pseudointellectual
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
pseudo- (“false, fake”) + intellectual
Noun[edit]
pseudointellectual (plural pseudointellectuals)
- A person who claims proficiency in scholarly or artistic activities while lacking in-depth knowledge or critical understanding.
- A person who pretends to be of greater intelligence than they actually are.
Usage notes[edit]
Usage is fraught, and pseudointellectual may be used as a general term of abuse for intellectuals one dislikes or disagrees with. Nevertheless, in more careful use a rather clear distinction is drawn:[1] a pseudointellectual is someone dishonestly or insincerely using the language, style, or topics of an intellectual, but who lacks the goals, morals, or ability of a “genuine” intellectual. It is someone who acts pretentiously and wishes to win an argument or impress, rather than modestly trying to find the truth – a focus on surface and rhetoric over content. These often involve a superficial understanding of a subject and condescension to the audience, as well as possible self-delusion (not being consciously dishonest, but rather sincerely thinking oneself to be behaving as a genuine intellectual despite one's incompetence).
Synonyms[edit]
See also[edit]
- See also Thesaurus:deceiver
- charlatan
- fraud
- sophist
Adjective[edit]
pseudointellectual (comparative more pseudointellectual, superlative most pseudointellectual)
- Pretentiously or insincerely intellectual.
References[edit]
- ^ See the Sydney Harris reference for detailed criteria.
- Sydney J. Harris, circa 1981 November 20 (syndicated column), published as “Distinctions Between Intellectuals And Pseudo-Intellectuals” (mirror) in the Detroit Free Press, (11/20/81) and “Telling the real from the pseudo”, Sarasota Journal, Nov 23, 1981, among others