It's been an incredibly busy couple of days, but I've finally got a spare minute to update my journal.
Thanks to everyone who replied to my last journal entry. It was a bit of a rant about misperceptions about scientists. However, based on what I've heard from other people I think I've changed my tune.
People wrote describing how they've had a very similar experience despite their different backgrounds. Dancers, doctors, artists, economists, writers, and of course, other scientists. So I'd like to amend what I said previously. I don't necessarily think there's anything particularly special about scientists in this regard. I think it may be more about intellectuals in general, or people specifically involved in intellectual pursuits. Numerous writers have talked about the anti-intellectual strain that seems to run through the American collective consciousness, and its subsequent effects on the political and daily lives of us all.
Media critic and Columbia professor Todd Gitlin wrote an interesting piece about it a few years ago, which is still available online. In it he describes a book written by the historian Richard Hofstadter in 1963, a reaction to the red scares of the 1950's that indicated an ugly streak of the American character, one that thrived on vilifying those who chose to devote their lives to knowledge in the name of "evangelical zeal" and "populism." And yet I don't know if it's even a strictly American phenomenon. Thinking back to history, starting in Jacobin France and moving forward through communist Russia, China and Vietnam, the intellectuals seem to be the first ones on the chopping block whenever a new faction takes control.
In light of forced labor camps and death squads, the casual disdain that affects the modern day intellectual seems relatively innocuous, but in my opinion it's a sign of something ugly lingering just under the surface, waiting for a chance to manifest itself. I guess my real question then is "why?" Is it a cultural issue? I wish I knew more about sociology and I might actually be able to answer that question, but I have no idea whether ancient Aztec children who were good at astronomy got beaten up by their jock classmates. At least throughout Western culture it seems to be fairly widespread, though differing in degree. Maybe it's just a function of our own evolutionary heritage, which is difficult to escape under the best of circumstances, and all too evident under the worst. Could it be just basic Freudian psychology, insecurity and fear of what people don't understand? Or maybe it's just hyper-sensitivity on the part of those who believe themselves to be on the receiving end.
I don't know the answer, and I don't know if anyone else does either. But it's certainly food for thought. If you consider the popularity of the American President, who could be thought of as the reigning anti-intellectual, it doesn't seem like a topic for idle speculation, but one very germane to current issues.
Anyway, more food for thought and ramblings on my part. I'm anxious to hear what you all have to say (and I will respond to everyone's comment tomorrow, but it's getting late right now.)
Thanks to everyone who replied to my last journal entry. It was a bit of a rant about misperceptions about scientists. However, based on what I've heard from other people I think I've changed my tune.
People wrote describing how they've had a very similar experience despite their different backgrounds. Dancers, doctors, artists, economists, writers, and of course, other scientists. So I'd like to amend what I said previously. I don't necessarily think there's anything particularly special about scientists in this regard. I think it may be more about intellectuals in general, or people specifically involved in intellectual pursuits. Numerous writers have talked about the anti-intellectual strain that seems to run through the American collective consciousness, and its subsequent effects on the political and daily lives of us all.
Media critic and Columbia professor Todd Gitlin wrote an interesting piece about it a few years ago, which is still available online. In it he describes a book written by the historian Richard Hofstadter in 1963, a reaction to the red scares of the 1950's that indicated an ugly streak of the American character, one that thrived on vilifying those who chose to devote their lives to knowledge in the name of "evangelical zeal" and "populism." And yet I don't know if it's even a strictly American phenomenon. Thinking back to history, starting in Jacobin France and moving forward through communist Russia, China and Vietnam, the intellectuals seem to be the first ones on the chopping block whenever a new faction takes control.
In light of forced labor camps and death squads, the casual disdain that affects the modern day intellectual seems relatively innocuous, but in my opinion it's a sign of something ugly lingering just under the surface, waiting for a chance to manifest itself. I guess my real question then is "why?" Is it a cultural issue? I wish I knew more about sociology and I might actually be able to answer that question, but I have no idea whether ancient Aztec children who were good at astronomy got beaten up by their jock classmates. At least throughout Western culture it seems to be fairly widespread, though differing in degree. Maybe it's just a function of our own evolutionary heritage, which is difficult to escape under the best of circumstances, and all too evident under the worst. Could it be just basic Freudian psychology, insecurity and fear of what people don't understand? Or maybe it's just hyper-sensitivity on the part of those who believe themselves to be on the receiving end.
I don't know the answer, and I don't know if anyone else does either. But it's certainly food for thought. If you consider the popularity of the American President, who could be thought of as the reigning anti-intellectual, it doesn't seem like a topic for idle speculation, but one very germane to current issues.
Anyway, more food for thought and ramblings on my part. I'm anxious to hear what you all have to say (and I will respond to everyone's comment tomorrow, but it's getting late right now.)
VIEW 26 of 26 COMMENTS
i never got such a polite note saying my article was refused