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Lecture by Modjtaba Sadria: In What Ways Intellectuals Affect Societies (A Bourdieuan Narration)
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| Professor Sadria explored Bourdieu's theory on the public intellectual during a seminar at the Iranian Students Association. |
On the 9th of February, AKU-ISMC Professor Modjtaba Sadria presented a lecture at the Iranian Students Association in London which explored the ways in which the concept of the public intellectual affects societies, with a commentary on the theories presented by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu.
Sadria explained Bourdieu's view on intellectuals, an idea which is centred on the concept of the public intellectual. This theory, Sadria explained, is an important idea because the premise of the public intellectual is an observation that recognises that we live within a paradox.
This paradox, Sadria noted, is that despite an increase in the overall numbers of institutions of higher education, numbers of students, and concentration on research, the 'quality of culture' which moves inside society and the general public comprehension of issues is not growing - it may in fact be declining.
"There is a growing concern regarding both higher education and public culture. In response to this situation, some scholars have the concept of the public intellectual - where specificity is maintaining the highest rigour and not remaining in narrow specialisations, and to engage through the world of academia with social concerns, through dealing with genuine issues. Scholars, including Bourdieu, noted that this is the best way to enrich the quality of knowledge and expand social awareness."
Exploring one reason for this paradox within contemporary society, Sadria suggested that today's media environment is such that power is concentrated in the hands of the few. Thus, what is set in the social agenda is often less and less within the hands of society itself.
Sadria noted that public intellectuals have the ability to push boundaries on controversial, major social issues that might otherwise not gain prominence within the information economy of the mass media. Public intellectuals play an important role in this regard, as social agencies are free to react to comment, and debate is open - and cannot easily be stopped. In this way it is possible for the community to engage in a public discourse about the future of communities and society.
The lecture is part of a series that will be presented by Professor Sadria at the Iranian Students Association, and which will continue over the coming weeks, covering a variety of topics.
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