Communal philosophy? A possible framework for academia-community interaction

Bibliographic Data

ID7169142
AuthorsYael Silver (Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, corresponding author), Ayelet Shavit (0000-0002-4683-0857, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology)
Year2025
Volume112
Pages161-169
Publication date2025-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueStudies in History and Philosophy of Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0039-3681 • E-ISSN: 1879-2510
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.shpsa.2025.06.010
PMID40652572
OpenAlexW4412425009
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited23

Interaction with local communities is commonly known as academia's "third mission," yet academia-community rifts are still common, running deeper in marginalized communities. A first step toward bridging the gap is clarification. We review core concepts (e.g., 'outreach,' 'accessibility,' 'engagement'), sort them into two model frameworks - "Ivory Tower" and "Reciprocal" or "Win-Win" - and describe their distinct structures. Both are helpful in relevant contexts. However, their default application hampers certain epistemic values, enacts unjust hierarchical boundaries, and indirectly ties diversity with personal alienation and ethnic divergence. Therefore, another model is suggested: "Communal Academia." We unfold how this model foregrounds activism, heterogeneity, and pluralistic interaction. Imaginary and real-life examples demonstrate the practice-based advantages of this framework, and the philosophical relevance of a communal approach is reflected upon

Alienation · Bridging (networking) · Epistemology · Ivory tower · Linguistics · Outreach · Political science · Reciprocal · Relevance (law) · Sociology · The Imaginary · Community Health and Development · Computer Science · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Law · Psychology · Service-Learning and Community Engagement

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