Anti-Intellectualism: America’s Dangerous New Normal

Summary:

In “Anti-Intellectualism: America’s Dangerous New Normal,” Holly Geringer explores the growing trend in American politics and culture of dismissing expert knowledge in favor of gut feeling and populist rhetoric. From campaign rallies mocking climate science to the rise of political figures who reject intellectualism, this shift undermines trust in institutions like science and journalism, fueling misinformation and shortsighted policies. The article traces this phenomenon’s evolution, its amplification by social media, and its dire consequences for public health, the environment, and democracy. Geringer argues that reversing this dangerous trend requires renewed respect for expertise, critical thinking education, and a cultural embrace of intellectual rigor as essential to the nation’s future.

Excerpt:

“At a 2024 campaign rally, a Senate candidate shrugged off climate science as ‘just more ivory tower panic’—and the crowd roared. That moment wasn’t a fluke. It was a flare in the sky. Anti-intellectualism has become the new default in American politics: it mocks expertise, rewards gut feeling over data, and turns public trust into a punchline. Scientists, scholars, and experts are painted as out-of-touch ‘elites,’ while slogans and soundbites carry more weight than evidence or policy. The short-term wins—cheap gas, culture war points, ratings—are prioritized over long-term survival. We’re trading intellect for instinct, and the consequences are compounding.”

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