Disarming Intelligence: Proust, Valéry, and Modern French Criticism

Delving into the late 19th-century debates around intelligence, Paul traces how this multifaceted concept was consolidated and contested across psychology, philosophy, literature, and politics leading up to the First World War. Through the lens of key figures like Marcel Proust, Henri Bergson, Paul Valéry and Walter Benjamin. Disarming Intelligence examines the tensions between intelligence as an individual analytic tool and a collective, contingent force.

The book further explores how literary styles and critical thought shaped evolving notions of intelligence, connecting these early discourses to contemporary debates about artificial intelligence. Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation on the historical and cultural significance of intelligence and its impact on modern-day discussions

Featuring Zakir Paul in conversation with Catherine Malabou and Hannah Freed-Thall

Host or Publisher NYU Center for the Humanities