[MD] Speaking of intellectuals

[Platt Holden]

Hi All, 

Interesting article about intellectuals in Times OnLine, particularly 
this excerpt:

"This perhaps explains why a list of the 100 top British intellectuals, 
in Prospect, caused such a flutter among men and women of letters: 
those on the list are uncertain whether to be flattered or aggrieved; 
and those left off it, even more so.

"Orwell would have insisted on having his name expunged from any such 
list. Perhaps that is what defines a British intellectual, for Orwell 
was the defining anti-intellectual thinker. A genuine polymath, whose 
plain- spoken passions ranged from art to politics, Orwell raged 
against intellectuals for their insincerity, for imprecise language and 
unrealistic posturing. He understood the complacency that came with the 
term intellectual and rejected it utterly. In response to Sartre’s 
obscure and self-righteous pronouncements, he could not resist the very 
British response, in his own words, to “give him a good boot”.

This is why there will never be a Dictionary of British Intellectuals. 
Orwell would never have agreed to join, on the pure Marxist rationale 
that such a club might want him as a member."

Is it any wonder why Orwell is one of my heroes? The  full article is 
at:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,6-2133525,00.html


Platt