Foucault, Derrida
Foucault, Derrida
George W Bush and Hillary Clinton.
Spongebob Squarepants
Freud
Chomsky
Lacan
Dawkins
Forgot to add Khomeini and Robert Mugabe.
You can call Chomsky one of the most overrated political commentators of the past century (which is a big stretch considering the academic rigor he has applied to his political writings), but his work in linguistics is untouchable. His linguistic work revolutionized the field and has had ramifications that have reached as far as computer science.
I would put Henry Kissinger on the list.
deleuze wrote:
Freud? He's probably THE most influential thinker (for better or worse) of the 20th century. Your Aunt Sally uses Freudian terms when gossiping with Cousin Betty.
unfortunately he influenced everyone with mostly garbage, which is why he is overrated.
Precious Roy wrote:
You can call Chomsky one of the most overrated political commentators of the past century (which is a big stretch considering the academic rigor he has applied to his political writings), but his work in linguistics is untouchable. His linguistic work revolutionized the field and has had ramifications that have reached as far as computer science.
I would put Henry Kissinger on the list.
I never really thought of him as an intellectual (not that he's not smart - I just think of him as a political wonk. I'm not sure why I don't consider that the same as an intellectual, but I don't), so I don't really consider him overrated in this sphere.
As for Chomsky - yup. Incredibly important. Even when he is wrong he's wrong for interesting and significant reasons.
Likewise, Keynes. It's almost impossible to overrate Keynes. Modern economics is either about explaining why you are a Keynsian or explaining why you aren't. Like Chomsky, he's important even when he's wrong.
I'd agree with those who call Krugman overrated (and I agree with almost everything he's said - right down to his love of science fiction). He's a very good writer and obviously hugely smart and has made significant contributions, but I don't know that he'll go down in history as one of the significant forces.
This question should be "AFTER FREUD: Who are the most overrated intellectuals of the past century?"
Carl Jung.
Einstein v Hawking rap battle
Maybe Freud is overrated, but only because he's so highly rated. One of the most important thinkers ever. By similar reasoning, one could make an even stronger case that Jesus is the most overrated intellectual in all of history. (This is supposed to be a reductio ad adsurdum, not a jab at Jesus.)
And if you said Chomsky: Get real. Probably the most important living thinker.
I think Steven Hawking is very overrated as an intellectual. It's cool that he's able to have a scientific career despite being the victim of a debilitating disease, and he's written some good popular science books (and some bad ones!). He deserves our respect for overcoming the odds. But he's often talked about as one of today's leading scientists, which just isn't true.
Ayn Rand is also an appealing option, but as pointed out she isn't really that highly rated, except by a few fanatical followers.
I don't think very highly of Malcolm Gladwell, who I've heard referred to as an intellectual. Really though I'd say he's more of a journalist, so he may not qualify for this competition.
I think Steven Pinker is overrated, maybe not surprising given my view of Chomsky ;)
One day *I* hope to be one of the most overrated intellectuals.
Charles Krauthammer
Do people honestly think Hawking is overrated?
The Answer My Friend wrote:
Charles Krauthammer
Not really an intellectual. More a gutter snipe.
Ray Kurzweil. The "Singularity is near?" who cares?
Hey Ponderosa - you're coming across as a stump - get it?
Leave our Flaggy alone.
+1
not a runner... wrote:
Foucault, Derrida
+1
But also Irving Kristol and Norman Podhoretz
I used to be very impressed with Hawking - the more of his stuff I read, the more it appeared he was spouting fiction and opinion.
As humans, our knowledge is still in its infantile stage - so I guess anybody who is considered an "intellectual" is over-rated. It's like, who's the smartest dog?