Def. of Intellectualism

Various dictionary definitions, reference works, and critical writings give us the following four components of an intellectual mind. (For a mnemonic, think of my intellectual Danish friend, L-A-R-S.)

Acquisition of Information

Reason

Social Criticism

"Interested in all affairs of the mind"--science, arts, literature, social sciences, humanities.

Reading, observation, collecting data, scientific experimentation, library research.

Critical thinking, problem-solving, analysis, decision-making, scientific method, debate, reasoned discourse, conflict resolution.

Questioning authority, challenging the status quo, shaking up the Establishment.

These are the components that comprise the intellectual mindset--an interest in a broad liberal arts perspective, the objective interest in collecting adequate information, the determination to think critically in all problem-solving situations, and the willingness to criticize the status quo. These were the attributes that evolved out of the Age of Reason and the Enlightenment. These are exactly the opposite of the Definition of Post-Intellectualism.