"It's not that deep" : The Rise of Anti-Intellectualism

Delving into the phenomenon of anti-intellectualism we’ll explore its historical and contemporary context while analyzing its impact on society

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In recent months I’ve noticed a rise in anti-intellectualism. Whether it be a reactionary approach to combating elitism within academia or a tool that promotes ignorance. The increased circulation of this phenomenon has contributed to the polarization of our society.

Anti-intellectualism is a social and cultural phenomenon that is characterized by the devaluation, distrust, or suspicion of intellect, intellectualism, and intellectual pursuits. 

Anti-intellectualism is often manifested as disdain for education and the arts. It also promotes the mistrust of scientists and other experts. Oftentimes, personal ideological beliefs and emotions are preferred over evidence and reason. In turn, this can, will, and has led to the dissemination¹ of misinformation. 

just some different examples found on twitter & tiktok discrediting education

How has this been weaponized historically?

Historically, anti-intellectualism has been used to suppress ideas and maintain the status quo. Most notably, we saw this in Nazi Germany as anti-intellectualism was a vital aspect of the regime's ideology. Nazis viewed intellectual pursuits as a threat to their vision of a totalitarian state. As a result, came the emergence of pseudoscience (i.e eugenics), the destruction of literature, and the rewriting of history. 

"Universal education is the most corroding and disintegrating poison that liberalism has ever invented”— Adolf Hitler

Propaganda became a new form of education. The goal: to instill a sense of nationalism in the younger generation. Ultimately preparing them to serve the regime. It’s a lot easier to accept total authority if you do not know how to think for yourself. 

In a society where independent thinking is suppressed, the protection of truth is limited.

Anti-intellectualism as a Countermovement against Elitism? 

Historically, only the well-off, ‘elite’ have had access to education and intellectual pursuits. This notoriously being wealthy, white men. As a result, this has fostered a culture of elitism² within the academic space today. Although many more marginalized communities³ have access to education - they are far from the majority. This has led to research being dominated by the perspective of the prominent  ‘elite’. 

The argument can be made that the recent anti-intellectualism trend we have been seeing is the result of people rejecting the ideas and perspectives of the ‘elite’ to give way to alternative perspectives in which  “common people” are represented. 

However, if this is the case, this countermovement⁴ in itself is an intellectual movement. It is giving way to a more accessible and diverse academia promoting intellectualism for the common people, not diminishing it. 

The problem however doesn’t lie in people demanding academia to be more accessible. It is in delegitimizing academia as a whole. The criticism, interpretation, and analysis of art, film, music, and literature, are prime examples of this. This is often where I see and hear the ‘it’s not that deep’ comments. ‘The author didn’t mean anything in making the curtains blue – it’s not that deep’. 

Or within the context of atrocious, offensive jokes. X person says a ‘joke’ at the expense of Y person. Naturally, Y person doesn’t like the joke and finds it offensive. X person then proceeds to cover with… well – it's not that deep. X person is completely dismissing the historical and social context that has heavily influenced the offensive joke. And ignoring the current implications these historical and social events still have today. Hiding behind this phrase (and similar notions) promotes ignorance. 

Ignorance:  lack of knowledge or information

In this case, ignorance isn’t only expressed as people not knowing things, but in people choosing not to know, refusing to learn. By refusing to learn, emotions are emphasized over reason. This can result in individuals accepting ideals that are not supported by facts or empirical evidence but instead influenced by how they feel. Actively ignoring contradictory evidence that doesn’t support their beliefs.  

“My ignorance is just as good as your knowledge” – Isaac Asimov

Examples of Anti-Intellectualism in Contemporary Media

Anti-Intellectualism in Social Media 

In accordance with capitalism, knowledge, (and the interpretation of it) is only deemed worthy if it yields more money. We see this in contemporary media,  in which commentators, influencers, and public figures are insisting that monetary value is the only thing that matters. 

Social Media: Andrew Tate, entrepreneur, social media influencer, and misogynist, is notoriously known for spreading anti-intellectual sentiments. He is known for spreading misinformation about a variety of issues such as politics, health, and science. Since social media platforms are not held up to the same editorial standards as traditional media they can quickly become a hub for misinformation and distrust in established institutions. Cult followers like Andrew Tate fanatics, then believe, practice and promote the influencer’s opinion. 

Andrew Tate's Take on Reading (video)

Anti-Intellectualism in Politics

Political Polarization: Political polarization⁵ creates a hostile environment for intellectual and scientific inquiry. This is because people are more likely to reject ideas and evidence that challenges their ideology or political views. As a result, instead of evaluating ideas based on facts, people are more likely to dismiss opposing viewpoints. This kind of anti-intellectualism can have significant consequences, as it undermines the public's ability to understand complex issues and make informed decisions. It also contributes to the spread of misinformation and undermines the ability of experts and institutions to inform public policy. 

Most recently we see this in the questioning of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election Results. After the election, a significant amount of the population (mostly Donald Trump supporters) argued that the election had been rigged. Despite numerous court cases, and no evidence some people still believe this to be the case. Consequentially this has contributed to the polarization of our politics with each side holding firm to its own beliefs and rejecting the evidence. 

Climate Change Denial: Despite overwhelming evidence of the disastrous effects of climate change and the role humans play in it, there is a growing movement of ‘climate deniers’. Often climate change deniers reject the findings of climate scientists and the institutions they work for and instead rely on alternative sources of information that support their own beliefs and ideologies. As a result, climate change deniers often undermine the expertise of climate scientists, portraying them as part of an elitist conspiracy. This, in turn, influences the passing of legislation and policy against sustainable solutions to climate change.

What can you do? 

Although a lot of these issues are rooted in systemic inadequacies, the most important thing we can do is to attend to ourselves. It’s through individual growth that we can begin to combat back against anti-intellectualism. To begin we must become aware of our own thoughts and biases.

Here are a couple of things you can implement in your daily life:

• Read more! And respond and reflect on whatever you are reading. 

• Practice Mindfulness. Whether it be through journaling, meditation, exercise, etc. Practicing mindfulness can renew a sense of purpose, and increase awareness of the life around us. 

• Indulge yourself in arts, whether it be film, music, painting, writing, theater, etc. 

• Initiate deeper conversations. Ask enticing, thought-provoking questions that can spark insightful dialogue or even debates, amongst friends and family. 

• Be curious! Critically think about why things are the way they are. What influences our ideas, thoughts, and perspectives? Learn, and investigate opposing viewpoints.

It is crucial for us to take a step back and exercise critical thinking skills to question the information we receive. Like a child who is curious about the world, we must be eager to explore and ask why. By engaging in critical thinking, we can actively combat harmful beliefs and promote a more informed society. Critical thinking skills, like a muscle, must be flexed, stretched, and challenged to prevent ourselves from falling prey to misinformation, propaganda, and overall ignorance. It is up to us to take the initiative to think critically and promote knowledge and understanding.

1. Dissemination: the action or fact of spreading something, especially information, widely

2. Elitism: the belief or notion that individuals who form an elite—a select group of people perceived as having an inherent quality, high intellect, wealth, power, notability, special skills, or experience—are more likely to be constructive to society as a whole, and therefore deserve influence or authority greater than that of others

3. Marginal Communities: those who have been historically excluded from involvement in our cities, as well as those continuing to face other barriers to civic participation. Including those marginalized by factors like race, wealth, immigration status, and sexual orientation

4. Countermovement: a social movement opposed to another social movement

5. Political Polarization: divergence of political attitudes away from the center, towards ideological extremes