The other side of academic freedom is academic responsibility.

Abstract

AbstractThis article argues that academic freedom is not absolute, but is delimited by legal, bargained and social factors. Further, it is argued that academic freedom implies certain obligations on university faculty, and doing so recognizes legitimate role of modern university, Given these limitations, article considers some of appropriate limits to correctness, and argues that what are needed are proper place and procedure to debate balance between academic privilege and responsibility.The current series of articles was based upon a symposium at a recent Canadian Psychological Association on academia. Political has become a charged focus of discussion modern universities, and is certainly worthy of scrutiny. The term itself has become politicized, that juxtaposition of two unrelated terms: and has lead to of what can (and should) be deemed as in accordance with a good standard of taste (Concise Oxford English Dictionary) or correct, as modified by a agenda (see also Kramer, 1994; Neufeldt, 1996; Stark, this issue). In this article, I will take term to refer to the imposition of politics (i.e., taking of sides on issues) onto what is deemed correct or proper behaviour. In this regard, does not apply only context of academia, although it is to this context that this article will focus its attention.Examining issue of a university context inevitably leads to a review of what is purported to be affected by such correctness; this case, academic freedom. It has been reasonably argued that academic freedom is one of major achievements of modern university, and that due to academic freedom faculty members are able to investigate various ecclesiastical, or moral issues that might otherwise go unstudied for fear of retribution that might accrue to investigators. It has been further argued that academic freedom has been major vehicle for advancing knowledge, particularly politically or morally sensitive areas. Similarly, it has been argued that efforts to constrain work of university faculty is dangerous, because any such efforts potentially undermine academic freedom. In this regard, such developments as promotion of nonsexist language or need to create learning atmospheres free from harassment -- generally referred to as development of political correctness -- has been suggested as a potential threat to academic freedom.In this article I will argue that although academic freedom is an important attribute of research and investigatory aspects of functioning of contemporary academics, such freedom is not absolute, and that there are a number of legislated and bargained limits to this freedom(f.1). If sustained, implication of such limits is that there is a legitimate role for many aspects of academy's functioning.The nature of academic freedomThe exact nature of academic freedom is basic to any inquiry of and its justification. An early and often-cited definition is that academic freedom is the: freedom of teacher or research worker higher institutions of learning to investigate and discuss problems of his science and to express his conclusions, whether through publication or instruction of students, without interference from or ecclesiastical authorities, or from administrative officials of institution which he is employed, unless his methods are found by qualified bodies of is profession to be clearly incompetent or contrary to professional ethics. (Lovejoy, 1930).In a 1954 address to American Civil Liberties Association, Albert Einstein stated that By academic freedom I understand right to search for truth and to publish and teach what one holds to be true. …