Gadfly (philosophy and social science)
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"Gadfly" is a term for people who like to upset the status quo by posing upsetting or novel questions, or attempt to stimulate innovation by proving an irritant. Coined by Socrates to describe his relationship of uncomfortable goad to the Athenian politican scene, which he compared to a slow and dimwitted horse, the term has been used to describe many politicians and social commentators.
Socrates also pointed out that dissent, like the Gadfly, was easy to swat, but the cost to society of silencing individuals who were irritating could be very high.
Modern examples
- Electronic Engineering Times, a EDA magazine, had a column, Industry Gadfly, that hosted articles of controversy.
- Michael Moore typifies a contemporary gadfly, irritating the establishment with controversial questions and accusations.