On intellectuals as mediators

Gramsci conceived historical subjects as ensembles of their social relations. These relations are mediated by social practices, which give meaning to their action. From the perspective of mediation Gramsci asked ‘what is an intellectual?’. He answered it in terms of practices. Benedetto Croce, rather than Giovanni Gentile, was his most important and esteemed intellectual opponent. Croce argued that that history is mediated in ‘spirit’ (like ether), although it is made by individuals. Gramsci criticized Croce’s solution as speculative. It undercuts politics as collective action and generates indifference, which is the cardinal sin of capitalism. To become a trigger of transformation political creativity needs a national-popular basis for organic intellectuals. Machiavelli already realized this. Traditional intellectuals identify with the past and the state, or the Church.