What does intellectualism mean?
Intellectualism is the practice or tendency of giving sustained attention to ideas, learning, reason, and abstract thought. In general cultural use, it describes an intellectual engagement with serious subjects and may carry the positive implication of curiosity, breadth, and disciplined thought. In philosophy, however, intellectualism more specifically identifies the view that intellectual reasoning is the primary source of knowledge or the most important basis for understanding human experience. Related uses in literary and artistic criticism describe works that emphasize conceptual content over emotional expression or formal craftsmanship. The word is often critical, since critics may use it to imply that abstract thought has become detached from ordinary life, feeling, or practical concerns. It should not be confused with simple intelligence or learnedness: intellectualism names a broader attitude or theoretical commitment, and its value depends largely on what is being intellectualized and how that thought is applied.
nounIntellectualism is the cultivation of, or emphasis upon, intellectual activity and ideas. In philosophy and cultural criticism, it can also refer to the view that reason and intellectual analysis are more important than emotion, experience, or practical concerns.
- The cultivation of intellectual activity, learning, and abstract thought.
- The philosophical priority of reason and intellectual analysis over emotion, intuition, or practical experience.
- An approach to art, literature, or criticism that places intellectual content and conceptual significance above formal or emotional qualities.
"The novel rejects intellectualism in favour of ordinary life, instinct, and human feeling."
"Her intellectualism gave her a broad understanding of history, philosophy, and literature."
"The critics dismissed the film as empty intellectualism rather than engaging with its ideas."
"The debate pitted intellectualism against the value of intuition and lived experience."
Intellectualism is normally used as an uncountable noun. The plural is rare and may distinguish different forms or instances of the attitude.
"The essay compares the intellectualisms of two very different eras."
Intellectualism has long had a double reputation: it can mean disciplined curiosity, but it can also suggest a coldness that mistakes cleverness for wisdom.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does intellectualism come from?
Intellectualism was formed in the early 19th century from intellectual, with the suffix -ism added to form a word denoting a principle, theory, or tendency. The adjective intellectual ultimately comes through Latin intellectualis from intellectus, meaning understanding or perception, itself related to intellegere, “to understand.” The same Latin foundation appears in cognates such as intellect, intelligence, and intelligible. The development of the suffix -ism reflects the long English use of this pattern to name a doctrine or characteristic outlook.
Related word forms
How intellectualism is actually used
The term is generally neutral or mildly critical. It can be positive when describing the pursuit of learning and careful thought, but it is often used critically to suggest an excessive attachment to abstract ideas or a preference for analysis over human feeling.