Monday, November 05, 2012

Anti-"thing" vs. anti-"thingism"

I just read a quote from a left-wing humorist pundit dismissing a significant part of the Republican party as being an "anti-intellectual, anti-science freak show."

I have nothing against intelligence.  I have a serious problem with people who elevate this to the status of virtue, in and of itself.  Like any other talent or gift, it can be used well or poorly, and can be raised to an inappropriate level of esteem.

So I like intelligence, but am anti-intellectualism, the idea that intelligence is the answer to our problems.

I like rationality.  I am anti-rationalism.

I like emotion.  I am anti-emotionalism.

(I like alcohol. I'm anti-alcoholism.)

etc.

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