Pro Posner

I enjoyed Posner’s text and am not offended by his attitude or his judgment. Posner brings up valid points about public intellectuals, his colleagues, the media, and the responsibility they each have towards the public and public discourse. Everyone involved in addressing the public  whether they are public intellectuals or a mere public figure, ought  to use valid arguments and reason (as is used in analytic philosophy) when addressing and informing the uninformed public. I had to laugh as I was reading The Space of Opinion. There is passage (on page 24) where Walter Lippmann suggests that the media spends too much time simplifying and condensing information when addressing the public. Lippmann believed in individuals who could share with society, “a deeper understanding of what was really important.” I think Posner’s argument is of the same thinking with regard to public intellectuals, though. Lippmann suggested that media “reinforced the simplistic stereotypes and emotional prejudices of its audience.” This problem remains today, as pundits continue to evoke similar tactics, I think, with the intention to push political agendas. Chaos on Bullshit Mountain, anyone? :-)