The Price of Public Intellectuals

Who are our public intellectuals? Are they needed in a democracy? Should the state underwrite their activities even if they end up, like Socrates, being gadflies? Shouldn’t they refrain from public debates so as to retain their critical vantage point? These and other questions are answered in this historically-informed survey of the role of public intellectuals in western democracies. In addition to a taxonomy of the various labels and definitions of public intellectuals, this book outlines the competing, and at times complementary approaches that position intellectuals in the public sphere. Contemporary presentations of intellectual leaders are reviewed with a sample of interviews with intellectuals who are engaged in public debates. The book ends with a set of recommendations as to how the state might financially support the essential work of public intellectuals so as to critically engage the public and improve public policies.