An intellectual society values those who know something, and value
knowing things.
An anti-intellectual society does not value these kinds of things, at
least not publicly.
Some politicians and networks have a virtual all-out war on
intellectuals.
I am sorry, but even though I do believe everyone is entitled to their
own OPINION,
not everyone's opinion has equal merit.
When you want your car fixed, you go to a mechanic.
When you want your air conditioner serviced, you go to a skilled air
conditioner serviceperson.
When you want to inquire about intricacies in a particular religion,
you go to that denomination's minister.
Likewise, entertainers, janitors, and news reporters (including
pundits) are seldom good sources of information on science.
Unfortunately, as a lazy, anti-intellectual society we take it for
granted that the local pundit, comedian, or politician is telling the
truth instead of investigating the information to verify their
validity. We don't read, we don't inquire, and we don't care.
I can understand the mistake with the pundit, or even the
comedian.....but a truthful politician? Come on!
:)
Malcolm
On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 9:54 AM, Elizabeth Burnett <eabur...@mtu.edu>
wrote:
Could someone please explain what exactly is meant by an
intellectual society? This idea seems fairly ambiguous and abstract.
EAB
----- Original Message -----
From: "malcolm McCallum" <malcolm.mccal...@herpconbio.org>
To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU
Sent: Sunday, December 5, 2010 10:32:44 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada
Eastern
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Intellectual and anti-intellectual society
There is an intellectual society somewhere? Please tell me where!
Our society is so anti-intellectual it is scary. I blame this on the
dumbing down of the American curriculum (K-College).
Malcolm McCallum
On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 6:05 PM, Wayne Tyson <landr...@cox.net> wrote:
Honorable Forum:
In a recent post, the author expressed concern about our anti-
intellectual society--". . . our anti-intellectual society would
find it very difficult to appreciate . . ."
There can be little doubt that our society is replete with anti-
intellectualism. Ecology and ecologists (ecology, in particular,
has gotten pretty bad treatment from popular culture, as "eco-"
has become a prefix for almost everthing, from selling soap to
weight-loss nostrums and cosmetics, ad nauseam) as well as other
scientists, not to mention other academicians, scholars, and those
who dare to advance questions about cultural norms or differ from
common presumption, are derided by those who consider anyone who
ventures beyond the bounds of "popular culture," whatever that is,
to be effete intellectual snobs. This phenomenon affects
elections, and ultimately, funding for intellectual activity. To
paraphrase Rodney What's-his-name, "I[ntellectuals] don't get no
[appreciation]."
In difficult times especially, competition increases for scarcer
and scarcer funds, and support for intellectuals, scientists in
particular, seems to decline, even in relative terms, as the pork
gets sliced thinner and thinner. Beyond howling in the wilderness,
is there anything anyone can do about this?
Anti-intellectuals, by definition, are not only unlikely to do
anything except make the situation worse. That leaves, I suggest,
intellectuals. If that's the case, the choices are to take action
or to take no action. If ecologists want to take action, what
should that action be?
I have a suggestion as to form. If every concerned intellectual on
this list--say 10,000--met with four other intellectuals and
listed five actions, and each of those five met with an additional
four, the list would grow impressively large very quickly. A list
of potential actions could then be assembled and prioritized by
frequency.
Or any more efficient alternative?
WT
--
Malcolm L. McCallum
Managing Editor,
Herpetological Conservation and Biology
"Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" -
Allan Nation
1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert
1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss,
and pollution.
2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution
reduction
MAY help restore populations.
2022: Soylent Green is People!
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any
attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may
contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized
review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are
not
the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and
destroy all copies of the original message.
--
Malcolm L. McCallum
Managing Editor,
Herpetological Conservation and Biology
"Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" -
Allan Nation
1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert
1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss,
and pollution.
2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction
MAY help restore populations.
2022: Soylent Green is People!
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any
attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may
contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized
review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not
the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and
destroy all copies of the original message.
