Philosopher Jürgen Habermas on the disruptive effects of the media and the internet on the role of the intellectual:

On the one hand, the communication shift from books and the printed press to the television and the Internet has brought about an unimagined broadening of the media sphere, and an unprecedented consolidation of communication networks. Intellectuals used to swim around in the public sphere like fish in water, but this environment has become ever more inclusive, while the exchange of ideas has become more intensive than ever. But on the other hand the intellectuals seem to be suffocating from the excess of this vitalising element, as if they were overdosing. The blessing seems to have become a curse. I see the reasons for that in the de-formalisation of the public sphere, and in the de-differentiation of the respective roles. (translation by sign and sight)

Noteworthy, not least since many invoke Habermas’ concept of the public sphere when discussing the impact of blogs and other forms of user-driven publishing.

The excerpt is from the acceptance speech for the Austrian Bruno-Kreisky-Preis. Habermas concludes that there’s really only one skill that still distinguishes the intellectual from other participants of the public sphere: An avantgarde sense of relevance (“den avantgardistischen Spürsinn für Relevanzen”). The intellectual must be able to discover new and troubling developments in society while the others still are busy with business as usual – and sound the alarm bell without overreacting. Complete text in German (pdf).

A classic intellectual skill that Habermas doesn’t highlight, is the ability to put issues in historical perspective, argue in a concise way and then draw conclusions of moral and logical clarity. Wouldn’t this be more realistic to expect of intellectuals in this fast-moving world? Brilliant example: Andre Glucksmann on caricatures and Auschwitz.

UPDATE: Liberale Stimme Online dissects bloggin’ Jürgen.