Nothing in my view is more reprehensible than those habits of mind in the intellectual that induce avoidance, that characteristic turning away from a difficult and principled position which you know to be the right one, but which you decide not to take. You do not want to appear too political; you are afraid of seeming controversial; you need the approval of a boss or an authority figure; you want to keep a reputation for being balanced, objective, moderate; your hope is to be asked back, to consult, to be on a board or prestigious commitee, and so to remain within the responsible mainstream; someday you hope to get an honorary degree, a big prize, perhaps even and ambassadorship.
For an intellectual these habits of mind are corrupting par excellence. If anything can denature, neutralize, and finally kill a passionate intellectual life it is the internalization of such habits.
Edward W. Said, Representations of the Intellectual
qué chida cita! no me sorprende nada que sea de Said. Por eso, aunque me la viva peleándome con el postmodernismo y el postcolonialismo, creo que tienen el enorme mérito de mostrar cómo cualquier postura disciplinaria o metodológica es una postura ideológica (y no sólo una herramienta) y que ser moderados o imparciales es una gran ilusión liberal...
Publicado por: sarahidalgo | 12/04/10 en 12:39