Gadfly (philosophy and social science): Difference between revisions
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During [[Apology (Plato)|his defense]] when on trial for his life, Socrates, according to Plato's writings, pointed out that [[dissent]], like the [[Horse-fly|gadfly]], was easy to swat, but the cost to society of silencing individuals who were irritating could be very high. "If you kill a man like me, you will injure yourselves more than you will injure me," because his role was that of a gadfly, "to sting people and whip them into a fury, all in the service of truth." This may have been one of the earliest descriptions of [[pragmatic ethics]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}} |
During [[Apology (Plato)|his defense]] when on trial for his life, Socrates, according to Plato's writings, pointed out that [[dissent]], like the [[Horse-fly|gadfly]], was easy to swat, but the cost to society of silencing individuals who were irritating could be very high. "If you kill a man like me, you will injure yourselves more than you will injure me," because his role was that of a gadfly, "to sting people and whip them into a fury, all in the service of truth." This may have been one of the earliest descriptions of [[pragmatic ethics]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}} |
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In modern politics, a gadfly is someone who persistently challenges people in positions of power, the status quo or a popular position.<ref name="slategadfly">{{cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Liberto |title=Publix uses law to boot gadfly |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/08/State/Publix_uses_law_to_bo.shtml |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=2007-08-08 |accessdate=2008-06-22 }}</ref> For example, [[Morris Kline]] wrote "There is a function for the gadfly who poses questions that many specialists would like to overlook. [[Polemics]] are healthy."<ref>''Why the Professor Can't Teach'' (1977), page 238</ref> Oxford University professor [[Bent Flyvbjerg]] has talked about "gadfly social science," emphasizing a key role for social science in identifying and challenging the abuse of power, whoever the perpetrator and whoever the victim <ref>Flyvbjerg, Bent, 2001, [[Making Social Science Matter]]: Why Social Inquiry Fails and How It Can Succeed Again (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001).</ref> The word may be uttered in a [[pejorative]] sense, while at the same time be accepted as a description of honourable work or civic duty.<ref name="h2g2gadfly">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2334197&clip=1 |title=The Gadfly |accessdate=2008-06-22 |work=BBC – h2g2 |date=2004-10-06 }}</ref> |
In modern politics, a gadfly is someone who persistently challenges people in positions of power, the status quo or a popular position.<ref name="slategadfly">{{cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Liberto |title=Publix uses law to boot gadfly |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/08/State/Publix_uses_law_to_bo.shtml |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=2007-08-08 |accessdate=2008-06-22 }}</ref> For example, [[Morris Kline]] wrote "There is a function for the gadfly who poses questions that many specialists would like to overlook. [[Polemics]] are healthy."<ref>''Why the Professor Can't Teach'' (1977), page 238</ref> Oxford University professor [[Bent Flyvbjerg]] has talked about "gadfly social science," emphasizing a key role for social science in identifying and challenging the abuse of power, whoever the perpetrator and whoever the victim. <ref>Flyvbjerg, Bent, 2001, [[Making Social Science Matter]]: Why Social Inquiry Fails and How It Can Succeed Again (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001).</ref> The word may be uttered in a [[pejorative]] sense, while at the same time be accepted as a description of honourable work or civic duty.<ref name="h2g2gadfly">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2334197&clip=1 |title=The Gadfly |accessdate=2008-06-22 |work=BBC – h2g2 |date=2004-10-06 }}</ref> |
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{{Wiktionary|gadfly}} |
{{Wiktionary|gadfly}} |
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Revision as of 17:03, 19 November 2012
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A gadfly is a person who upsets the status quo by posing upsetting or novel questions, or just being an irritant.
The term "gadfly" (Ancient Greek: μύωψ, mýops[1]) was used by Plato in the Apology[2] to describe Socrates' relationship of uncomfortable goad to the Athenian political scene, which he compared to a slow and dimwitted horse.[citation needed]
During his defense when on trial for his life, Socrates, according to Plato's writings, pointed out that dissent, like the gadfly, was easy to swat, but the cost to society of silencing individuals who were irritating could be very high. "If you kill a man like me, you will injure yourselves more than you will injure me," because his role was that of a gadfly, "to sting people and whip them into a fury, all in the service of truth." This may have been one of the earliest descriptions of pragmatic ethics.[citation needed]
In modern politics, a gadfly is someone who persistently challenges people in positions of power, the status quo or a popular position.[3] For example, Morris Kline wrote "There is a function for the gadfly who poses questions that many specialists would like to overlook. Polemics are healthy."[4] Oxford University professor Bent Flyvbjerg has talked about "gadfly social science," emphasizing a key role for social science in identifying and challenging the abuse of power, whoever the perpetrator and whoever the victim. [5] The word may be uttered in a pejorative sense, while at the same time be accepted as a description of honourable work or civic duty.[6]
The Book of Jeremiah uses a similar analogy as a political metaphor. "Egypt is a very fair heifer; the gad-fly cometh, it cometh from the north." (46:20, Darby Bible)
See also
- Gadfly (mythology)
- The Gadfly, novel
References
- ^ See "commentary for book 3, line 277, out of George W. Mooney's Commentary on Apollonius: Argonautica".
- ^ "Apology 30e".
- ^ Liberto, Jennifer (2007-08-08). "Publix uses law to boot gadfly". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- ^ Why the Professor Can't Teach (1977), page 238
- ^ Flyvbjerg, Bent, 2001, Making Social Science Matter: Why Social Inquiry Fails and How It Can Succeed Again (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001).
- ^ "The Gadfly". BBC – h2g2. 2004-10-06. Retrieved 2008-06-22.