Public Intellectuals, Public Life, and the University

Abstract

The figure of the public intellectual galvanizes the imagination and catalyzes social commentary. Examination of contemporary debates about public intellectuals draws our attention to competing claims about the health of public lift, the conditions and resources of academe, and the relations between the academy and public life. In our analysis of popular commentary about public intellectuals, we discern three major topoi: breadth, site, and legitimacy. Additionally, we explore the ways in which John Dewey imagined the relationships between schools and public life, and we argue that reference to Dewey helps to illuminate contemporary discussion about public intellectuals. We conclude with a framework for understanding and practicing public intellectualism today.