The ceaseless, senseless demand for original scholarship in a number of fields, where only erudition is now possible, has led either to sheer irrelevancy, the famous knowing of more and more about less and less...

Summary

This quote highlights the paradoxical situation in certain academic fields where an excessive fixation on producing original research has resulted in a lack of practical relevance. The relentless pursuit of novelty often discourages deep understanding and breadth of knowledge. As a result, scholars are accumulating vast expertise in increasingly specialized areas, sacrificing the overall significance of their work. The quote suggests that a balance should be struck between cultivating erudition and maintaining a broader sense of relevance, in order to avoid the futile pursuit of knowing more and more about less and less.

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