Intellectualism

The Life of the Mind: the philosophic pioneer, Socrates (ca.469–399 B.C.)

Intellectualism is the mental perspective that emphasizes the use, development, and exercise of the intellect, and is identified with the life of the mind of the intellectual.[1] In the field of philosophy, the term intellectualism indicates one of two ways of critically thinking about the character of the world: (i) rationalism, which is knowledge derived solely from reason; and (ii) empiricism, which is knowledge derived solely from sense experience. Each intellectual approach attempts to eliminate fallacies that ignore, mistake, or distort evidence about "what ought to be" instead of "what is" the character of the world.[2]

In the field of sociology, the term intellectualism also has a socially negative connotation about intellectual people giving "too much attention to thinking" (single-mindedness of purpose) and thus show an "absence of affection and feeling" (emotional coldness).[3] Moreover, hierarchical intellectualism is a theory of intelligence which postulates that the mental capabilities that constitute intelligence occur and are arranged in a hierarchy ranging from the general to the specific, e.g. the I.Q. test.[4]

  1. ^ "Merriam-Webster". (Definition)
  2. ^ Some Problems of Philosophy, William James. Longman's, Green and Co.: New York, 1916, p. 221.
  3. ^ "Encarta". Archived from the original on 2003-05-19. (Definition)
  4. ^ "APA Dictionary of Psychology". American Psychological Association. Retrieved 28 May 2022.