Dive into the compelling world of intellectual discourse with 'Birth of the Intellectuals.' This enlightening book by renowned historian and sociologist Christophe Charle provides a fresh perspective on the emergence of the term 'intellectuals'—an idea that has evolved since its inception in the late 19th century, particularly during the politically tumultuous Dreyfus Affair. This intriguing exploration highlights how intellectuals became crucial cultural and political vanguards, challenging established societal norms and hierarchies.

In 'Birth of the Intellectuals,' you will discover the reasons behind the term's persistence in modern discourse, unearthing how unprecedented expansions in intellectual professions coincided with societal shifts. Delve into the historical context that shaped this social group, as well as the motivations that drove literary and academic avant-gardes to engage with political activism. Charle's careful analysis of the Dreyfus Affair petitions unveils a radical reinterpretation of this pivotal event in European history, offering invaluable insights into the relationships between intellectuals and power dynamics.

With 280 pages of rigorous scholarship, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in sociology, political science, and the formation of intellectual identity. Whether you are a seasoned scholar or a curious reader, 'Birth of the Intellectuals' will challenge your perceptions and expand your understanding of the role of intellectuals in society.

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled. Condition: BRAND NEW, ISBN: 9780745690360, Year: 2015, Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (UK).

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780745690360
Year: 2015
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons (UK)
Pages: 280


Description:


Who exactly are the ˜intellectuals™? This term is so widely used today that we forget that it is a recent invention, dating from the late nineteenth century.In Birth of the Intellectuals, the renowned historian and sociologist Christophe Charle shows that the term ˜intellectuals™ first appeared at the time of the Dreyfus Affair, and the neologism originally signified a cultural and political vanguard who dared to challenge the status quo. Yet the word, expected to disappear once the political crisis had dissolved, has somehow endured. At times it describes a social group, and at others a way of seeing the social world from the perspective of universal values that challenges established hierarchies.But why did intellectuals survive when the events that gave rise to this term had faded into the past? To answer this question, it is necessary to show how the crisis of the old representations, the unprecedented expansion of the intellectual professions and the vacuum left by the decline of the traditional ruling class created favourable conditions for the collective affirmation of ˜intellectuals™. This also explains why the literary or academic avant garde traditionally reluctant to engage gradually reconciled themselves with political activists and developed new ways to intervene in the field of power outside of traditional political channels.Through a careful rereading of the petitions surrounding the Dreyfus Affair, Charle offers a radical reinterpretation of this crucial moment of European history and develops a new model for understanding the ways in which