Representations of the Intellectual

Definitions, embodyations and descriptions of intellectuals have perpetually been numerous and various, depending on the factors and criteria of assessment. That has take to the rise of many questions: Who atomic number 18 intellectuals? Who do they address? Who and what do they represent? And how do they represent that?. These questions ar to be answered establish on Saids essay Representations of the Intellectual in which he provides an eclectic status on intellectuals and their role in society that rests on the work of many writers such as Benda, Gramsci, Gouldner and many others.\nIn his book, La Trahision des Clercs (the Treason of Intellectuals), Benda sees intellectuals as a small root word of gifted individuals who represent the virtues and the scruples of mankind. He posterior divides them into two categories: Real Intellectuals and Traitors, wherefore the title. For him, real intellectuals do non seek any individual(prenominal) practical aims, but they are in a unceasing opposition to the status quo and they fence corruption and oppression patronage the hazards they may face, which threaten their safe and even their lives. They also subscribe truths and justices beyond the material world. save this point was criticized because Benda did not divulge the source of these truths, which led to their coincidence to Don Quixotes illusions Benda neer suggests how it is that these men know the truth, or whether their blinding insights into eternal principles might, wish those of Don Quixote, be pocket-sized more than private fantasies. As for traitors, they are intellectuals who cooperate with the brass to spread its propaganda and endorse its policies. They do so by covert the truth and conveying rancid messages instead.\nFor the Italian Marxist Gramsci, intellectuals are individuals who are involved in both the production and statistical distribution of knowledge, and based on this function, he divides them into Traditional intelle ctuals who perform the uniform tasks throughou... If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website:

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