Between identity and practice : the narratives of the intellectual in the twentieth-century
This thesis is a text-based analysis of conceptions of the intellectual in relation to the political sphere. The specific instances studied relate, positively and negatively, to the socialist tradition in politics and culture. They are drawn from a variety of academic disciplinary contexts and also from the contexts of political organisations and social movements. One of the principal dilemmas faced by the intellectual in this century, as this thesis sets out to make clear, has been that of trying to bridge the divide between these two spheres. This investigation is centred upon statements made by intellectuals reflecting upon the typical role or function of the intellectual within society and politics. My contention is that such self-reflection is a necessary condition of the intellectual's coming into being. Intellectuals are realised in specific identities, in a process of self-identification. The force of intellectual practice is dependent upon elements of personal commitment, moral or political, and the enactment of an experiential dimension. But, at the same time, as a practice that has a transcendent orientation, the intellectual seeks to go beyond the subjective in pursuit of the objective, the extra-personal,
Palmer, Stephen
HM Sociology ; L Education (General)
Between identity and practice : the narratives of the intellectual in the twentieth-century. This thesis is a text-based analysis of conceptions of the intellectual in relation to the political sphere. The specific instances studied relate, positively and negatively, to the socialist tradition in politics and culture. They are drawn from a variety of academic disciplinary contexts and also from the contexts of political organisations and social movements. One of the principal dilemmas faced by the intellectual in this century, as this thesis sets out to make clear, has been that of trying to bridge the divide between these two spheres. This investigation is centred upon statements made by intellectuals reflecting upon the typical role or function of the intellectual within society and politics. My contention is that such self-reflection is a necessary condition of the intellectual's coming into being. Intellectuals are realised in specific identities, in a process of self-identification. The force of intellectual practice is dependent upon elements of personal commitment, moral or political, and the enactment of an experiential dimension. But, at the same time, as a practice that has a transcendent orientation, the intellectual seeks to go beyond the subjective in pursuit of the objective, the extra-personal,
identity practice narrative intellectual twentieth_century text_based analysis conception intellectual relation political_sphere specific instance study relate positively negatively socialist tradition politics_culture drawn variety academic disciplinary context also contexts political_organisation social_movement one_principal dilemma face set make_clear try bridge divide_two sphere investigation centre_upon statement make intellectual reflect_upon typical role_function intellectual within society_politics contention self_reflection necessary_condition intellectual come realise specific identity process self identification force intellectual practice dependent_upon element personal commitment moral_political enactment experiential dimension time practice transcendent orientation intellectual seek beyond subjective pursuit objective extra personal