Zrada vzdělanců – Benda Julien (2018)

Almost ninety years later, a new translation of the book by the French philosopher Julien Benda (1867–1956) is being published, which contrasts the universalist philosophy of the spirit, the heir of Greek education, with contemporary ideological currents serving practical interests – nationalism, militarism, and racism – represented in France primarily by the names of Charles Maurras and Maurice Barrès. The book caused a great stir in its time, and we also know how many scholars, intellectuals, or members of the intelligentsia failed in the times that followed. For this reason, it is good to read Benda's book again. However, to avoid confusion, Benda's intellectual, originally clerc, is not a pure intellectual as we understand it today. He is an advocate of spiritual values, free, impartial, and selfless activity, which serves as a counterbalance to the widespread ideological stances and defenses of practical politics. Special criticism is directed against nationalist and extremely right-wing as well as left-wing positions dominating so many pre-war intellectuals. It should be noted that the latter did not escape Benda either, which in a way violates the logic of his lifelong direction.