In many ways this has been the advice I've followed for most of my life. Except I made the bad mistake of not seriously planning for an alternate career. I was able to land one anyway, which was lucky, because I think that in the end following this advice was ultimately part of the reason I didn't get a faculty job. (Above all, I was too much of a philosopher for the religionists and too much of a religionist for the philosophers.) I don't regret following this path, though - I see how for so many colleagues the faculty life is not what it was cracked up to be. Because I didn't have children, I've been able to keep pursuing my real interests on my own time - and the hardcore preparation that is a PhD has made me a lot better at doing so.
Indeed! From what I hear, the tension there can be great as well. Not to mention the fallacy of conflating pastoral and Christian intellectual callings.
Ya. Would you believe it? The last time I led small group, nobody there cared about Charles Taylor's idea of the buffered self or Vervaeke's "combinatorial explosiveness." Who would have guessed? Hahaha. It is almost like people come to church because of personal problems, rather than intellectual ones...
I am in my PhD right now and I feel the need to cultivate my intellectual life apart form my PhD work. I like the distinction you made between the two. I think it is important. Think about Lewis and Tolkien. Their greatest works, although informed by their academic careers, were very much independent intellectual pursuits. I think one problem with the modern R1 research university is that it does not leave much room for these pursuits and it is important to find a lifestyle that lets you pursue your interests and communicate your finding with the public.
In many ways this has been the advice I've followed for most of my life. Except I made the bad mistake of not seriously planning for an alternate career. I was able to land one anyway, which was lucky, because I think that in the end following this advice was ultimately part of the reason I didn't get a faculty job. (Above all, I was too much of a philosopher for the religionists and too much of a religionist for the philosophers.) I don't regret following this path, though - I see how for so many colleagues the faculty life is not what it was cracked up to be. Because I didn't have children, I've been able to keep pursuing my real interests on my own time - and the hardcore preparation that is a PhD has made me a lot better at doing so.
There is alot here that applies to the pastoral ministry as well.
Indeed! From what I hear, the tension there can be great as well. Not to mention the fallacy of conflating pastoral and Christian intellectual callings.
Ya. Would you believe it? The last time I led small group, nobody there cared about Charles Taylor's idea of the buffered self or Vervaeke's "combinatorial explosiveness." Who would have guessed? Hahaha. It is almost like people come to church because of personal problems, rather than intellectual ones...
I am in my PhD right now and I feel the need to cultivate my intellectual life apart form my PhD work. I like the distinction you made between the two. I think it is important. Think about Lewis and Tolkien. Their greatest works, although informed by their academic careers, were very much independent intellectual pursuits. I think one problem with the modern R1 research university is that it does not leave much room for these pursuits and it is important to find a lifestyle that lets you pursue your interests and communicate your finding with the public.
Love this! Yes, Lewis and Tolkien are perfect examples.
From your tagline, I’m happy to see that you’re a physicist who recognizes the importance of philosophical questions!
Maybe academia is just like every other job. If you want to “have a life” and pursue your own interests, they must be independent of the job.
Dude, 1000000000% accurate. I love every one of these tips. Status Anxiety is such a perfect recommendation too.
Thanks, Griffin! You’ve been writing great stuff about this as well.