Thursday, January 26, 2006
Suffer the Intellectuals
That's the name of an article by Owen Harries - maybe it is because I am not that well read, this struck me as one of the best pieces of intelligent non-fiction writing. The central theme of the article is the concept that how most intellectuals who are too caught up in the present and with ideologies that they have already subscribed to often predict very wrongly.
There is a whole range of bewildering such events in the near-past, including the end of wars around 1910, the demise of capitalism after the Great Depression, the victory of the Soviet in the Cold War and not-so-long-ago 'The End of History' by Fukuyama! He gives insights into why well-meaning intelligent individuals do this borrowing ideas from George Orwell and common sense.
What struck a chord with me was one paragraph where he points out about more often than not intellectuals are (in the real world) useless who hardly do things on the ground. And how they treat people like Eisenhower (who actually planned and executed the Normandy landing) as if they were idiots.
Even under intoxication, I will no longer refer to myself as an intellectual (or aspiring one) - now it sounds like a damning label. The article was published first in 'The American Interest' and is not available online. It also appeared in the last few pages of The Straits Times on the 27th January, 2006.
Do tell me if you can find an online copy.
PS - Refrain reading anything from Jeff Jacoby (writes for IHT, Boston Globe). If you need convincing, try http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/26/opinion/edjacoby.php
Also, this guy Howard W French's http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/12/15/news/letter.php though I must concede he is better at politico-economic matters. This one is just plain rubbish. Not that I have seen Memoirs or that I disagree with his facts.
There is a whole range of bewildering such events in the near-past, including the end of wars around 1910, the demise of capitalism after the Great Depression, the victory of the Soviet in the Cold War and not-so-long-ago 'The End of History' by Fukuyama! He gives insights into why well-meaning intelligent individuals do this borrowing ideas from George Orwell and common sense.
What struck a chord with me was one paragraph where he points out about more often than not intellectuals are (in the real world) useless who hardly do things on the ground. And how they treat people like Eisenhower (who actually planned and executed the Normandy landing) as if they were idiots.
Even under intoxication, I will no longer refer to myself as an intellectual (or aspiring one) - now it sounds like a damning label. The article was published first in 'The American Interest' and is not available online. It also appeared in the last few pages of The Straits Times on the 27th January, 2006.
Do tell me if you can find an online copy.
PS - Refrain reading anything from Jeff Jacoby (writes for IHT, Boston Globe). If you need convincing, try http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/26/opinion/edjacoby.php
Also, this guy Howard W French's http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/12/15/news/letter.php though I must concede he is better at politico-economic matters. This one is just plain rubbish. Not that I have seen Memoirs or that I disagree with his facts.
# posted by Vikram, Son of Bala : 10:51 PM
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Oh, please! America's disenchantment with anyone who's better than the "average American" has gone to ridiculous lengths. This is possibly the only country in the world where it's uncool to be a geek, where the smartest kids are seen as the least attractive mates. Stupid dumbass worshippers of mediocrity!
I don't doubt that there are intellectuals who have lost touch with "ground realities" - meaning practical limitations of their ideals - but that means they ought to fix their ideas of practical realities, not ditch the pursuit of knowledge and ideals altogether! The term 'intellectual' is one that anybody should be proud to have applied to themselves, and that Americans take the opposite view is what makes them so messed up.
I don't doubt that there are intellectuals who have lost touch with "ground realities" - meaning practical limitations of their ideals - but that means they ought to fix their ideas of practical realities, not ditch the pursuit of knowledge and ideals altogether! The term 'intellectual' is one that anybody should be proud to have applied to themselves, and that Americans take the opposite view is what makes them so messed up.
This interesting article "The Essence of Geek" looks at the rise of the geek, in the years post .com boom. I don't think you have to refrain referring yourself as an intellectual. According to the article, the word "geek" by the 1950s Webster's dictionary referred to a carnival sideshow weirdo "whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake". The article also says that Somewhere along the line, geek also seems to have lost most of its negative connotations. Things are changing now, like the iPod designer Jonathan Ive getting honoured with a CBE, etc. So, I don't think it's very uncool to become a geek.
# posted by 
: 12:14 AM
: 12:14 AM
to wendelin - No No! I am not saying this guy is against geeks. He is in fact himself an 'intellectual' considering he writes philosophical articles. He just analyses why intellectuals who are well meaning smart people make mistakes quite often. Kind of theories on that.
I even found an online version - which I think may not be the whole thing
http://boards.charlierose.com/board/topic.asp?pg=1&ti=16148&ri=267394
See for yourself!
to jestine - interesting info! I am not saying that I am ashamed of enjoying intellectual pursuits, but the connotations of the particular term 'intellectual'. It kinds of seems synonymous to me with impractical.
A geek is a whole different thing! Whatever has become a trend nowadays, I dont think I am and will enjoy being a geek!
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I even found an online version - which I think may not be the whole thing
http://boards.charlierose.com/board/topic.asp?pg=1&ti=16148&ri=267394
See for yourself!
to jestine - interesting info! I am not saying that I am ashamed of enjoying intellectual pursuits, but the connotations of the particular term 'intellectual'. It kinds of seems synonymous to me with impractical.
A geek is a whole different thing! Whatever has become a trend nowadays, I dont think I am and will enjoy being a geek!
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