Ralf Dahrendorf: l’intellettuale pubblico e il rapporto tra teoria e prassi

This contribution is part of a volume that questions the role of public intellectuals in today's societies. Ralf Dahrendorf (1929-2009) was a prominent intellectual figure in the 20th century, whose career was marked by a constant crossing of boundaries between different spheres of action and thought. His life and intellectual profile are characterized by an oscillation between the academic, political, and public spheres. This contribution analyzes how Dahrendorf interpreted this “crossing of boundaries” and how it was reflected in his approach to the relationship between theory and practice.