Thomas Mathiesen as a public intellectual

Could Thomas Mathiesen be described as a public intellectual? What, after all, is a public intellectual? And does the label still carry any kind of relevance? Today, the meaning of the term public intellectual is far from clear. The notion of a public intellectual has moreover become controversial because of its connotations of academic elitism, and its gendered nature. However, its gradual decline also carries pressing concerns that academics are increasingly withdrawing from the public arena. Reflecting on these developments and ambiguities, the article explores the meaning of the term and uses it as a starting point for the discussion of Thomas Mathiesen’s remarkable life and work.