Syed Hussein Alatas and the Problem and Intellectuals

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute for Humanities and Cultural studies

Abstract
How does Alatas conceptualize the concept of 'Intellectual'? The problem of intellectuals in the modern world is one of the most challenging questions in the context of social sciences and humanities. Alatas distinguishes between the role of intellectuals in the developing countries and developed societies. What are the assumptive foundations of Alatas's perspective on the role of intellectuals in developing societies? There are many non-eurocentric narratives on the role of intellectuals (e.g. Ali Shariati, Jalal Ale Ahmad, Edward Said and …) in the contemporary world but few have worked upon the perspective conceptualized by Syed Hussein Alatas in relation to the future of intellectuals as a modern species in the world, in general, and in the developing societies, in particular. In other words, in this chapter, we shall work on the concept of intellectual as understood by Alatas and try to find out the relevance of his approach in the present contexts of developing societies and also if this non-eurocentric breed could have any impact on the global state of affairs through his/her critical engagements.

Keywords


Alatas, S. H. (1977) Intellectuals in Developing Societies. Frank Cass: London.
Grafton, A. (2006) “The History of Ideas: Precept and Practice, ١٩٥٠–٢٠٠٠ and Beyond”, Journal of the History of Ideas, No. 67 (1): 1–32.
Cupples, J.; Grosfoguel, R. (2019) Unsettling Eurocentrism in the Westernized University, Routledge: Oxfordshire.
 Herzen, A. (1956) Selected Philosophical Works, Moscow: Foreign Language Publishing, 336-337.
Volume 16, Issue 3
Autumn 2022
Pages 97-101

  • Receive Date 06 February 2023
  • Accept Date 15 March 2023
  • First Publish Date 15 March 2023
  • Publish Date 23 October 2022