What are "intellectualism" and "anti-intellectualism"?

Intellectualism is a trend of educational thought formed in modern times in the West, mainly represented by the educational theories of Herbart and the Herbart School. Its formation and evolution run through the entire development process of modern Western education. Intellectualism emerged from an era when scientism and rationalism prevailed. It advocates taking the transfer of knowledge and the development of rationality as the basis and purpose of the education and teaching process, focusing on the discussion of methods and approaches to effectively impart knowledge, and on research selection, Basic principles and specific methods for compiling knowledge content. Intellectualism emphasizes that due to the multi-faceted connection between knowledge and people's understanding, morality, aesthetics, beliefs, etc., the teaching of knowledge is not only an educational activity, but also a kind of education, cultivation, and training. It is the implementation of moral education, Basic approaches to aesthetic education and religious education. Intellectualism has had a broad and far-reaching influence on the development of modern Western education. However, due to various limitations in its theory, by the beginning of the 20th century, intellectualism was regarded as the main representative of traditional education and was sharply criticized.

Anti-intellectualism was proposed by American historian Richard Hofstadter in his 1962 book "Anti-Intellectualism in American Life" , the book describes how anti-intellectualism runs throughout history and "practical" American culture, provides an in-depth analysis of the historical origins of American anti-intellectualism, and illustrates the contradictions between intellectuals and the public in different fields such as education, politics, and business. . The essence of anti-intellectualism lies in carefully defining intelligence and intellectuals, and guiding the public to become a person who actively safeguards the values ??of reason, justice and truth. Anti-intellectualism is a social theoretical doctrine derived from reflection on society and the public, and does not belong to the category of philosophy.