Changes

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Anti-intellectual.jpg|right|frame]]

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Anti-intellectual.jpg|right|frame]]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1821]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century 1821]

==Definition==

==Definition==

*1: opposing or [[hostile]] to [[intellectuals]] or to an intellectual view or approach  

*1: opposing or [[hostile]] to [[intellectuals]] or to an intellectual view or approach  

Because "anti-intellectual" can be pejorative, defining specific cases of anti-intellectualism can be troublesome; one can object to specific [[facets]] of intellectualism or the application thereof without being dismissive of intellectual pursuits in general. Moreover, allegations of anti-intellectualism can constitute an [[appeal]] to [[authority]] or an appeal to [[ridicule]] that attempts to discredit an opponent rather than specifically addressing his or her [[arguments]].

Because "anti-intellectual" can be pejorative, defining specific cases of anti-intellectualism can be troublesome; one can object to specific [[facets]] of intellectualism or the application thereof without being dismissive of intellectual pursuits in general. Moreover, allegations of anti-intellectualism can constitute an [[appeal]] to [[authority]] or an appeal to [[ridicule]] that attempts to discredit an opponent rather than specifically addressing his or her [[arguments]].

Anti-intellectualism perhaps saw its most [[extreme]] form during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970's 1970s] in Cambodia under the rule of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pol_Pot Pol Pot] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Rouge Khmer Rouge], when people were killed for being [[academics]] or even for wearing eyeglasses in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_Fields Killing Fields].

Anti-intellectualism perhaps saw its most [[extreme]] form during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1970's 1970s] in Cambodia under the rule of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pol_Pot Pol Pot] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Rouge Khmer Rouge], when people were killed for being [[academics]] or even for wearing eyeglasses in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_Fields Killing Fields].

Anti-intellectualism usually is expressed through declarations of [[otherness]] — the intellectual is “not one of us” and may be [[dangerous]], due to having little [[empathy]] for the [[common folk]]. Historically, this resulted in portrayals of intellectuals as an [[arrogant]] class, whom [[rural]] communities viewed as “city slickers” indifferent to country ways; such [[communities]] tended to [[stereotype]] intellectuals as foreigners or as racial and ethnic [[minorities]] who “think differently” than the [[natives]]. [[Religious]] [[critics]] describe intellectuals as prone to mental instability, proposing an organic, causal [[connection]] between [[genius]] and madness; they are unlike regular people because of their assumed [[atheism]], and are indecent given their sexual [[mores]], [[homosexuality]], sexual [[promiscuity]], or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celibacy celibacy].

Anti-intellectualism usually is expressed through declarations of [[otherness]] — the intellectual is “not one of us” and may be [[dangerous]], due to having little [[empathy]] for the [[common folk]]. Historically, this resulted in portrayals of intellectuals as an [[arrogant]] class, whom [[rural]] communities viewed as “city slickers” indifferent to country ways; such [[communities]] tended to [[stereotype]] intellectuals as foreigners or as racial and ethnic [[minorities]] who “think differently” than the [[natives]]. [[Religious]] [[critics]] describe intellectuals as prone to mental instability, proposing an organic, causal [[connection]] between [[genius]] and madness; they are unlike regular people because of their assumed [[atheism]], and are indecent given their sexual [[mores]], [[homosexuality]], sexual [[promiscuity]], or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celibacy celibacy].

Economist Thomas Sowell argues for distinctions between unreasonable and reasonable wariness of [[intellectuals]]. Defining intellectuals as "people whose occupations deal primarily with [[ideas]]" as distinct from those who apply ideas [[practically]], Sowell argues that there can be good cause for distrust of intellectuals. When working in their fields of [[expertise]], intellectuals have increased [[knowledge]]. However, when [[compared]] to other careers, Sowell suggests intellectuals have few disincentives for speaking outside their expertise, and are less likely to face the [[consequences]] of their [[errors]]. For example, a [[physician]] is judged by effective treatment, yet might face malpractice lawsuits if he harms a patient. In [[contrast]], a university professor with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenure tenure] is less likely to be judged by the effectiveness of his [[ideas]] and less likely to face repercussions for his errors:

Economist Thomas Sowell argues for distinctions between unreasonable and reasonable wariness of [[intellectuals]]. Defining intellectuals as "people whose occupations deal primarily with [[ideas]]" as distinct from those who apply ideas [[practically]], Sowell argues that there can be good cause for distrust of intellectuals. When working in their fields of [[expertise]], intellectuals have increased [[knowledge]]. However, when [[compared]] to other careers, Sowell suggests intellectuals have few disincentives for speaking outside their expertise, and are less likely to face the [[consequences]] of their [[errors]]. For example, a [[physician]] is judged by effective treatment, yet might face malpractice lawsuits if he harms a patient. In [[contrast]], a university professor with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenure tenure] is less likely to be judged by the effectiveness of his [[ideas]] and less likely to face repercussions for his errors:

<blockquote>By encouraging, or even requiring, students to take stands where they have neither the [[knowledge]] nor the intellectual [[training]] to seriously [[examine]] [complex] issues, teachers promote the [[expression]] of unsubstantiated [[opinions]], the venting of uninformed [[emotions]], and the [[habit]] of acting on those opinions and emotions, while ignoring or dismissing opposing views, without having either the intellectual equipment or the personal [[experience]] to weigh one view against another in any serious way.</blockquote>

<blockquote>By encouraging, or even requiring, students to take stands where they have neither the [[knowledge]] nor the intellectual [[training]] to seriously [[examine]] [complex] issues, teachers promote the [[expression]] of unsubstantiated [[opinions]], the venting of uninformed [[emotions]], and the [[habit]] of acting on those opinions and emotions, while ignoring or dismissing opposing views, without having either the intellectual equipment or the personal [[experience]] to weigh one view against another in any serious way.</blockquote>

Similar [[arguments]] have been made by others. Historian [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Johnson Paul Johnson] argued that a close examination of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century 20th century] history reveals that intellectuals have championed innumerable disastrous [[public]] [[policies]], writing, "beware intellectuals. Not merely should they be kept well away from the levers of [[power]], they should also be objects of [[suspicion]] when they seek to offer [[collective]] advice." Journalist Tom Wolfe described an intellectual as "a person knowledgable in one field who speaks out only in others."[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-intellectualism]

Similar [[arguments]] have been made by others. Historian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Johnson Paul Johnson] argued that a close examination of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century 20th century] history reveals that intellectuals have championed innumerable disastrous [[public]] [[policies]], writing, "beware intellectuals. Not merely should they be kept well away from the levers of [[power]], they should also be objects of [[suspicion]] when they seek to offer [[collective]] advice." Journalist Tom Wolfe described an intellectual as "a person knowledgable in one field who speaks out only in others."[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-intellectualism]

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Fundamentalism]]'''''

*'''''[[Fundamentalism]]'''''