This paper seeks to reframe the idea of an educated public as construed by Alasdair MacIntyre in his lecture of 1985. Like MacIntyre, it locates the emergence of an educated public in the Scottish Enlightenment and its universities, but its focus is on aspects which are not brought into focus by MacIntyre's narrative. The paper argues, firstly, that it is only through dialogue between "intellectuals" and the wider public that the ideas that matter develop and, secondly, that a more generous rendering of the idea of an educated public is required, one which recognizes that the agenda for education is set outside educational institutions. In the current context of rapacious globalization we need to look outwards to the many associations, groups and movements, including adult education movements, which are producing knowledge rooted in projects. Some of these, such as the World Social Forum, challenge the dominant instrumental assumptions which guide much university research and call for a radical critique of universities as institutions. (Contains 6 notes.)