theotherblog

PhD's, fatherhood, and getting organised

Speaking what to whom?

Edward Said suggested that the role of the intellectual is to “speak truth to power”.  However, a simple google search on this phrase shows you the proliferation of this old idea… it is caught up in ideas of democracy, journalism, and Christianity to name a few. 
 
Where did it come from?  Is it a useless idea given that it is such a widely used – and therefore meaningless – phrase?
 
Drew

Filed under: Edward Said, quotations

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