign the designation to professors and researchers with university posts who get paid to research and publish. The term “independent scholar” only proves this: The qualifier is necessary because “scholar” by itself implies an academic position. I think this is why I’ve been uneasy about my desire to continue my research concurrent with building a non-academic life. Research and teaching go hand in hand, but scholarship and a non-academic career doesn’t seem right. Is my on-going interest in my dissertation topic a sign that I haven’t yet let go of academia? Is there room for scholarship in a life completely removed from a university?

I think there is. After all, scholarship isn’t a job; it’s something some people do. I revel in learning and delight in detail. I enjoy the knowledge, insight, and fulfillment that comes from exploration and contemplation. Academic-type research is one aspect of a good life for me, just as reading, cooking, and long intellectual conversations are others. When I think about it this way, my continued fascination with the subjects of my grad school research isn’t out of place. It isn’t a manifestation of my refusal to move on. It’s part of who I am.

A few minutes ago, as I took a break from writing this post, I read this article. It’s a fascinating piece about a Russian family “discovered” by Soviet scientists after living alone in the Siberian taiga for decades. The author’s framing of Siberia as “five million square miles of nothingness” reminded me of a book I want to write. One day, I will write and publish it. It will be a work of scholarship, but my place outside the academy will free me to write it as I please, free of tenure deadlines and judgments. And that’s exactly what I want: to be a true, unfettered scholar. Put it another way, I want to be me.


Comments

5 responses to “Scholarship and life”

  1. This post resonates a lot for me — I’ve felt slightly odd about my continuing interest in my dissertation topic too, and have wondered how to fit it in to a non-academic life. You describe what that fitting-in could be like so eloquently — it sounds like you will really enjoy writing your book and that the book will be what you want it to be, in part because of the non-academic context in which you’ll write it. And you will be in good company among the scholars throughout history who weren’t academics in the contemporary sense!

  2. PS That article is fascinating.

  3. Jennifer Polk Avatar
    Jennifer Polk

    Thanks Viktoria! There are lots of good examples out there, it’s true. Ouff, it won’t be easy… ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Lovely post! I’ve just quoted a passage from it on the facebook page of my social enterprise, The Philosophy Club.

    Here’s to scholarship beyond the ivory tower! And all good wishes for your various projects.

    1. Thanks! And to you, Michelle ๐Ÿ™‚