The Search for Public Intellectuals’ Identity: 

Of Tainted Purity

自古以来，我国社会对于知识分子就有“铁肩担道义”的期待。“公共知识分子”本来是褒义词。然而，近年来公共知识分子的社会声誉明显下降，还被打上了“公知”的标签。那么这其中的变故是怎么回事呢？

The disturbing derogation1 of public intellectuals reveals dissatisfaction from the public towards irresponsible intellectuals. Yet, as long as our nation demands development, public intellectuals are indispensable2.

Traditionally, public intellectuals are from the public and into the public. They stand out as the educated, not solely with academic background and professional knowledge, but with public spirit and independent spirit. They sympathize and empathize3 with the public; they pursue democracy and equal rights for the public; they devote heart and soul to the public.

It should be noted, however, that, for public interests, sometimes public intellectuals stand against the public mind. Hanyu, the outstanding scholarin Tang Dynasty, for instance, wrote down the well known article “On Educators” (“Shi Shuo”), appealing for learning from teachers, setting against shared shame for acknowledging others as one’s masters.4

Status quo stands in stark contrast.5 Seemingly, it is the public that harbour6 hostility towards public intellectuals, but that is not an accuratenotion. Most people are still in favour of public intellectuals in a traditional sense. In reality, however, a swarm of intellectuals scramble for grandstanding.7 What they present are not thought-provoking considerations, but baffling and unfounded cries.8  Consequently, the purity of public intellectuals has been tainted. And it is no wonder that when expressing views over public affairs on the new media, many public intellectuals have been trapped in a dilemma recently: no matter what they say, they will be accused of “grabbing eyeballs” and “spreading rumours”, or even be denounced as “traitors”.9

That is pathetic10. Yet what accounts for this?

First of all, irresponsible intellectuals have to bear a part of
the blame. The key point is that while pleading in the name ofpeople,11they secure personal gain at the expense of public good. To be specific, some intellectuals, belonging to some special interest groups, make profits through deceiving the public. In addition, numerous intellectuals are puffed with conceit12. Without sufficient knowledge or research, they weigh things on their feelings in lieu of13 facts. As a result, plenty of rumours are produced and spreadon the new media. Also, a swathe of them worship and kowtow to everything foreign.14 These intellectuals have lost their national dignity, one of the basic civic15 virtues. That is why they disgust the public.

Meanwhile, some netizens and insufficient censorship cannot escape the blame either.16 A host of netizens are sheer charlatans.17 Whereas the new media is a world where information lacks traditional mechanisms of filter, which makes it so easy to become an “intellectual” or “expert”. With fake educational background and forged18 identity, these liars disguise themselves as intellectuals or experts. Taking advantage of this, they make up stories and sell them to the public. Save charlatans, keyboard warriors make their contributions, too.19 These people taste piquancy in evil-speaking and feel self-exaltation in condemning others.20 Full of narrow-mindedness, they morally kidnap and villainize public intellectuals, simply confounding the right with the wrong.21

Then how to take this nasty stigma out of intellectuals’ reputation?22  For public intellectuals, elites of our nation,it is necessary, albeit arduous and not always rewarding,23 to take social responsibilities according to our tradition.They should not pander to24 the public; rather, they should enlighten them. Moreover, in such a diverse society, when confronting unfair treatment, they need to stay patient, stick to the truth and strive against25 bias. When it comes to the public, they should learn to hold objective perceptions towards achievements and flaws of public intellectuals. After all, public intellectuals are only human.They are not infallible26. More importantly, the public need to elevate27 the ability to identify the truth by themselves, instead of blindly following others. For them, what is needed is to learn to question validity28 of information from any sources, without privileging one over the other. Also, it is necessary for them not to develop uncritical assumptions and actions as they use the new media. Asidef rom intellectuals and the public, the new media is in need of amelioration29, too. It ought to verify identities of intellectuals and experts.

To conclude, in order to restore public intellectuals’ uniqueness and purity, all parties are expected to do their bits.