Types of Intellectuals in Antonio Gramsci’s the Formation of the Intellectuals

 

Source: AZ Quotes

The Formation of the Intellectuals is Antonio Gramsci's The Prison Notebooks. Although Gramsci was a Marxist philosopher, he disagreed with traditional Marxists. In his view, the social framework is made up of factors beyond economic interests. More important are beliefs, morals, obligations, and cultural aspects. 

Even while spending eleven years in Mussolini’s Prison, he wrote 32 notebooks. He was a journalist, politician, writer, linguist, and philosopher. His notebooks cover a wide range of 20th-century political theories. Some of them include Nationalism, Italian history, Fascism, and the French Revolution.

Intellectuals in The Formation of the Intellectuals

The significance of intellectuals in capitalist society is examined in The Formation of the Intellectuals. It defines the intellectual, the nature of the ideas generated, and their connection to general class relations. It lays the groundwork for a socio-economic understanding of intellectual activity and output.

In The Formation of the Intellectuals, Gramsci discusses how each class produces its intellectuals. The intellectuals, in Gramsci's view, serve as the "deputies" of the functionaries. They are the dominant group. They perform the subordinate but crucial roles of political rule. 

He distinguishes the term Intellectuals into “traditional” and “organic”. These Intellectuals included clergy, philosophers, teachers, engineers, organizers, and scientists. The individuals not interested in rising for reason and truth are “traditional intellectuals”. But, those ready to speak for the interests of their class are “organic intellectuals". As they develop and disseminate organic ideology, organic intellectuals in particular are essential. 

Organic Intellectual

It is believed that Gramsci himself coined the term “organic intellectual”. He segregated the Intellectuals based on the blocked mind associated with politics. Despite being intelligent and thoughtful they were traditional in their approach. Detached from society, these were proletarian consciousness belonging to the aristocracy. They were dominating the class maintaining their traditional culture. 

The genius minds of “organic intellectuals" were spontaneous in their actions. They didn’t claim detachment from their class as they belonged in it. They lead their class into the greater consciousness of economic development.  The political significance of these intellectuals stems from the fact that they are capable of establishing their "domination" over other intellectuals. 

Traditional Intellectuals 

The traditional intellectuals were considered the fossilized remains of organic society. They emerged from the isolated groups of rebels, convincing people of the virtues of capitalism. Despite assimilation into the capitalist system, these intellectuals remained distant and uninvolved in the economic and political needs of the capitalist class. These consisted of the clergy, artists, and philosophers. They engaged in matters of little political significance. Some of them are art, literature, ideology, and culture.

The organic intellectuals used cultural forms to encourage the working class toward revolution. They believed in creating a unitary proletarian society. Their responsibility was to alter the cultural agenda. They had to impact the common political, moral, and cultural agendas.

Organic intellectuals were traditionally associated with political parties, renowned newspapers, and advertising. They include thinkers, critics, editors, authors, broadcasters, and others. These individuals convinced the general public that neoliberalism was a progressive reform.

Prison Notebooks

In Prison Notebooks, Gramsci rejected the idea of a disinterested scholar. He argues that socioeconomic circumstances arise from intellectual activity. He stated that all men are intellectuals. Yet not every man has social functions or intellect. 

He believed in dominant class intellectuals. Those who were able to establish their universal views of social class. The organic intellectuals governed by their thought process were enthusiastic about change. He identified new intellectuals as active participants in practical life. They were organizers and permanent persuaders.

The essay shows the Marxist thinkers delivering the basis for socioeconomic understanding. The German Ideology is discussed, as is the theoretical framework of Intellectuals. The role of intellectuals in the Second World War is also learned. 

Bottom Line

Gramsci analyzed the organic intellectuals’ tool journals. This tool became an essential element and came to be known as a war of positions. Organic intellectuals are bound to a class base. So they need to venture into both universal and metropolis areas. Gramsci gives the example of manual labor who must be familiar with state edicts. 

Gramsci’s Organic intellectuals has been a poststructuralist theory in the post-modern world. He establishes the parallel between intellectuals and education, making it more efficient. The political structure sees the relationship between intellectuals and workers as a socialist movement. Developing the Leninist scheme, he could relate to the working class problems.

Written by Garima Jain