Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Intellectual
(1,027 words)

1. Terminological history and characteristics

The term “intellectual” (from the Latin intellectualis, “of the understanding”) derives from the political public sphere of the late 19th century. Corresponding to the social, cultural, and political self-image (and enemy stereotype) of a growing, academic class, the figure of the intellectual, associated with autonomy and the authority to speak on behalf of the general p…

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Gierl, Martin, “Intellectual”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 27 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_021480>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20190124



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