Intellectual Revolutions

Name: Intellectual Revolutions
Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The work discusses three significant shifts in English society that have transformed the relationship between various fields: the church, professions, literature, and the press. The first revolution marks the separation of the professions from the church, indicating a shift in authority and influence. The second revolution highlights the detachment of literature from the professions, suggesting a decline in the intellectual rigor and moral responsibility traditionally associated with literary pursuits. The third revolution points to the press's divergence from literature, emphasizing the rise of sensationalism and superficiality in journalism. The author critiques the current state of writing, arguing that common phrases have become so clichéd that it is easier to produce mundane political commentary in newspapers than to create something of genuine craftsmanship, like a well-made pair of shoes. This comparison illustrates a broader concern about the decline of quality and depth in writing, where anyone, regardless of skill or integrity, can produce content with minimal effort. The work reflects on the implications of these revolutions for society, culture, and the integrity of intellectual discourse, suggesting a need for a return to more substantial and meaningful engagement in literature and journalism.

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge · First published 1858 · Genre: Philosophy, Literary Criticism, History · 165 words

First lines

There have been three silent revolutions in England: -- first, when the professions fell off from the church; secondly, when literature fell off from the professions; and, thirdly, when the press fell off from literature.

Common phrases are, as it were, so stereotyped now by conventional use, that it is really much easier to write on the ordinary politics of the day in the common newspaper style, than it is to make a good pair of shoes.

An apprentice has as much to learn now to be a shoemaker as ever he had; but an ignorant coxcomb, with a competent want of honesty, may very effectively wield a pen in a newspaper office, with infinitely less pains and preparation than were necessary formerly.

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Intellectual Revolutions is listed on Textopian as an essay by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, dated 1858 CE.

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Work type: Essay
Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Date: 1858 CE
Language: English
Genres: Philosophy, Literary Criticism, History, Sociology, Political Commentary
Length: 165 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

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Genres

Philosophy — The book discusses the evolution of thought and intellectual movements, reflecting on the nature of knowledge and its societal implications.
Literary Criticism — Coleridge analyzes the relationship between literature and other professions, critiquing the state of literary production and its decline.
History — The text examines historical shifts in English society, particularly the transitions between different intellectual domains.
Sociology — The work explores the social implications of intellectual changes and the impact on various professions and the public.