Antonio Gramsci, born in Italy, underwent a transformative intellectual journey at the University of Turin under the influence of philosopher Benedetto Croce. Joining the Italian Socialist party in 1913, he co-founded the Italian Communist party in 1921 and actively participated in the Factory Council movement in the early 1920s.
In 1924, Gramsci assumed leadership of the Communist party and secured a seat in the Italian Parliament. However, with the rise of fascism in 1926, he faced arrest and received a 20-year prison sentence. Despite challenging conditions, Gramsci produced significant writings in prison, primarily captured in his influential Prison Notebooks (1926-37).
These writings delve into key aspects of his philosophy, addressing themes such as the role of intellectuals and class consciousness in political struggles, the historical roots of cultural and intellectual life, the absence of rigid economic laws in history, and his nuanced view of Marxism as the "philosophy of praxis." A central concept in Gramsci's work is Hegemony, highlighting that class domination extends beyond physical force to encompass cultural and ideological consent from the working class and peasantry. Gramsci's ideas continue to shape discussions on politics, culture, and social change.
Point wise explanation of the essay The Formation of the Intellectuals
1. Formation of Intellectuals within Social Groups:
- Every social group emerging from the economic structure creates its own strata of intellectuals.
- These intellectuals are organically linked to the group, providing homogeneity and awareness of their function in economic, social, and political realms.
- For example, capitalist entrepreneurs spawn industrial technicians, political economists, and cultural organizers.
2. Entrepreneurs as Organic Intellectuals:
- Capitalist entrepreneurs, as part of this intellectual formation, represent a higher level of social elaboration.
- They possess directive and technical capacities, essential for organizing not only economic activities but also broader societal elements.
- The entrepreneur's role involves organizing masses, gaining investor confidence, and shaping conditions favorable to class expansion.
3. Specialization of Organic Intellectuals:
- Organic intellectuals are often specialized in aspects related to the new social class's primary activities.
- Feudal lords, for instance, had military and technical capacities, contributing to the stability of their class.
- The crisis of feudalism is linked to the loss of the aristocracy's monopoly on these capacities.
4. Intellectuals in Feudal and Classical Worlds:
- The formation of intellectuals in feudal and classical worlds follows unique paths.
- Feudal lords, despite their technical and military capacities, face a crisis when their monopoly diminishes.
5. Essential Social Groups and Existing Intellectual Categories:
- Emerging social groups, tied to preceding economic structures, encounter pre-existing categories of intellectuals.
- Ecclesiastics, historically, had a monopoly on crucial services like religious ideology, philosophy, education, justice, etc.
6. Monopoly of Ecclesiastics:
- Ecclesiastics were organically linked to the landed aristocracy.
- Despite their equal juridical status, the ecclesiastics held a monopoly in the superstructural field but faced struggles and limitations.
7. Formation of Other Categories:
- With the strengthening central power of the monarch, other intellectual categories emerge.
- Noblesse de robe, scholars, scientists, and non-ecclesiastical philosophers form distinct categories enabled by central power's influence.
8. Autonomous Intellectual Categories:
- Traditional intellectuals, due to their historical continuity and specialization, view themselves as autonomous and independent.
- This self-perception has significant consequences in the ideological and political realms.
- Idealist philosophy often aligns with the intellectuals' belief in their independence, creating a social utopia.
9. Limits of the Term "Intellectual":
- The acceptance of the term "intellectual" has maximum limits.
- A unitary criterion to characterize diverse intellectual activities and distinguish them from other social group activities is sought.
10. Error of Method in Defining Intellectuals:
- The methodological error lies in seeking the criterion within the intrinsic nature of intellectual activities instead of considering the system of relations in which these activities exist within the general social framework.
- Workers and entrepreneurs are not defined by their activities alone but by performing them in specific social relations.
11. All Men Are Intellectuals:
- Every individual engages in some form of intellectual activity outside their professional role.
- The distinction between intellectuals and non-intellectuals refers to the immediate social function rather than the absence of intellectual activity.
12. Degrees of Intellectual Activity:
- Varying degrees of specific intellectual activity exist, and no human activity excludes intellectual participation.
- The dichotomy between intellectual elaboration and muscular-nervous effort varies, leading to different levels of specific intellectual activity.
13. Creating a New Stratum of Intellectuals:
- The critical elaboration of existing intellectual activity aims to create a new stratum of intellectuals.
- This involves modifying the balance between intellectual and physical efforts, making muscular-nervous effort the foundation of a new world conception.
14. Role of Technical Education:
- In the modern world, technical education linked to industrial labor forms the basis for the new type of intellectual.
- Technical education fosters a conception of intellectuals as active participants in practical life, emphasizing construction, organization, and a humanistic view of history.
15. Historically Formed Specialized Categories:
- Specialized categories for intellectual function form historically, especially in connection with dominant social groups.
- Dominant groups strive to assimilate traditional intellectuals, making the assimilation more effective when they simultaneously elaborate their own organic intellectuals.
16. Importance of Intellectual Functions in Modern Societies:
- The significant development of education indicates the importance of intellectual functions in post-medieval societies.
- Multiplying and narrowing specializations is evident in educational institutions and organizations promoting high culture.
17. Schools as Instruments for Elaborating Intellectuals:
- Schools play a crucial role in elaborating intellectuals of various levels.
- The complexity of intellectual function in different states is measured by the number and gradation of specialized schools.
18. Quantity and Quality in Intellectual Preparation:
- Quantity and quality are intertwined in the preparation of intellectuals.
- The most refined technical-cultural specialization corresponds to the maximum possible diffusion of primary education and the expansion of middle grades.
19. Selection and Elaboration of Intellectual Qualifications:
- Providing a democratic structure to high culture and top-level technology creates challenges like unemployment crises for middle intellectual strata.
- The elaboration of intellectual strata occurs within concrete historical processes, not on the terrain of abstract democracy.
20. Variation in Intellectual Strata Production:
- Concrete reality shows that the production of intellectual strata aligns with specific historical processes.
- Strata traditionally producing intellectuals coincide with those specialized in "saving," leading to varied intellectual specialization across different regions.
21. Mediated Relationship of Intellectuals with Production:
- The relationship between intellectuals and the world of production is not as direct as with fundamental social groups.
- It is "mediated" by the fabric of society and superstructures, where intellectuals function as "functionaries."
22. Measurement of Organic Quality and Connection with Social Groups:
- The "organic quality" and connection of intellectual strata with fundamental social groups can be measured.
- A gradation of functions and superstructures, from the base upwards, can establish the role of intellectuals in society.
23. Two Superstructural Levels:
- "Civil society" (private organizations) and "political society" or "the State" are two major superstructural levels.
- Corresponding to the functions of social hegemony and political government, intellectuals act as "deputies" for the dominant group.
24. Functions of Intellectuals in Superstructures:
- Intellectuals fulfill organizational and connective functions in society.
- These functions include obtaining "spontaneous" consent from the masses and employing state coercive power to enforce discipline when consent is lacking.
25. Spontaneous Consent and Coercive Power:
- Spontaneous consent arises from the prestige and confidence in the dominant group's position in the world of production.
- The apparatus of state coercive power is established for societal discipline during moments of crisis when spontaneous consent falters.
26. Extension of the Intellectual Concept:
- This perspective extends the concept of intellectual significantly.
- It clashes with caste preconceptions, aiming for a concrete approximation of reality.
27. Function of Organizing Hegemony and State Domination:
- The function of organizing social hegemony and state domination results in a specific division of labor and a hierarchy of qualifications.
- This hierarchy includes roles not seemingly involved in directive or organizational functions.
28. Diversity of Intellectual Activity:
- Intellectual activity is diverse, ranging from creators of sciences, philosophy, and art at the highest level to humble administrators and disseminators of preexisting intellectual wealth at the lowest level.
- Intrinsic characteristics of intellectual activity also distinguish different levels, reflecting a real qualitative difference in moments of extreme opposition.
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VISIT : LITERARY SPHERE
Point wise explanation of the essay The Formation of the Intellectuals
Point wise explanation of the essay The Formation of the Intellectuals
Point wise explanation of the essay The Formation of the Intellectuals
Point wise explanation of the essay The Formation of the Intellectuals
Point wise explanation of the essay The Formation of the Intellectuals
Point wise explanation of the essay The Formation of the Intellectuals
Point wise explanation of the essay The Formation of the Intellectuals
Point wise explanation of the essay The Formation of the Intellectuals
Point wise explanation of the essay The Formation of the Intellectuals
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