[B-Greek] "Scholars and Others" (was "Campbell and Aktionsart")

Carl Conrad cwconrad2 at mac.com
Mon Apr 6 05:42:43 EDT 2009


I was grieved to see the current discussion on appropriate  
nomenclature or usage of linguistic terminology in studies of ancient  
Greek verbal aspect transformed into what amounts to a dispute over  
which perspective on the key questions here carries the weight of real  
authority. I call your attention to what has been a central piece of  
our protocol (FAQ) since it was first promulgated in July of 1997:

"Those who participate in the conference represent a wide range of  
theological and denominational perspectives, perhaps even including  
some whose interests are purely academic. Deep religious convictions  
surely characterize many, perhaps most, of the list-participants, and  
some of these convictions bear directly upon how the Biblical text is  
to be understood. At the core of our discussion, however, is not what  
our convictions are but what the Greek text may legitimately be  
understood to mean. If discussion of this nature is to succeed, proper  
respect and courtesy to other list members is important. While  
scholarly debate, including disagreement, is encouraged as a goal of  
this conference, attacks upon the character, intelligence, or faith of  
those participating are not acceptable. Criticism must focus upon the  
arguments of others; it may not be directed to the individual."

In my personal opinion and, more importantly, in my judgment as Co- 
Chair of the B-Greek discussion list, a public declaration in a  
message sent to the list that one will take seriously the arguments  
set forth by those who meet one's personal set of criteria for  
"scholarship," is in violation of the spirit of the list as well as of  
the clearly-expressed statement of our FAQ as cited above. List- 
members will decide for themselves which arguments set forth in favor  
of or against a given proposition seem to them to be more persuasive  
and what evidence adduced in support of one's argument may be  
acceptable. It seems to me that a public listing of those who belong  
and those who do not belongs in a category of "scholars" -- even if  
that list is said to be incomplete -- amounts to personal attack by  
implication or innuendo. I would ask list-members please not to  
continue any longer this divisive and inappropriate discussion of  
qualifications. There is, of course, no reason (thus far) to close the  
discussion of what is meant by "Aktionsart," but I do hope that any  
continuing discussion may be conducted in a thoroughly civil manner.

Carl W. Conrad
Co-Chair, B-Greek List
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu or cwconrad2 at mac.com
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/





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