Re: Tri' thu+'c la` gi`

[Hong Lam Vu <vuh000@goofy.zdv.Uni-Mainz.de>]

Hi intellectuals,

> 
> >         Su+' ma.ng cu?a tri' thu+'c la` ddi ti`m cha^n ly' va` phe^ pha'n
> >  (L'intellectuel a mission de chercher la ve'rite' et de juger). 
> 

I think that Vu Tai Luc is old-timer when he uses the term "mission" in
relationship with the term "intellectual". There is a basic difference
between the terms "mission" and "function". Theories on intellectuals
distinguish two categories:

- intellectuals: Those who have a certain function in society: to produce
and reproduce knowledge.

- inteligentsia: This term comes from the Russian notion for intellectual.
And here is the point. Inteligentsia has not only the function to produce
and reproduce knowledge, but also and above all a mission. They believe in
their mission. To understand what a mission is, just think to the mission
of Heaven (Thie^n me^.nh).

Again, with the inteligentsia, the issue of Tri ha`nh ho+.p nha^'t are there.
The inteligentsia believe in truth (cha^n ly') and in the idea of Tri
ha`nh ho+.p nha^'t. Unlike the intellectual, who is to produce "formal" 
knowledge, the inteligentsia knows more. He is furthermore to produce a
special knowledge: the knowledge of WHAT TO DO. He does not only KNOW, his
"mission" is to do what he knows. Moreover, he believes firmly in what he
does, because he knows THE truth and he can tri ha`nh ho+.p nha^'t.

Cheers,
La^m.