Killing Reason

Khosrow Naqed, an Iranian writer, Iranologist, and linguist, has authored numerous books and articles on Iranian culture, Persian history, language and literature, and philosophy, influencing Iranian intellectual circles. His articles have also appeared in several Iranian newspapers. He published a German-to-Persian dictionary through Langenscheidt. This book, titled ‘Killing Reason,’ highlights the controversial concept of ‘intellectuals,’ which has emerged from modern societies. While it relates to thinking, enlightenment, elites, and education, it cannot be equated or replaced by them. If the modern era is viewed as the beginning of the Age of Enlightenment, marked by a complete transformation of European worldview, values, and thought processes, the concept of ‘enlightenment’ may be considered a product of the spirit of the Enlightenment movement. However, the modern sense of ‘intellectuals’ has existed for barely over a century. Intellectuals in closed societies often face attacks from political authorities and theoretical confrontations. In many societies, the reconnection of intellectuals with ordinary people is insufficient compared to the officially recognized efforts of political activists. This may be attributed to the intellectuals’ perspective on societal issues, particularly their language and written expression, which is often complex and somewhat unclear. Their language, while not conforming to stereotypical or populist patterns favored by politicians, sometimes alienates its audience. When intellectuals persist in their theoretical stances, they may be criticized as being isolated in ‘ivory towers,’ reducing the credibility of their viewpoints and aligning them with the opposite spectrum – detached from social realities and practicalities.