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I think this is an interesting topic to discuss, and I appreciate your perspective on it. However, I would like to challenge some of the assumptions you made in your comment. First of all, you said that tax payer funded research needs to be publicly available. I agree with this principle, but I wonder how you define "publicly available". Does it mean that anyone can access it for free, or does it mean that anyone can access it for a reasonable fee? If the former, then who pays for the costs of publishing, peer-reviewing, and maintaining the quality and integrity of the research? If the latter, then how do you determine what is a reasonable fee, and who decides who can afford it? Secondly, you said that if someone wants to do private research and sell the results to people via journals, then they should be free to do so. I agree that there is a place for private research in the academic world, but I also think that there are some ethical and social implications of this practice. For example, how do you ensure that private research is not biased by the interests of the sponsors or the publishers? How do you prevent private research from creating monopolies or inequalities in the dissemination of knowledge? How do you foster collaboration and innovation among researchers who work in different sectors and have different incentives? Thirdly, you said that "human rights" has become such a loaded term, and that you are not entitled to know everything. I agree that human rights is a complex and contested concept, but I also think that it is a valuable and powerful one. Human rights are not just legal or moral claims, but also expressions of human dignity and aspirations. They are not static or fixed, but dynamic and evolving. They are not absolute or universal, but relative and contextual. They are not granted or given, but claimed and defended. One of the human rights that has been recognized by various international instruments and declarations is the right to education. This right includes not only access to formal schooling, but also access to information and knowledge that is relevant, diverse, and inclusive. This right is based on the premise that education is essential for human development, empowerment, and participation in society. Therefore, I would argue that access to knowledge is not just a privilege or a luxury, but a human right that deserves respect and protection. What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my points? I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter. |