What Does Pseudo-Intellectual Mean?
Modern Language
The term Pseudo-intellectual is used more than ever in modern politics. Both political sides refer to members of the opposite side as “Pseudo-intellectuals.” It often gets defined wrongly as simply someone who discuses and debates complex topics without a degree in the specific field.
This is wrong, here is this Merriam Webster definition:
“A person who wants to be thought of as having a lot of intelligence and knowledge but who is not really intelligent or knowledgeable.“
The key term in that definition is “Knowledgeable”. How can you define Knowledgeable? How can you define or pinpoint someone who “intelligent”?
In basic form, a pseudo-intellectual is someone who may well have 1000 degrees in every social science possible however they have no clear idea what they are talking about.
Here is a list of ways to catch out a Pseudo-intellectual:
- Repetition of same point without adding anything else to the point.
- Using ‘Big Words’ they cannot define or us properly.
- Uncomfortable when their view point are challenged.
- Cannot cite sources of the point they are making.
- Uses buzzwords in nearly every sentence, when making an argument.
The term was popularised in recent history by scholars like Dr. Jordan Peterson, who criticised ‘SJW’s’ by calling them pseudo-intellectuals and saying they have pseudo-intellectual opinions.
Citations:
Merriam Webster
