SIVACRACY.NET

Bravo, Dan!

[T]he growth of online publication venues has stimulated rather than retarded the quality and diversity of public intellectuals. The criticisms levied against these new forms of publishing seem to mirror the flaws that plague the more general critique of current public intellectuals: hindsight bias and conceptual fuzziness. Rather, the growth of blogs and other forms of online writing have partially reversed a trend that many have lamented ? what Russell Jacoby labeled the "professionalization and academization" of public intellectuals. In particular, the growth of the blogosphere breaks down -- or at least lowers -- the barriers erected by a professionalized academy.

Right on. I would argue more though: Even before blogs, the number and importance of public intellectuals was pretty good. Jacoby was wrong when he wrote the book. He is even more wrong now.

Here are some oldies from Sivacracy on the subject:

http://www.sivacracy.net/2006/12/another_decline_of_the_public.html

http://www.sivacracy.net/2008/01/reflecting_on_jacobys_the_last.html