Academic friendship in dark times

Enslin, P. and Hedge, N. (2019) Academic friendship in dark times. Ethics and Education, 14(4), pp. 383-398. (doi: 10.1080/17449642.2019.1660457)

Abstract

Bringing philosophical work on friendship to bear on the growing body of critique about the state of the neoliberal academy, this paper defends academic friendship. Initially a vignette illustrates the key features of academic friendship and the multiple demands on academics to account for themselves in the neoliberal university. We locate academic friendship in the context of that neoliberal university before discussing managerialist threats to this relationship. We indicate how the performativity-driven working environment contrasts radically and unfavourably with some defining features of friendship. Academic friendship, we argue, can entail generative intellectual and moral activity and growth though trusting and honest reflection on research and scholarship, and teaching and learning. Contending that it may offer an antidote to aspects of the neoliberal academy, in our concluding section academic friendship is highlighted as both a defence and a means of resistance against the worst excesses of the university in dark times.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Enslin, Professor Penny and Hedge, Professor Nicki
• Authors: Enslin, P., and Hedge, N.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education; College of Social Sciences > School of Education > People, Place & Social Change
• Journal Name: Ethics and Education
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1744-9642
• ISSN (Online): 1744-9650
• Published Online: 29 August 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 Informa UK Limited
• First Published: First published in Ethics and Education 14(4):383-398
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher