The Epistemic Responsibilities of the University

Universities, as social institutions, bear numerous responsibilities—such as financial responsibilities, management responsibilities, social responsibilities, and other.This talk argues that the universities’ first and foremost responsibilities are epistemic in nature, i.e. responsibilities pertaining to the acquisition of knowledge, rational belief, insight, understanding, wisdom. In order to shoulder these responsibilities it is absolutely necessary that certain values be acknowledged—values that especially in the university seem to be under constant attack, thus giving rise to what is called ‘the university paradox’. This talk presents the paradox, and indicates a solution.