Hayek and Public Intellectuals

In a section of the book on Hayek edited by Feser, there is a section by Scrunton which discuses Hayek and his conservatism.

He specifically discusses the role of intellectuals. Scrunton states:

"In an article first published in the University of Chicago Law Review in 1949, Hayek addressed the problem of "The Intellectuals and Socialism" and made the following suggestion. First there is a distinction, of recent provenance, between the scholar and the intellectual.

The scholar is interested in knowledge for its own sake, and is often master of some narrow outwardly unexciting and in any case publicly inconspicuous field.

The intellectual is a "second hand dealer in ideas" interested in exerting his mind in the public sphere, who will "be naturally drawn to those theories and ideas that make thinking the avenue to action.

He will prey to visionary and utopian conceptions, and drawn to those theories and ideas that give to the intellectuals a special role in the redemption of mankind. Hayek points out that no socialist ever loses credibility with his fellows by the impracticality or extravagance of his ideas, while liberals (in Hayek's sense of the term) who are dependent on the good will of existing institutions and have no utopian formula for their improvement, will instantly damn themselves by an impractical suggestion." (Feser, Hayek, Cambridge, p 222.)

Perhaps we see this happening in blogs, as self ordained public intellectuals are willing to espouse the wildest of ideas in pursuit of their visions.