> Stephen Black wrote:
>
> > Do (allegedly) bad books which attract controversy deserve a place
> > in a university library?
>
to which Chris Green reasonably replied:
> There is an historical case to be made for such books. Just to give an
> extreme example, the _Protocols of the Elders of Zion_ is presumably a
> "bad book," but I would be most upset if I was unable to find a copy
> at the library given the amount of (bad) influence it has had over the
> past century or so. Ditto for _Mein Kampf_.
>
> As for Slater's book, the answer to the question of whether it belongs
> in the library depends on whether it gains a following and citations.
> If so, then you probably want it in your library. On the other hand,
> it may, like many books (bad and otherwise) simply sink into oblivion
> without a trace.
Yes, certainly, I would want it in the library for my own use. I've
been well-educated by this TIPS thread to the danger of uncritically
accepting its contents, and with that in mind, I would want to read
it and judge for myself.
I'm thinking more of the poor, ignorant, impressionable, unwary
undergraduate who might stumble upon it without benefit of a prepared
mind. Do we do him/her a service or a disservice by making it
available?
Perhaps it should carry a disclaimer sticker ("Warning: uncritical
acceptance of the contents of this work may be damaging to your
intellect!"). I'm reminded of the story which circulated around
McGill when I was there that the library had one copy of _Lady
Chatterly's Lover_, and it was chained to the wall. Shows you how
long ago I was an undergraduate if it was considered porno (and I
never checked to see if the story was true).
Stephen
___________________________________________________
Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. tel: (819) 822-9600 ext 2470
Department of Psychology fax: (819) 822-9661
Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Lennoxville, QC J1M 1Z7
Canada
Dept web page at http://www.ubishops.ca/ccc/div/soc/psy
TIPS discussion list for psychology teachers at
http://faculty.frostburg.edu/psyc/southerly/tips/index.htm
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