What is the concept of focality?

The concept of focality refers to how certain individuals or ideas become central points of attention and discussion within a culture. This can apply to public intellectuals who manage to position themselves as central figures in cultural debates or movements.

In an episode of The Lunar Society, Dwarkesh Patel discusses this with Tyler Cowen, referencing Thomas Schelling's theories about how some people make themselves focal points. According to Cowen, becoming a focal point often involves notable actions or ideas that capture public interest, but it can also be a form of performance art. The goal is to maintain relevance over time, avoiding the common pattern of initial prominence followed by a decline 1.