Sowell on intellectuals

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Thursday, January 7. 2010

What are "intellectuals" anyway?

When I was young and vain I thought I was one. I read lots of books, got myself overly-eddicated, used to read the New York Times daily, and robotically held most of the socially-acceptable, arrogant, bien pensant views. Now I know I am a regular person who just tries to live in reality as best I can, fully aware that many non-tweedy, non-Ivy grads understand life far better than I do. Uncommon sense and sensibilities can replace common sense. From Tom Sowell's new book, with interview video, at SDA:

Thomas Sowell on Intellectuals and Society - intellectuals certainly can renounce war, �and that does not stop your neighbor from building up the biggest army in the world and coming in and killing you.�

Posted by The Barrister in Our Essays, Politics, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 20:05 | Comments (8) | Trackbacks (0)

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I cannot recall which Tom Wolfe book it was in, but Wolfe long ago pointed out that 'intellectual' does not describe anything about a person's intelligence. The word, instead, describes a lifestyle.

As an example, Wolfe pointed out that Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin, despite being a person of formidable intellect (with a PhD in orbital mechanics from MIT, or somesuch) would never be described as 'an intellectual.' Indeed, intellectuals would likely look down on him as a sort of talented lab rat. But --

But Aldrin could easily establish his chops as a bona fide intellectual simply by making a few lifestyle changes: Start wearing turtlenecks and grow luxuriant sideburns. (Hey, it was the Seventies.) Make a few public pronouncements about the moral necessity to spend more money on earthly social problems and less on space travel. Collect a stack of unread issues of 'The New York Review of Books.' And -- voila! -- his smouldering brilliance would soon be recognized.

#1 RNB on 2010-01-07 20:19 (Reply)

Aldrin is an interesting character. If you get a chance, you should read [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnificent_Desolation_(book)]Magnificent Desolation[/url] which is a textbook on how somebody missed his days of fame and glory and almost lost himself in the process. It is quite the book.

#1.1 Tom Francis on 2010-01-07 22:27 (Reply)

RNB ... Buzz Aldrin is much too intelligent to want to be, or live as, an 'intellectual.' He wouldn't waste his time trying to dictate to his fellow men how they should live their lives. He's humble enough, secure enough, and self-confident enough not to waste his time doing that, choosing instead "to boldly go" into new and fascinating areas of mental investigation. Which are more fun anyway.

Marianne

#2 Marianne Matthews on 2010-01-07 20:31 (Reply)

I don't believe Wolfe's point was that Aldrin would ever WANT to be 'an intellectual,' but how easy it would be for him to be recognized as one -- not for any feat of intellectual prowess but by assuming the social trappings of one.

#3 RNB on 2010-01-07 21:00 (Reply)

�The intellectuals and the young, booted and spurred, feel themselves born to ride us.� --Eric Hoffer

#4 Bill on 2010-01-07 21:30 (Reply)

I would just like to point out that anybody who uses bien pensant in a sentence is surely an intellectual. :>)

#5 Tom Francis on 2010-01-07 22:17 (Reply)

I would just like to point out that anybody who uses bien pensant in a sentence is surely an intellectual.

Unless they are of the Cajun persuasion: usually to be found east of the Sabine River.

#5.1 Gringo on 2010-01-08 18:14 (Reply)

Tom Francis ... Hee-hee -- Good point. Down here in Texas you hardly ever hear it in casual conversation. Even if you don't wear cowboy boots.

Marianne

#6 Marianne Matthews on 2010-01-08 12:00 (Reply)

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Thursday, January 7. 2010

Sowell on intellectuals