Anti-intellectualism

Critique of a Thoughtworld 1.) In Hirsch’s “critique of a thoughtworld”, from The Schools We Need and Why We Don’t Have Them, he begins by talking about what he believes to be is the “one true belief” among mainstream educationists. He believes that the “one true belief” is characterized as a “constantly repeated catechism” that has “currently no thinkable alternative”(Hirsch, p.69). What he means by this is that for quite some time now educationists have been using the same old out dated logic…

Academic Writing focused on the opinion of Gerald Graff regarding the application of street smart intellect in schools. Graff referenced the common theme of schools overlooking the intellectual potential of street smarts due to the association with anti-intellectual topics. He goes on to mention that schools and colleges consider educational sources to be in the form of subjects and texts instead of in social matters like cars, dating and sports. He feels that there is no connection between the…

Is college just a way to get a better job these days or is there still hope for the relationship between college and intellectualism? Paul Stoller is a professor of anthropology and author of the article “My struggles with anti-intellectualism”. Stoller discusses his issues and concerns about intellectualism in this world by presenting examples of his own personal experiences. Charles Murray is a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and author of the article “What’s wrong with vocational…

Self fulfillment comes with the pleasure of getting into college and getting a degree. After all, a college education sets students up to have a job once college is over. In the short story, “Who Are You and What Are You Doing Here?”, by Mark Edmundson, Edmundson talks about how college is suppose to be self fulfillment. Students must take advantage of every opportunity in college to follow your own dreams and not just take the fulfilling job but the one they want. Also, William Chace addresses…

argue for full free undergraduate collegiate education. Although, it is obvious that some form of free college must be adopted, on the grounds that it will allow many that would not normally receive a college education to receive one, challenge anti-intellectualism and elitism, and benefit the economy and workforce. For the purposes of this essay, the focus will be on comprehensive free education, that being fully funded public undergraduate education.…

“Oswaldo was flummoxed by the fact that his friend could be so quiet, almost embarrassed, about his academic acumen, yet so damn loud and proud of his status as a premier campus drug dealer.” (Hobbs 167). Within this quote from the unforgettable story “The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace,” written by Jeff Hobbs, lies an illustration of the influence of the Hip Hop Culture subgenres that has been located throughout many life stories in the past half century told by famous singers such as…

The politics of The Martian present a powerful counterpoint to the rise of anti-intellectualism in the United States. Whereas the heavy majority of big-budget space adventures set in present day or the near future pay little attention to scientific accuracy in the name of entertainment, The Martian is, at its core, about science. It is about the triumph of the scientific method and the value of education. Trapped alone on Mars, astronaut Mark Watney has to conduct what are essentially a series…

if you are sharp. That means that over four years, you’d earn about $120,000, while your counterpart who’s in college earns little or nothing, and may even carry the same amount in debt by graduation.” The finger for the primary cause of anti-intellectualism may be pointed towards the social demand for higher education. Trout States, “Now that around sixty percent of high-school…

"How come education and intelligence of a character must always be offset by his social ineptitude, or condescending attitude toward his 'techno babble?' How come being above the average in some area is so often portrayed as some sort of socially undesirable eccentricity?" (Maciac) Today's television bolsters the idea that individuals who are viewed as "smart" are lesser class citizens. Children's shows on Disney Channel portray an inaccurate view of intellectuals to viewers causing school…

juxtapositions nerds and jocks and appeals to pathos to show why America really needs its nerds. The diction that Fridman uses has either extremely negative or positive connotations, drawing attention to the issues about the way people treat intellectualism in America. For example,…