"This Research Was Funded By Viagra"

Brian Leiter reports on this very funny book review funding statement by my former Duke colleague, Michael Munger, in the Journal of Value Inquiry: 

For reasons that are literally incomprehensible, the publisher is insisting that I include a “funding statement” in the manuscript. It is worth pointing out that this is a book review. But the publisher has refused to process the manuscript unless a “funding statement is included in the manuscript. So, here goes: Oxford University Press failed to provide a copy of the book, in spite of repeated requests to do so. I purchased the book, paying for it out of my own pocket. I believe the source of those funds was a consulting job that I did in 1989, and the money had been aging in my bank account since that time, and frankly losing considerable value because of inflation. I paid for the book on Amazon, using an American Express card. The time I spent writing the review was during nights and weekends, but I suppose that it was funded by Duke University. My job at Duke University, Department of Political Science, in Durham, North Carolina, involves writing and doing research, and I read the book and wrote the review during the time that I was employed at Duke University. In fact, I am still employed by Duke University, and expect to continue to be employed at Duke University for a considerable period, because I have tenure. In fact, I have a University Endowed Professor Chair, funded by Pfizer. They make Viagra. So, now that I think of it, this research was funded by Viagra.

The review is of Common Law Liberalism: A New Theory of the Libertarian Society, New York: Oxford University Press, 2024, by Georgetown's John Hasnas. Hasnas is also a Duke guy, having received his JD and Ph.D. there and also was a visitor (more than once, I think), which is how I first met him. 

 

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— Kim Krawiec (@kimkrawiec.bsky.social) May 9, 2025 at 8:03 AM