Abstract
In this brief essay, Patrick Baert replies to Derek Robbins’ review of his book The Existentialist Moment and of the co-authored book (with Simon Susen) The Sociology of Intellectuals. His main argument is that Robbins’ review is not only longwinded, but also suprisingly muddled, lacking in analytical clarity and precision. The essay also points out two other problems with Robbin’s confusing review. Firstly, Robbins wrongly accuses Baert of not paying attention to the content of ideas, whereas precisely the opposite is the case. Secondly, Robbins misunderstands the core presuppositions of positioning theory in that he erroneously associates the notion of positioning with conscious strategising. Baert is more sympathetic towards Robbins’ argument about the need to distinguish between different fields, but he laments Robbins’ inability to show how a more detailed attempt to draw this distinction would lead to a superior analysis of the specific historical context at the time.
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