On institutional faithfulness

Abstract

I t is a mistake for academics to c o m m e n t critically at a comfortable distance on things like last year's Firestone-Ford debacle--as though our own house were sufficiently in order. As facts of corporate misrepresentat ion and deception by manufacturers of cars and tires become public, we academics fall into our accustomed roles of providing analysis and criticism in suppor t of honesty and the c o m m o n weal. These are impor tant roles, they need to be played, and academics know how to play them. But it would be more gracious and hone s t a n d our voices would likely have more impact-were we also to a t tend to some issues of our own misrepresentation.