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Theme Changer

 Topic: Your favorite public intellectuals?

 (Read 7089 times)
  • 12 Next page « Previous thread | Next thread »
  • Your favorite public intellectuals?
     OP - January 04, 2010, 06:09 PM

    Mine are (in no specific order):

    Naom Chomsky
    Sam Harris
    Christopher Hitchens
    Peter Singer
    Milton Friedman
    Tariq Ali
    Robert Fisk

    Please try to limit your choices to contemporary intellectuals.
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #1 - January 04, 2010, 06:29 PM

    Would Bertrand Russell and Ludwig Wittgenstein count as contemporary? I would also include Daniel C Dennett.
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #2 - January 04, 2010, 06:31 PM

    ...and Carl Sagan.
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #3 - January 05, 2010, 02:17 AM

    Fully agree with everyone so far, but lets add Salman Rush-to-die & Oscar Wilde to it too.

    I like Michael Portillo on economics/politics too but not sure if he should be included here as he is not a philosopher..

    My Book     news002       
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  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #4 - January 05, 2010, 04:18 AM

    Salman rashdie isn't really an intellectual, is he? Just a fiction writer.
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #5 - January 05, 2010, 04:24 AM

    Salman rashdie isn't really an intellectual, is he? Just a fiction writer.


    True, but he does have a really good intellect when it comes to history given his background regarding his fathers occupation. There was an interesting interview between Salman Rashdie and Irshad Manji; talking about the early arabs with the transition from nomadic tribes to establishing fixed towns/cities. Although he doesn't have a formal qualification in that area IIRC he does have alot of knowledge regarding it - and a pretty good sense of humour at that.

    "It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up." - Muhammad Ali
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #6 - January 05, 2010, 09:44 AM

    The list is good. I would also add A.J Ayer to it.
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #7 - January 05, 2010, 01:05 PM

    Salman rashdie isn't really an intellectual, is he?

    Youtube him and listen to his talks..

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  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #8 - January 05, 2010, 01:19 PM

    if anyone has any brilliant talks relating to these people, please post them here too.  

    Here are 3 good clips that have been posted on coem before,  with some of the intellectuals mentioned here in case someone hasnt already seen them..

    If anyone good youtube clips on on Naom Chomsky and Peter Singer in action, I'd like to see them


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxeeDDedI1g&feature=player_embedded

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DKhc1pcDFM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aPOMUTr1qw




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  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #9 - January 05, 2010, 01:40 PM

    Here is the interview I was talking about before:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc60ro81dIw

    Really good interview; great understanding of history and really knows his Qur'an well Smiley

    Its funny how non-Muslims know the Qur'an better than most Muslims lol

    "It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up." - Muhammad Ali
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #10 - January 05, 2010, 02:33 PM

    That bit he said about how some of its origins are from some brand of "desert" Christianity is interesting. Its not impossible. Then again, Muslims would point you to www.islamic-awareness.org. They will all tell you that "its the other way around" meaning those stories about Jesus under the date tree etc are not plagerisms. They say that they are post Islamic inventions, and those sources did not exist before Islam. NO error Roll Eyes

    "The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshiped anything but himself."
    ~Sir Richard Francis Burton

    "I think religion is just like smoking: Both invented by people, addictive, harmful, and kills!"
    ~RIBS
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #11 - January 05, 2010, 03:22 PM

    Rushdie's Satanic verse's did not really impress me when I read it.  I remember thinking why Muslims made such a fuss over it when I read it.

    "Modern man's great illusion has been to convince himself that of all that has gone before he represents the zenith of human accomplishment, but can't summon the mental powers to read anything more demanding than emoticons. Fascinating. "

    One very horny Turk I met on the net.
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #12 - January 05, 2010, 03:25 PM

    Same here, I thought it was one of the most boring books I've ever read.

    "Befriend them not, Oh murtads, and give them neither parrot nor bunny."  - happymurtad's advice on trolls.
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #13 - January 05, 2010, 03:39 PM


    The 'offensive' parts were in a dream sequence where a man imagines a prophet from the desert called Mahound having doubts about his faith - allegorical and all that kind of thing - he imagines his wives (Khadija, Ayesha and all the rest of them in this allegory) as prostitutes in a brothel and other funny shit.

    Rushdie, you either like him or you don't. I don't really dig his style, but I can see why some do. There are some interesting things about Satanic Verses, but it didn't float my boat like Midnight's Children and The Moor's Last Sigh. He hasn't really written anything decent since those.


    "we can smell traitors and country haters"


    God is Love.
    Love is Blind. Stevie Wonder is blind. Therefore, Stevie Wonder is God.

  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #14 - January 05, 2010, 06:02 PM

    Same here, I thought it was one of the most boring books I've ever read.

    Koran sister, don't forget the koran. The most boring book is the koran. Or the bible, mainly because the bible is so much bigger than the koran.

    "Ask the slave girl; she will tell you the truth.' So the Apostle called Burayra to ask her. Ali got up and gave her a violent beating first, saying, 'Tell the Apostle the truth.'"
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #15 - January 05, 2010, 07:25 PM

    At least the Bible has some interesting content. The Quran is just a vast swathe of boring shit regularly interrupted by pure terror.

    Iblis has mad debaterin' skillz. Best not step up unless you're prepared to recieve da pain.

  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #16 - January 05, 2010, 10:38 PM

    The 'offensive' parts were in a dream sequence where a man imagines a prophet from the desert called Mahound having doubts about his faith - allegorical and all that kind of thing - he imagines his wives (Khadija, Ayesha and all the rest of them in this allegory) as prostitutes in a brothel and other funny shit.

    Rushdie, you either like him or you don't. I don't really dig his style, but I can see why some do. There are some interesting things about Satanic Verses, but it didn't float my boat like Midnight's Children and The Moor's Last Sigh. He hasn't really written anything decent since those.


    What I think is funny about the 'satanic verses' was the fact that it was Muslims who wrote the narrative regarding it, not non-Muslims. IIRC it comes from Ibn Ishaq's collection of narrations regarding Muhammad. I could understand if the satanic verses were made up by non-Muslims to disparage Islam but like I said, it was Muslims who wrote down the narrative.

    "It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up." - Muhammad Ali
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #17 - January 05, 2010, 11:13 PM

    The 'offensive' parts were in a dream sequence where a man imagines a prophet from the desert called Mahound having doubts about his faith - allegorical and all that kind of thing - he imagines his wives (Khadija, Ayesha and all the rest of them in this allegory) as prostitutes in a brothel and other funny shit.

    Rushdie, you either like him or you don't. I don't really dig his style, but I can see why some do. There are some interesting things about Satanic Verses, but it didn't float my boat like Midnight's Children and The Moor's Last Sigh. He hasn't really written anything decent since those.


    What I think is funny about the 'satanic verses' was the fact that it was Muslims who wrote the narrative regarding it, not non-Muslims. IIRC it comes from Ibn Ishaq's collection of narrations regarding Muhammad. I could understand if the satanic verses were made up by non-Muslims to disparage Islam but like I said, it was Muslims who wrote down the narrative.

    "It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up." - Muhammad Ali
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #18 - January 07, 2010, 03:58 AM

    my favourite intellectuals are rarely public... or contemporary. I might need more exposure on that part.

    but I must insist for now Emilie Autumn fits the grid.



    Quod est inferius est sicut quod est superius,
    et quod est superius est sicut quod est inferius,
    ad perpetranda miracula rei unius.
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #19 - January 07, 2010, 04:13 AM

    V.S. Ramachandran
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl2LwnaUA-k
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #20 - January 07, 2010, 04:17 AM

    Slavoj Zizek ATM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg7qdowoemo

    It used to be Jean Baudrillard:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOIjI2gFizM

    "...every imperfection in man is a bond with heaven..." - Karl Marx
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #21 - January 07, 2010, 04:31 AM

    Mine are (in no specific order):

    Naom Chomsky
    Sam Harris
    Christopher Hitchens
    Peter Singer
    Milton Friedman
    Tariq Ali


    Please try to limit your choices to contemporary intellectuals.


    Chomsky and Ali would be up there for me. I despise Singer.

    Alexander Cockburn and Camille Paglia would be on my list too.

    I probably wouldn't classify him as a "public intellectual" as he writes almost exclusively on labor issues and isn't well known beyond the American labor movement, but Steve Early is one of my favorite journalists/columnists.

    fuck you
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #22 - January 07, 2010, 04:33 AM

    Ali spouts all that 'Islamic Reformation' crap.

    I expect better from a Marxist TBH.

    "...every imperfection in man is a bond with heaven..." - Karl Marx
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #23 - January 07, 2010, 11:42 AM

    Musharaf is also a great public speaker and was a great leader:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLIBjYoht1s&feature=related
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #24 - January 27, 2010, 12:56 PM

    Great thread. Please more videos and names Smiley

    I have no idea :(

    So far I'm reading works by Dawkins and Sam Harris. I have checked out Dan Dennets videos and lectures and I liked.
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #25 - January 28, 2010, 12:24 PM

    Actually I just remembered Hamid Dabashi. I like his articles.

    But he is a muslim? He seems very secular.
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #26 - January 29, 2010, 12:01 AM

    Slavoj Zizek ATM

    This guy is fucking hilarious. Mad and ingenious at the same time. His accent and appearance make it all the better. I've been watching his videos non-stop. Thanks for mentioning him panoptic.

    Quote from: ras111
    Rushdie's Satanic verse's did not really impress me when I read it.  I remember thinking why Muslims made such a fuss over it when I read it.

    Same here. Midnight's Children is his best. Nothing short of a masterpiece.

    Quote from: Q-Man
    I despise Singer.

    I'd love to know why.

  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #27 - January 29, 2010, 12:17 AM

    Quote from: IsLame
    If anyone good youtube clips on on Naom Chomsky and Peter Singer in action, I'd like to see them

    Chomsky is quite prolific. I'd suggest searching Youtube for Chomsky+any subject you have in mind. You can start with this channel.


    This video is good because it's long:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ghoXQxdk6s


    This one is a classic. About the book that is probably what he's best know for (9 parts)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJuqoDvyXOk



    As for Singer I chose this video because it's wide-ranging (3 parts)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bi81JcddWc


    And here's a one that features both:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzY0L2g1f64
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #28 - January 29, 2010, 01:04 AM

    I'd love to know why.


    He's the intellectual founder of the animal liberation movement. Fuck the animal liberation movement-- buncha middle class whiners-- fuck 'em hard.

    fuck you
  • Re: Your favorite public intellectuals?
     Reply #29 - January 29, 2010, 02:27 AM

    He's the intellectual founder of the animal liberation movement. Fuck the animal liberation movement-- buncha middle class whiners-- fuck 'em hard.

    I know and I agree with you on this one. It distresses me to see how much money PETA is spending a year. Absolutely disgusting when you consider what else is going on in our fucked-up world.
    However, he's a great philosopher and his approach to ethical question is unprecedented. Plus, he's just about the only one who is making a fuss about the laughable amount of aid the First World is giving to the poor countries. He gives 25 of his income to charity. I really admire him for that.


    And since you brought up vegetarians, I think it's only fair that we see what Slavoj Zizek thinks of them  Cheesy

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TqyKsnQD38
  • 12 Next page « Previous thread | Next thread »