The Top 100 Public Intellectuals

Foreign Policy is having a vote for your favorite public intellectual out of their selection of the top 100. They will publish their top 20 list in their July/August issue:

They are some of the world’s most introspective philosophers and rabble-rousing clerics. A few write searing works of fiction and uncover the mysteries of the human mind. Others are at the forefront of modern finance, politics, and human rights. In the second Foreign Policy/Prospect list of top public intellectuals, we reveal the thinkers who are shaping the tenor of our time. We chose the first 100 (click here for our criteria). Now, it’s your chance to choose who should receive top honors by voting for the world’s top five public intellectuals.

Two things that struck me about the list:

1) I was pleased to see economists making such a good showing.

2) I am surprised by how many of these people I have never even heard of before. Of this list, I knew about a third of the names and have only met one of them. (I took a seminar by William Easterly last year.) These are people at the top of their respective fields and who are still unknown to most of the world. It underscores the importance of Arnold Kling's advice about being careful how you measure success. Even if you make it to the top, you're unlikely to be influential or known beyond a relatively small group. Something important to keep in perspective as you plan your career and weigh the sacrifices you're willing to make along the way.