---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why should self-indulgent nonsense…"
description: "\"Why should self-indulgent nonsense - whatever its professed political orientation - be lauded as the height of scholarly achievement?\" — Alan Sokal"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/alan-sokal-44922_achievement_why-should-self-indulgent-nonsense-whate_1657017.png"
---

#  Why should self-indulgent nonsense - whatever its…

![“Why should self-indulgent nonsense - whatever its professed political orientation - be lauded as the height of scholarly achievement?” quote by Alan Sokal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/alan-sokal-44922_achievement_why-should-self-indulgent-nonsense-whate_1657017.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/alan-sokal-44922_achievement_why-should-self-indulgent-nonsense-whate_1657017.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b72/alan-sokal-44922_achievement_why-should-self-indulgent-nonsense-whate_1657017.png)

> “Why should self-indulgent nonsense - whatever its professed political orientation - be lauded as the height of scholarly achievement?”

[Alan Sokal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-sokal/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Self‑indulgent nonsense, regardless of political label, should not be celebrated as scholarly excellence.

**In simple terms:** Bad scholarship shouldn't be praised.

Key Takeaway

Critically evaluate work on merit, not novelty.

Themes

academic integrity scholarship politics criticism

Mood

skeptical analytical

Type

critical academic

When to use this quote

- peer review
- academic publishing
- public discourse

Key Concepts

epistemology media studies ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- What standards define scholarly achievement?
- How do politics influence academic praise?

A Different Perspective

Some may argue novelty can be valuable even if flawed.

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[Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [Orientation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orientation/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/)

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