Do they?
Intellectuals often think of themselves as secular priests/monks,
who eschew commercial concerns.
They may thus feel contempt for
both dogmatic materialist Capitalism
and dogmatic materialist Marxism ('Communism').
They imagine that they're here to do the work
of understanding what the human adventure is all about.
This is actually an essential societal function,
providing ethical direction, etc.
It's something that used to be thought of
as trying to figure out the Mind of the Gods, as it were.
Unfortunately, today, the intelligentsia may have been
infiltrated and corrupted by bad actors
manipulating the gullible into undermining/discrediting
(actual) thought/episteme/science
in order to return humanity to the dark ages of
top-down dogma-based authority,
where sociopaths can thrive.
AI summary:
This essay argues that intellectuals often oppose capitalism due to misunderstandings about its nature. It explains how capitalism is frequently conflated with cronyism or corporatism, and highlights the difference between them. The author emphasizes the importance of true capitalism, which is based on voluntary exchange and property rights, for promoting prosperity and freedom.
Personally I think intellectual contributions are rarely all that clearly advantageous to a community. These are largely people that might be seen as useless in times of scarcity unless they are of particular genius or accomplishment, so communal resource sharing is attractive for their own personal safety.
It also conveniently elevates the intellectual above workers. They don't want to dig ditches for their meals. Their job is thinking big thoughts.
UncleWillard56 |4 pointswritten 27 days ago ago
Ironic, isn't it. They're usually the first ones against the wall along with the other useful idiots when the revolution begins. The West's problem is that they are unfettered. Now you have these bullshit Humanities "studies" type classes that are incestuous and self-congratulating. They embrace Marx, because there's no opposing view (just look at literary theory - queer theory, feminist theory, Marxist theory, but there's no contrasting theories). Artists, writers, musicians have all benefitted more from Capitalism than they ever have from Marxism. How would they have ever survived without patronage?