January 9, 2009

Old School Public Intellectuals

To the Editor:

Daniel W. Drezner's essay on public intellectuals ("Public Intellectual 2.0," The Chronicle Review, November 14) is an unenlightening, superficial survey. Certainly the Lionel Trilling/Ernest Nagel definition of one who is at home with, indeed, thoroughly familiar with the leading ideas of his time remains completely relevant. The mere listing of names on the margins by Drezner is without intellectual profit.

Henry Wasser Professor Emeritus of Sociology City