Anyone entering academia, if they are to make a difference in the world beyond advancing their own reputation, will need to discern the difference between acquiring knowledge for its own sake and growing in wisdom. The Letter of James is interested in how such wisdom is cultivated: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom” (3:13). James goes on to say that envy and selfish ambition have no place in the pursuit of truth; such an approach is earthly and unspiritual. If people go into academia simply to make a name for themselves, gentleness probably won’t feature in their toolkit.

In a cutthroat environment, is it naive to approach one’s critics with gentleness?