Dear reader,
Academic research and education are about finding the unknown and making it known. However, in recent years, knowledge has been increasingly commercialised. Rather than finding the unknown, the ability to generate money is now seen as a criterion for valuable research. During our round table, we will dive into the question of what happens to humanities when knowledge only matters when it pays. What happens if this results in the disappearance of humanities? Would the end of humanities lead to the end of humanity?
In this personal content hub, you will find various articles to provide some background on the topic. This hub also contains the agenda, instructions on how to join the round table, and the key questions we would like to discuss.
I am looking forward to meeting you.
Best regards,
Matthias Smalbrugge
Welcome!
Introduction by Matthias Smalbrugge - Humanity and humanities
In preparation for our round table, Matthias Smalbrugge introduces the topic of 'End of Humanity(s)?'
The commercialisation of knowledge: Challenges and opportunities
Universities in North America and Europe have long been grappling with the commercialisation of the knowledge that they create. It has increasingly become the dominant narrative for knowledge transfer, whereby researchers sell their newly created knowledge to a private company as early as possible.
The division and disappearance of knowledge
The humanities are disappearing. Many attribute this to the rise of neoliberalism, arguing that the emphasis on knowledge as economic capital rather than human capital has shifted what is accepted as higher education.
The (im)moral use of knowledge in the university and Jurassic Park
Can you separate knowledge from ethics? Can you have a process of knowing without a process of reflection on what you should do with that knowledge?
Humanities and the challenge of totalitarianism
The Hungarian government’s shutdown of the Central European University (CEU) triggered a wave of protest and solidarity from academics and politicians worldwide. But why do the humanities face opposition from totalitarianism?
Questions for discussion
Based on the background articles above, we would like to discuss three questions with you during our virtual round table.
Attendees
Who will be attending?
Matthias Smalbrugge
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Professor of European Culture and Christianity
Mathew Guest
Durham University
Professor in the Sociology of Religion
Rachel Muers
University of Leeds
Professor of Theology
Paulo Mendes Pinto
Lusófona University
Professor and General Coordinator of the Studies Area of Sciences of Religions
Annemie Dillen
KU Leuven
Professor in Pastoral and Empirical Theology at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies
Martin van Hees
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Dean University College
