Who is Slavoj Žižek?

If nobody can agree on what someone has said, have they really said anything at all? In the realm of philosophical and theological texts, the answer is more or less yes. The boundless interpretations of the bible and Hegel should not undermine the depth and insight of such works.

But what about the public intellectual; those who either willingly or accidentally find themselves thrust into the arena of popular discourse? The comprehension of their work is now undoubtedly a responsibility. As Alan Lightman writes,

“Such a person must be careful, he must be aware of the limitations of his knowledge, he must acknowledge his personal prejudices because he is being asked to speak for a whole realm of thought, he must be aware of the huge possible consequences of what he says and writes and does. He has become, in a sense, public property because he represents something large to the public. He has become an idea himself, a human striving. He has enormous power to influence and change, and he must wield that power with respect.”