My Take | Our scholars need a lesson in honesty

A group of more than 25 university lecturers have formed an alliance and declared themselves against rewriting the rule book of the Legislative Council – while exploiting the prestige of their academic titles.

As citizens, they have every right to express an opinion for or against the overhaul, which aims to curb the ability of the opposition to launch filibustering and other delaying tactics in Legco. But why do they think their individual university employment titles and collective identity as professional academics matter – unless, that is, to create a false and elitist impression that they have special insights and knowledge and we don’t?

“We, the undersigned scholars, …” they wrote, then listed their university titles.

Chinese traditionally have a special respect for scholars. In the contemporary world, this means someone with a PhD and/or employed at a university with a professorial title. Here, I include assistant and associate professors, and honorary lecturers on temporary contracts. We still seem to assume such people possess special knowledge and insights. And they do, but only in their particular scientific and literary fields.

Some of them no doubt think they are special. But if you think about it, are they really any more insightful than a well-informed taxi driver who spends all day listening to the radio and hourly news in his car? Professional scholars are rarely superior when it comes to matters that concern ordinary citizens. The fact that many spend their entire lives in an academic setting should give you pause.