A&E/Exemplars

Based on Robert McClintock's work, the concept of exemplars (or exemplarity) is a cornerstone of his theory on how culture is transmitted and how communities are formed. He moves beyond the simple idea of a "role model" to describe a dynamic, reciprocal force that drives human development and social cohesion.

Here is how McClintock defines and uses the concept of exemplars:

1. The Dynamic of "Exemplarity and Aptness"

McClintock derives his primary understanding of exemplars from José Ortega y Gasset. He argues that exemplarity does not exist in a vacuum; it functions only in relation to aptness (a translation of the Spanish docilidad, meaning teachability or willingness to learn).

• Reciprocal Action: Exemplarity and aptness represent the "reciprocal action between the masses and select minorities". It is the creative source of social influence where "the exemplarity of the few articulates itself in the aptness of many others".
• Not Submission: This relationship is not about a passive herd following a master. Aptness is a "power of psychic attraction" or a "law of spiritual gravitation" where individuals freely polarize their personality toward an admired pattern to improve themselves.
• Creating Community: McClintock defines a community in its ultimate sense as "the dynamic spiritual unity formed by an example and its connoisseurs".

2. Exemplarity vs. "Setting a Good Example"

McClintock distinguishes the deep, aesthetic nature of true exemplarity from the shallow, moralistic American notion of "setting a good example."

• The Babbitt vs. The Hero: He notes that Americans often suspect the "exemplary citizen" of being a facade or a conformist (a "Babbitt"). In contrast, the Spanish/Cervantine idea of exemplarity is richer; one can extract advantageous examples even from the "scandalous escapades" of characters if they display genius or vitality.
• Aesthetic Quality: Exemplarity pertains to the "art of life" rather than conventional morality. It rests on areté (excellence) and genius rather than rule-following.
• Intrinsic Authority: Exemplars are "publicly visible repositories of intrinsic cultural authority." They demonstrate through their deeds that a certain level of education or humanity is attainable.

3. Celebrity vs. Exemplarity

In his later dialogues for A Place to Study, McClintock draws a sharp distinction between exemplarity and celebrity.

• Celebrity as Contagion: He associates celebrity with celebritas (crowdedness, fame). It is described as a "contagion," an infection from circumstances or the crowd that induces feelings independent of personal judgment.
• Exemplarity as Judgment: In contrast, exemplarity comes from exemplum (sample, specimen, pattern). It requires the observer to make an active judgment: "here is a sample of something significant". While celebrity makes one feel uncomfortable or cautious, exemplarity elicits confidence and hope.

4. The Range of Exemplars

McClintock argues that exemplars are not limited to famous historical figures.

• Humble Heroes: He asserts that the "butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker" are the world's most important teachers. Children form their elementary standards by observing these "humble heroes" and "mundane, local competencies".
• Diverse Types: A nation develops fully only when it is rich in exemplary archetypes across all fields—intellectuals, artists, soldiers, industrialists, and even the "delightful man of the world".

5. Role in Self-Formation

Finally, exemplars are tools for formative justice (self-formation).

• Internal Communion: An exemplar is not an object lesson to be copied literally, but a "complex person of achieved significance" with whom one "inwardly communes".
• Transformation: By engaging with an exemplar, the student does not just imitate; they transform fragments borrowed from others to make a work that is "absolutely his own," which is their judgment and their self.

In summary, for McClintock, an exemplar is a catalyst for autonomy. The exemplar provides the "existence proof" of human possibility, which the "apt" student uses to shape their own unique life project.