In a course on Public Intellectuals at UIC, Richard Rorty visited our class for one day. He was in town to have a conversation with Richard Posner about the definition of the public intellectual, partially in response to Posner's book Public Intellectuals.
Judge Posner's thesis is that number of media mentions could be one measure of the influence of a public intellectual. In fact, almost everything could be quantified and described in relation to its power in the marketplace. At the end of class, Rorty said he asked Judge Posner, "Don't you have any romance?"
Where has romance gone in our public discourse -- whatever it is: ethics or character or integrity?
Outrage Nation delves into this critical question as do other contemporary writers and thinkers.
Kwame Anthony Appiah tries to answer the question of ethics in contemporary society. It is time that ethics not be tied to post-modern theory. His newest book, The Lies That Bind continues this crucial question of his previous books which is the seminal conversation of our culture today.
Judge Posner's thesis is that number of media mentions could be one measure of the influence of a public intellectual. In fact, almost everything could be quantified and described in relation to its power in the marketplace. At the end of class, Rorty said he asked Judge Posner, "Don't you have any romance?"
Where has romance gone in our public discourse -- whatever it is: ethics or character or integrity?
Outrage Nation delves into this critical question as do other contemporary writers and thinkers.
Kwame Anthony Appiah tries to answer the question of ethics in contemporary society. It is time that ethics not be tied to post-modern theory. His newest book, The Lies That Bind continues this crucial question of his previous books which is the seminal conversation of our culture today.
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