The Law, Rationalism, and Complexity Working Group hosts a book roundtable on Julien Benda’s seminal work, 'The Treason of the Intellectuals' (1927).
Julien Benda’s seminal work, The Treason of the Intellectuals (1927), confronts the shifting role of intellectuals in the early 20th century, a time when the authority of knowledge was subverted by political interests and ideologies. In Benda's eyes, this shift betrayed the timeless mission of the intellectual vocation, introducing a dangerous age where politics, not reason, guided human thought and discourse. Our round table revisits Benda's critique in light of contemporary intellectual challenges. In an era of increasing political polarisation, the spread of disinformation, and the growing demands of political correctness, do Benda's warnings about the intellectual organization of political hatreds resonate today? Our speakers will facilitate critical conversations that bridge historical insights with current debates.
Julien Benda (26 December 1867 – 7 June 1956) was a French philosopher, novelist, and cultural critic. He is best known for his short book, La Trahison des Clercs from 1927 (The Treason of the Intellectuals or The Betrayal by the Intellectuals).
The Law, Rationalism, and Complexity Working Group endeavours to navigate the complexity of modern legal knowledge through logical reasoning, empirical analysis, and experimentation, including establishing interdisciplinary links with hard sciences. Interested fellows, PhD researchers, professors, and visiting academics are invited to participate.