I was taking a (well-deserved!) break from writing papers last weekend when I sat down at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and The Globe and Mail. Within 2 minutes I was absorbed in a fascinating article by U of T philosophy professor Mark Kingwell. The purpose of this post is not to discuss the substance of his article, but let's just say he refers to such topics as scholarly work, Web 2.0, blogging, citation, copyright regulations, ownership, authorship...some break! (refer back to blog title!)
What I found even more compelling than the arguments in his essay though, is the concept that these issues are being debated at all. My heart beats faster south of Bloor St. I've been looking forward to being back on this campus for a long time. It's astonishing how much has stayed the same in 27 years, but it's remarkable how much has changed too. Good minds look at problems and search for answers. The status quo isn't just swallowed whole, and big questions are debated with relish and energy! We're rooted in the past but we're looking at the future. In a place full of good minds and good intentions, it's easy to be optimistic.
OK, now back to those papers!
If you're interested: Kingwell, M. (2007, October 13). The end of the single author, student-brain-on-paper essay. The Globe and Mail, pp. F8.
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1 comment:
I totally agree! It's so exciting to be around people trying to figure out answers to the problems. Maybe they're not easy answers, but you get the feeling that there are *huge* minds at work.
Thanks so much for your comment, I really appreciate it! :-)
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