Tuesday, January 22, 2013

 

A Good Mind, Good Books, and Good Conversation

Edward H. Schafer, "Peter A. Boodberg, 1903-1972," Journal of the American Oriental Society 94.1 (January-March 1974) 1-7 (at 7):
Boodberg deplored the computerization of academic life and would sometimes ironically sign letters to administrative officers with his "employee number." He detested IBM cards and disdained to fill out questionnaires. He regarded all such devices as dehumanizing. He even rejected all dependence on indexes and concordances: one should have memorized the Classics and be sufficiently familiar with other major contributions to literature and history to be able to dispense with such crutches. A scholar needed only a good mind, good books, and good conversation.
Hat tip: Ian Jackson.

Related post: Master of His Subject.



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