[Phys-L] Re: "cutthroat" label

["Folkerts, Timothy J" <FolkertsT@BARTONCCC.EDU>]

> I am at a loss to understand why hard work is considered=20
> "unfair competition", and success should only be due to prior=20
> experience or accidents of birth.  My conjecture is that the=20
> prevailing ethic views talent as inherent, and thus out of=20
> another's reach, while *anyone* can work hard--and thus if=20
> anyone does, everyone else has no excuse.  Laziness and=20
> mediocrity as standards.

That is certainly part of the interpretation, but I think there is a =
little more.

Consider a faculty member who doesn't do any committe work, but inste=
ad concentrates soley on his own research.  He may get ahead in the w=
ider circle of science, but that doesn't make him popular at his own =
institute among his immediate peers.  In any group setting, passing o=
ff responsibilities & work to others can rightly lead to resentment. =
=20

Tim F=20
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