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Intellectuals and Society
Thomas Sowell
出版Hachette UK, 2012-03-06
主題Political Science / History & TheoryPolitical Science / Political Ideologies / GeneralPolitical Science / Political Ideologies / Conservatism & LiberalismPolitical Science / Political Ideologies / LibertarianismSocial Science / DiscriminationHistory / Modern / 20th Century / GeneralHistory / United States / 20th CenturyHistory / Modern / 21st CenturyHistory / United States / 21st CenturyPolitical Science / Political FreedomPolitical Science / Political EconomyBusiness & Economics / Economics / TheoryPhilosophy / Social
ISBN04650311029780465031108
URLhttp://books.google.com.hk/books?id=pFQ4DgAAQBAJ&hl=&source=gbs_api
EBookSAMPLE
註釋The influence of intellectuals is not only greater than in previous eras but also takes a very different form from that envisioned by those like Machiavelli and others who have wanted to directly influence rulers. It has not been by shaping the opinions or directing the actions of the holders of power that modern intellectuals have most influenced the course of events, but by shaping public opinion in ways that affect the actions of power holders in democratic societies, whether or not those power holders accept the general vision or the particular policies favored by intellectuals. Even government leaders with disdain or contempt for intellectuals have had to bend to the climate of opinion shaped by those intellectuals.

Intellectuals and Society not only examines the track record of intellectuals in the things they have advocated but also analyzes the incentives and constraints under which their views and visions have emerged. One of the most surprising aspects of this study is how often intellectuals have been proved not only wrong, but grossly and disastrously wrong in their prescriptions for the ills of society -- and how little their views have changed in response to empirical evidence of the disasters entailed by those views.