The Social Scientist as Public Intellectual: Critical Reflections in a Changing WorldWhat is the role of the social scientist in public affairs? How have changes in the structure of the university system and the culture of academia reshaped the opportunities and constraints facing contemporary scholars? The Social Scientist as Public Intellectual addresses these and other questions by reviewing the ideas of seminal thinkers in Europe and the United States, and relating their conclusions to today's world. In this book, Charles Gattone examines the analyses of Max Weber, Thorstein Veblen, Karl Mannheim, Joseph Schumpeter, C. Wright Mills, John Kenneth Galbraith, and Pierre Bourdieu, tracing their perspectives through two World wars, the Cold War, and into the present. Gattone situates the ideas of these authors in historical context, showing the ways the realities of their time - fascism , totalitarianism, the rise of bureaucratic institutions, and the expansion of industrial democracy - informed their assessments regarding the place of the intellectual in the political realm. He brings their work into the current context, addressing the difficulties involved in bridging the gap between the ideas of scholarly inquiry and the practical realities of politics, and examining the ways newer factors such as the mass media relate to the character and trajectories of popular sentiment. Gattone argues that although political and economic institutions continue to influence the course of academic knowledge, opportunities remain for social scientists to act independently and develop insight that can ultimately be of value to a wide spectrum of the population in the modern order. Rather than follow the habit of striving to satisfy the narrow demands of institutional supporters, Gattone suggests that social scientists have the potential to approach their work from the standpoint of a broader orientation, and address social issues as public intellectuals. |
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analyses approach argued assessment Auguste Comte basis belief broader bureaucratic capitalism challenge changes cial Comte and Saint-Simon contemporary context Corporatism critical critique cultural David Kettler Democracy democratic develop economic effort enlightened ethics everyday formation framework goals human ideals ideological industrial influence insight institutional interpretation involved Ionescu issues John Kenneth Galbraith Joseph Schumpeter Journal Karl Mannheim larger Loïc Wacquant Max Weber modern moral nature newer objective observed ongoing organization orientation perspective Pierre Bourdieu planning system point of view political decision political leaders position potential Power Elite practical propaganda public affairs Public Intellectual public policy public role Public Sociology question rational realm Rieff savants scholars Schumpeter's sense serve social inquiry social order social science social scientists social thought social world society Sociological Imagination Sociology suggested task tendency thinkers Thorstein Veblen Tilman tion traditions trends underlying understanding University Press values Wacquant Wright Mills York