Public Scholarship, Relational Practice: A Reflection on “Virtuous” Partnerships

Public scholarship, although many things, is for the author a practice of building virtuous relationships with community partners. The seeds of this belief were planted long ago when he first encountered the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle's rich exploration of friendship -- a term he extended to include all meaningful partnerships. Over the years, these seeds have been cultivated by experience. Indeed, his scholarship has become so enmeshed with the activities of local organizations and communities that it often feels more like a coproduction and less like an individual quest. As is true in so many areas of the American West, the sprawling urban area in which he lives is overwhelmed by a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse population. Even as politicians encourage sprawl and embrace unfettered entrepreneurialism, many are reluctant to invest public monies in a human services infrastructure that might improve quality of life, especially for the poorest and least vocal of citizens.