Anti intellectualis m in american life by richard hofstadter. Discussion in news and politics started by brightmoon, may 21, 2016. This assertion is supported not only by the opinions of intellectuals but also by current academic, cultural, and political movements. Alex berezow is a phd microbiologist, science writer, and public speaker who specializes in the debunking of junk science for the american council on science and health. When somebody mentions antiintellectualism, richard hofstadters book usually. In antiintellectualism in american life, hofstadter delineates the social movements that altered the role of intellect in american society from a virtue to a vice. This page aims to bring light to anti intellectuals and pseudointellectuals by satirizing and parodying the intellectual aptitude many proclaim to have. Yes, anti intellectualism in american life won the 1964 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction, but it gives off an aura of dense, scholarly writing, its now fifty years out of date, and the title suggests more of a selfdefensive justification than a deep investigation. The wikipedia entry on anti intellectualism in america seems to support my notion on the matter, unfortunately.
Review of richard hofstadters antiintellectualism in. Antiintellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. In the wake of eisenhowers ridicule of the intellectual and mccarthyisms outright persecution of intellectuals, hofstadter. It traces periods of intellectual flourishing as well as the reactions against them, from the deeply intellectual founding fathers to the incoherent and incandescent antiintellectual aggression of the mccarthy era. Modern scholars trace the strain back to 19th century pop culture well before the kardashians, yet still rife with drama and intrigue, where many americans were frontiersmen, farmers, and laborers and generally viewed educated people as being booksmart, not life smart, scheming, and impractical. This page aims to bring light to antiintellectuals and pseudointellectuals by satirizing and parodying the intellectual aptitude many proclaim to have. Richard hofstadter antiintellectualism in american life. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Antiintellectualism was in america well before 2000. Cultivating the life of the mind is not an option for most, and its this perceived elitism that invited anti intellectualism in the hard working sectors. Spurning the establishment has become the new national pastime. Read antiintellectualism in american life pdf ebook by richard hofstadter.
Anti intellectualism as a social problem essay 2268 words. Yes, antiintellectualism in american life won the 1964 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction, but it gives off an aura of dense, scholarly writing, its now fifty years out of date, and the title suggests more of a selfdefensive justification than a deep investigation. Anti intellectualism in american life was awarded the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfiction. Why we hate the smart kids may resonate emotionally with many selfidentified nerds, its author grant penrod ultimately relies too much on argumentsbyanecdotes to be really persuasive. Download pdf anti intellectualism in american life vintage 2. In this elite company i place richard hofstadters wideranging cultural history, antiintellectualism in american life, recipient of the 1964 pulitzer prize for history. Antiintellectualism in american life richard hofstadter by. In so doing, he explored questions regarding the purpose of education and whether the democratization of education. Brown notes of the publication of richard hofstadters anti intellectualism in american life 1963, cited approvingly by warner, it was ironically published in the golden age of. Anti intellectualis m in american life internet archive. It is the culmination of a thread of antiintellectualism that has been present in the country since the beginning before the founders, even.
When somebody mentions antiintellectualism, richard hofstadters book usually comes. Jul 12, 2017 antiintellectualism in american lifeone of hofstadters best, among many great books was a pile of dynamite in 1963, when it was first published and blew a sizable hole in the house of. Intellectualism antiintellectualism study guide by kturn18 includes 12 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. A measure of hofstadters standing in literary and scholarly circles is the honors he received in 1964 for anti intellectualism in american life 1963pulitzer prize for general nonfiction, the ralph waldo emerson prize of phi beta kappa, and the sidney hillman prize award. Buy antiintellectualism in american life new edition by hofstadter, richard isbn.
Anti intellectualism and contemporary america is a reply by michael w. Through this lesson, you will learn how to define anti intellectualism, and explore. Long ago richard hofstadter wrote a classic study, antiintellectualism in american life, in which he described the hostility entitled to the life of the mind as deeply rooted in. But anti intellectualism also exists among corporate elites and political elites because serious social thought means that things might change and change is not what is desired. He is also an analyst at geopolitical futures and a featured speaker for the insight bureau. Antiintellectualism in american life this book sheds light on many features of the american character. Anti intellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter. Publication date 1963 publisher new york alfred alfred a. The rise of antiintellectualism and its repercussions for. Cultivating the life of the mind is not an option for most, and its this perceived elitism that invited antiintellectualism in the hard working sectors. Description of the book anti intellectualism in american life.
Winner of the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfiction antiintellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. Its concern is not merely to portray the scorners of intellect in american life, but to say something about what the intellectual is, and can be, as a force in a democratic society. Long ago richard hofstadter wrote a classic study, anti intellectualism in american life, in which he described the hostility entitled to the life of the mind as deeply rooted in. Go to the editions section to read or download ebooks. Brown notes of the publication of richard hofstadters antiintellectualism in american life 1963, cited approvingly by warner, it was ironically published in the golden age of. Anti intellectualism is a complicated concept because it tends to manifest in different ways at different times. Sep 10, 2017 t he term antiintellectualism emerged in the united states in the early decades of the 20th century, appearing in 1911 in the then wellknown if now largely forgotten radical john spargos. But antiintellectualism also exists among corporate elites and political elites because serious social thought means that things might change and change is not what is desired. A book which throws light on many features of the american character. The real victims of antiintellectualism the chronicle of.
Antiintellectualism in america more than 25 years after. Its great theme our nations longstanding resentment and suspicion of the life of the mind and of those who are considered to represent it allows the late. I think one symptom of american antiintellectualism is a lack of critical thinking. T he term antiintellectualism emerged in the united states in the early decades of the 20th century, appearing in 1911 in the then well. Antiintellectualism and contemporary america is a reply by michael w. A policy expert explains how anti intellectualism gave rise to donald trump. Antiintellectualism is defined by oxford dictionary as a hostility or indifference to culture and intellectual reasoning. Since the populist election of donald trump there has been a renewed interest in books analyzing anti intellectualism in american life.
And i will refer you to his the paranoid style in american politics to show that we have always had tinhats. Rejecting the collective wisdom of scientists, economists, academics, and journalists is applauded. May 21, 2016 left wing ideologies have elements of anti intellectualism by means of a pseudo, pigeon holed and pick what appeals, leave what doesnt kind of intellectualism that undermines true intellectualism, often subjecting it to emotionalism. Jul 11, 2017 america hits peak anti intellectualism. Mar 22, 2018 richard hofstadter antiintellectualism in american life.
A measure of hofstadters standing in literary and scholarly circles is the honors he received in 1964 for antiintellectualism in american life 1963pulitzer prize for general nonfiction, the ralph waldo emerson prize of phi beta kappa, and the sidney hillman prize award. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. When mtv broadcast the first episode of real world in 1992, no one imagined the influence the genre would have on entertainment. Sep 24, 2012 in this elite company i place richard hofstadters wideranging cultural history, antiintellectualism in american life, recipient of the 1964 pulitzer prize for history. In this book, hofstadter set out to trace the social movements that altered the role of intellect in american society. Richard hofstadter and americas new wave of antiintellectualism. Thanks to columbia universitys richard hofstadter we have at last a fresh, forceful, fluent look from the nether end at various aspects of antiintellectualism in america, past and present, and although it is selfstyled a fragmentary rather than a formal study, the work is farranging, artfully approached and filled with a spirited, sensibility, without pedantry or polemic.
Antiintellectualism is biggest threat to modern society. The book your church doesnt want you to read scribd. Listen to unlimited audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. It is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. Antiintellectualism in american life was awarded the 1964 pulitzer prize in nonfiction. Antiintellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter. Listen to anti intellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter,adam verner for free with a 30 day free trial.
The age of american unreason by susan jacoby, anti intellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter, ashes b. Jan 04, 2012 anti intellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. Anti intellectualism in american life is a book by richard hofstadter published in 1963 that won the 1964 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. The wikipedia entry on antiintellectualism in america seems to support my notion on the matter, unfortunately. Antiintellectualism is killing america psychology today. Richard hofstadter download anti intellectualism in american life richard hofstadter ebook. Majority of republicans now think college is bad republicans say no to college. For the ages for hofstadter, pictured here in 1946, antiintellectualism was an unavoidable part of a democratic society.
The author shows how the extremely intellectual and cultured founders of the country were followed by an electorate and. It is a vital corrective for anyone who thinks that the current period is somehow unique in american history and just arose out of the blue or even recently. I feel almost learned every time i dip into marcia colishs medieval foundations of the western intellectual tradition or the historical essays of. Antiintellectualism in american life richard hofstadter. Start reading antiintellectualism in american life on your kindle in under a minute.
In politics, and in life, ignorance is not a virtue. In so doing, he explores questions regarding the purpose of education and whether the democratization of education altered that purpose and reshaped its form. I leave it to more informed members of this forum to educate me in my prejudice or lack thereof in the matter, as to whether you believe. Mar 23, 2016 outside of academia, the rise of antiintellectualism is even more apparent. On the unpopularity of intellect the religion of the heart. Antiintellectualism in american lifeone of hofstadters best, among many great books was a pile of dynamite in 1963, when it was first published and blew a. Hofstadters antiintellectualism in american life 1964 is a work of impressive scholarship that remains extremely and sometimes depressingly relevant today. A policy expert explains how antiintellectualism gave rise to donald trump.
In the 1960s the great historian richard hofstadter first identified a virulent strain of antiintellectualism in american life, but thanks to the tea party and the recession, its worst traits are still plaguing us. Modern american culture worships antiintellectualism through its devotion to reality television, todays entertainment staple. The real victims of antiintellectualism the chronicle. Erich hartmann magnum photos a nti intellectualism in american life doesnt seem like a catchy title, but, more than 50 years on, it has demonstrated a peculiar staying power.
The revolt against modernity the politics of democracy. Why we hate the smart kids while the title of the essay antiintellectualism. This 1963 work is the classical study of the subject, followed by many more recent ones. Fighting back against bias in intellectualism or reason is a reply by ravi chandra m. Culturally, the ideal american was the selfmade man whose knowledge derived from life experience, not an intellectual man whose knowledge of the real world derived from books, formal education, and academic study. Culturally, the ideal american was the selfmade man whose knowledge derived from lifeexperience, not an intellectual man whose knowledge of the real world derived from books, formal education, and academic study. I suspect we have exhausted the greek analogy in this question and perhaps should consider the elements of anti intellectualism in american life as hofstadter saw them and the valitity or lack thereof of his proposition that it is a uniquely american phenomenon. Anti intellectualism in american life is a book which throws light on many features of the american character. May 31, 2016 anti intellectualism was in america well before 2000. A selection from antiintellectualism in american life. Antiintellectualism in american life books you may like.
Anti intellectualism in american life richard hofstadter. Anti intellectualism in american life richard hofstadter download bok. Description of the book antiintellectualism in american life. In anti intellectualism in american life, hofstadter delineates the social movements that altered the role of intellect in american society from a virtue to a vice. Its the only institution viewed in more sharply partisan terms than the media. Knopf collection universallibrary contributor universal digital library. Intellectualism antiintellectualism flashcards quizlet. Modern scholars trace the strain back to 19th century pop culture well before the kardashians, yet still rife with drama and intrigue, where many americans were frontiersmen, farmers, and laborers and generally viewed educated people as being booksmart, not lifesmart, scheming, and impractical. Antiintellectualism in american life is a book by richard hofstadter published in 1963 that won the 1964 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. Quizlet flashcards, activities and games help you improve your grades. Since the populist election of donald trump there has been a renewed interest in books analyzing antiintellectualism in american life. Fighting back against bias in intellectualism or reason is a.
The strain of anti intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just. Antiintellectualism in america more than 25 years after allan bloom duration. Pdf anti intellectualism in american life download full. The age of american unreason by susan jacoby, antiintellectualism in american life by richard hofstadter, ashes b.
864 7 1081 1439 528 1079 722 493 1201 1135 31 288 926 304 106 769 541 455 428 1204 800 830 1277 508 1138 476 139 289 742 1221 780 1298 965 174 1161 1369 50 467 1199 1297 329 1296 568 1150 260