Complaints about the social irresponsibility of the…
“Complaints about the social irresponsibility of the intellectual typically concern the intellectual's tendency to marginalize herself, to move out from one community by interior identification of herself with some other community - for example, another country or historical period... It is not clear that those who thus marginalize themselves can be criticized for social irresponsibility. One cannot be irresponsible toward a community of which one does not think of oneself as a member. Otherwise runaway slaves and tunnelers under the Berlin Wall would be irresponsible.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Intellectuals who detach from their own community by identifying with another cannot be judged for neglecting the first community.
In simple terms: Marginalizing oneself removes responsibility to that group.
Key Takeaway
Responsibility follows identification.
Themes
identity
responsibility
community
intellectualism
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic discourse
- political activism
- cultural criticism
- identity politics
Key Concepts
social theory
philosophy of self
ethical relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does self‑identification shape moral obligations?
- Can one be accountable to a community one does not feel part of?
A Different Perspective
Critics may argue that any community membership, even symbolic, entails some duty.