Intellectuals: The Ideas And Roles Of Antonio Gramsci

Intellectuals have always been viewed as agents of change and gatekeepers of social justice. It is considered a “raison d’etre” (Fuller 2006), of intellectuals as a rule, to affect change and motivate positive action. We, as individuals of modern society, enjoy the fruit of intellectuals’ labor against social injustice, inequalities, and the wrongdoings of the state. Intellectuals could also be easily defined as the “knowledge producers” of our everyday lives, (Irving and Scalmer 1999) in the sense that it is them who translate and direct the masses’ attention to the complexities of the dynamics between society, public institutions and the state.
The task of defining and understanding the role of intellectuals fell upon the shoulders of many
The concepts and theories that he later on came to expound greatly mirrored those of his role model Karl Marx; of giving power and status to the working class, in order to produce and affect change in society. A prolific writer and thinker, Gramsci is to be credited for all original theories of Cultural Hegemony, War of Positions, Political Theory, as well as being one of the founding members of the Italian Communist Party. The focus of this paper, however, is going to be his definition of Intellectuals – as well as the distinction he made between ‘Traditional’ and ‘Organic’
He writes that “all men are intellectuals, but not all men have in society the function of intellectuals”. What he meant by that was that everyone has an intellect and could very well use it – but not all people are considered intellectuals by social function. He explains this by stating that “everyone at some time fries a couple of eggs or sews up a tear in a jacket, we do not necessarily say that everyone is a cook or a tailor”. Each social group in existence has created and continues to create within itself one or more category of intellectuals that gives it meaning and helps it function. Such intellectuals can take many different roles; such as those of managers, civil servants, priests, professors and teachers, scientists, lawyers, doctors etc. Essentially, they always manage to develop alongside the ruling class, and function for the benefit of all classes. Gramsci adamantly maintained that the notion of intellectuals as being a distinct social category independent of class was a myth that held no truth in any