On the Individualism of Acknowledgments

A line something like, "Neither they nor any of the other people mentioned are accountable for the shortcomings of this book, which are my responsibility," is at the end of every acknowledgements section or in the introduction at the beginning of every academic book published these days.

I find this line tiresome for several reasons: First of all, it is obvious and uninteresting--of course other people are not responsible for your errors, and of course you are. Second, in a way, others are complicit in your own errors, for you cannot, for instance, be expected to overcome all of the errors of your time through perfect access to universal truth. No, the people who comprise your academic community form you in many important ways.

Here's an acknowledgement I like a bit more: "A special pleasure is it to say my thanks to my friend and colleague Professor R--- for his help in improving my English. His thorough analysis of sections of the manuscript, his reasoned advice with regard to grammar and style, his congenial understanding of the relations between philosophical subject matter and means of linguistic expression, have had a pervasive effect. I can only hope that the disciple will not disappoint the master too deeply." This is noteworthy not only for its recognition of the reliance of the student on the master and the necessary connection between the two, but also for its humility in knowing that we do fail; we do make errors (something academics often like to pretend doesn't happen in the profession). Rather than saying "if there are any errors," he acknowledges that there will be disappointments and hopes that they are not too great.

But my favorite acknowledgement of all time is from a friend of mine (and this comes after a whole list of people he thanks): "To my wife Claire, for reasons I shan't disclose. Finally, to paraphrase Willmoore: Let us have no foolishness about their not being responsible for this book and its contents. All, in their own way, must bear some part of the responsibility."