[Ron] When I do an internet search on anti intellectualism a whole host of topics comes to the fore front. Topics like : anti intellectualism is taking over the U.S. and anti intellectualism in Christianity are the top subjects of my search. Anti intellectualism in education seemed to me to be the most troubling hit on the list. [...] Is anti intellectualism considered in modern America as a traditional American value, as “American” as apple pie and Mom?
[Arlo] As DMB already mentioned, anti-intellectualism has a long history (probably traces can be found as far back as the first appearances of social authority). Its not an "American" value, either, as evidence of anti-intellectual reactionism can be seen, in history and in modern times, in many cultures around the world. It appears as a shadow to intellectual authority, as intellect gains authority (or threatens to do so), anti-intellectual reactionary movements grow. Today, within all Occidental religions, there is a growing tendency towards fundamentalism. The rise of anti-intellectual forces in "the East" is matched by a rise of anti-intellectual forces in "the West". This is traced in detail by the BBC in "The Power of Nightmares". Anti-intellectualism around the world is evidenced by both resurgences in demands for 'religious law' and 'fierce nationalism'. This current upsurge in anti-intellectualism in America, fueled by Leo Strauss's neoconservative reactionism, achieved critical mass with gubernatorial candidate Ronald Reagan's question "why should we subsidize intellectual curiosity?", who then proceeded to cut education funding and eliminate the state's free tuition. But what's important to understand is that part of this is the coopting of the value of education by capitalistic thinking. Today, one of the loudest voices of anti-intellectualism, is the idea that 'educational value' is an economic commodity, that what our kids (and ourselves) should only learn is the knowledge and skills that allow us to be productive laborers and workers in a capital economy. Philosophy, music, literature, theatre, painting, all of these are dismissed (and/or condemned) as 'useless' domains. "Intellect" is being redefined as "skilled labor". We see a growing wave of de-funding both 'non-vocational' education at the program level and at the access level (e.g., student loans). Our dialogues at the policy levels locally and nationally, from both political parties, reflect this vocationally-normalized revaluation of education. And, again, make no mistake, this is a deliberate agenda of anti-intellectual forces. In much the same way, witness that political aptitude is (for many) measured by the degree to which one is NOT educated. Candidates are ridiculed for being bilingual, or for having degrees, or for having extensive knowledge of areas they will oversee. I know DMB shared this short article before, but it summarizes this normalization of anti-intellectualism in America: The Death of Expertise, by Tom Nichols. (http://thefederalist.com/2014/01/17/the-death-of-expertise/) If you haven't already looked at this as part of your inquiry into anti-intellectualism, I'd recommend it. All this is just to point out that the faces of anti-intellectuals aren't just the sneeringly dismissive ridicule of professors as 'pointy-headed elitists', but are often in the less visible, normalizing effects occurring throughout the culture. Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org/md/archives.html
