Kanttekeningen

De sociologie van de intellectuelen van Gerrit-Bartus Dielissen

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Abstract

G.B. Dielissen’s sociology of intellectuals - This article is a critique of Gerrit Bartus Dielissen’s sociology of intellectuals, which is a construction of two types of intellectuals, corresponding to two types of cultures. The aristocratic type of the intellectual corresponds with an aristocratic type of culture. Nowadays we (supposedly) live in a democratic culture with democratic intellectuals, who make existing social relations dynamic by articulating utopian thoughts. It is argued that this sociology of intellectuals is much too global and undifferentiated, as a result of which it is anachronistic. The macro-theory put forward by Dielissen lacks a microscopic view on intellectuals, giving us the opportunity to study ’intellectuals in action’. Therefore he is unable to analyse how intellectuals use their cultural capital to exercise their power. They predominantly universalize their own interests and are not always defenders of a democratic culture. What precisely Dielissen means by a democratic culture is not clear. He fails to distinguish clearly between description and prescription on the subject and in talking about modern democratic culture he neglects the debate on postmodern intellectuals. It is also argued that his critique of Gouldner is not correct. Finally, the article is illustrated with the position of intellectuals in interwar Germany.

How to Cite:

Gabriëls, R., (1991) “De sociologie van de intellectuelen van Gerrit-Bartus Dielissen”, Tijdschrift voor Sociale Wetenschappen 36(1), 77–83. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tvsw.95066